Forge Your Future With Open Source: Build Your Skills. Build Your Network. Build the Future Of Technology

Description

Free and open source is the foundation of software development, and it's built by people just like you. Discover the fundamental tenets that drive the movement. Take control of your career by selecting the right project to meet your professional goals. Master the language and avoid the pitfalls that typically ensnare new contributors. Join a community of like-minded people and change the world. Programmers, writers, designers, and everyone interested in software will make their mark through free and open source software contributions. Free and open source software is the default choice for the programming languages and technologies which run our world today, and it's all built and maintained by people just like you. No matter your skill level or area of expertise, with this book you will contribute to free and open source software projects. Using this practical approach you'll understand not only the mechanics of contributing, but also how doing so helps your career as well as the community. This book doesn't assume that you're a programmer, or even that you have prior experience with free and open source software. Learn what open source is, where it came from, and why it's important. Start on the right foot by mastering the structure and tools you need before you contribute. Choose the right project for you, amplifying the impact of your contribution. Submit your first contribution, whether it's code, writing, design, or community organising. Find out what to do when things don't go the way you expect. Discover how to start your own project and make it friendly and welcoming to contributors. Anyone can contribute! Make your mark today and help others while also helping yourself. Cover......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 9 What’s NOT in This Book?......Page 13 Why Is This Book Not Openly Licensed?......Page 14 Credits......Page 15 Acknowledgments......Page 16 It’s About the People......Page 18 Free and Open Source Software Is Everywhere......Page 19 Other Open Movements......Page 21 The Origins of Free Software......Page 22 The Origins of Open Source......Page 23 Difference Between Free Software and Open Source......Page 25 An Aside About Terminology......Page 26 A Brief Introduction to Copyright and Licensing......Page 27 Types of Free and Open Source Software Licenses......Page 30 Now You Have a Strong Foundation......Page 31 FOSS Benefits to Your Skillset......Page 32 FOSS Benefits to Your Career......Page 37 FOSS Benefits to Your Personal Network......Page 39 Benefit from Preparation......Page 40 3. Prepare to Contribute......Page 41 Ways to Contribute......Page 42 Common Project and Community Roles......Page 43 Files You Should Know About Before You Start......Page 45 Common Communication Routes......Page 50 Contributor License Agreement/Developer Certificate of Origin......Page 52 You’re Ready to Find a Project......Page 53 Set Your Goals......Page 54 Collect Your Requirements......Page 57 Collect Candidate Projects......Page 60 Select a Project......Page 62 Select a Task......Page 64 What Is “Success”?......Page 66 Prepare for Your Contribution......Page 67 Craft Your Contribution......Page 71 Gotchas......Page 72 Clone and Branch......Page 73 Atomic Commits......Page 75 Test Your Contribution......Page 76 Submit Your Contribution......Page 78 Review, Revise, Collaborate......Page 82 Tidy Up......Page 84 Special Considerations for Windows-based Contributors......Page 85 There’s More to Contributing Than Just Code......Page 86 6. Make a Difference Without Making a Pull Request......Page 87 Review Contributions......Page 88 Provide Testing......Page 94 Triage Issues......Page 97 Volunteer for the Less Interesting Things......Page 99 There Are So Many Options......Page 100 After Your First Contribution......Page 101 Get Help......Page 104 General Tips for Participating in Discussions......Page 106 The Importance of Setting Up and Maintaining Expectations......Page 108 Communication Channels and How to Use Them......Page 109 Mailing List......Page 110 Issue Tracker......Page 116 Real-Time Chat......Page 121 Conference Call......Page 124 Only the Tip of the Iceberg......Page 125 Get Together......Page 126 Tips for Coping at a Conference or Meetup......Page 129 Form Your Own Meetup......Page 135 Moving up in the Community......Page 137 FOSS Is People......Page 139 Intimidated by FOSS’ Reputation......Page 140 Can’t Find a Project......Page 141 Company Policies......Page 142 Contribution Process Is Unclear......Page 145 Language Barriers......Page 147 Your Contribution Is Declined......Page 149 Community Problems......Page 151 Sometimes You’re the Problem......Page 159 How to Exit a Community......Page 161 You Don’t Have to Feel Trapped......Page 162 Quick Start Guide to Releasing Your Own Project......Page 164 What Is Your Goal?......Page 165 Optimize for Community......Page 166 Work in the Open......Page 168 Keep It Simple, Silly......Page 169 Select Communication Routes......Page 170 What About Issue Tracking?......Page 171 Styleguides......Page 172 Select a License......Page 173 How to Apply a License......Page 175 Publish the Project and You’re Done!......Page 179 Contributing to External FOSS Projects......Page 180 Contributing to Your Company’s FOSS Projects......Page 183 Convincing Your Employer to Support FOSS......Page 184 Forge Your Future......Page 191 A1. Glossary......Page 192 Bibliography......Page 207 – C –......Page 208 – F –......Page 209 – P –......Page 210 – W –......Page 211