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Collaborating on Open Source Software

Collaborating on Open Source Software

Collaborating on Open Source Software;
How I Started contributing to Open Source and Why You Should Too

There are several reasons you might want to contribute to open source software. For me, it was that I wanted to learn in a more useful way than doing programming challenges. So I looked into how I could contribute to open source projects that I use myself.
After contributing for almost two years, I notice that I have learned a lot from my contributions (which has been useful at work), as well as have made friends and have become part of a community.

In this talk I will share my experience with contributing to Cucumber, including an early mistake (merging something that wasn’t ready yet) and fixing it with the support of core maintainers, and still feeling welcome!
You’ll learn how how to find your project and contributions to start with, how to connect with the community to make sure your contributions are useful and the many different types of contributions you can make.

Contributing to open source is a way of giving back to the community. In addition, it is a way for you to learn, collaborate and become part of a community. Getting (constructive) feedback on a pull request and collaborating to make things even better is a great feeling!

Marit van Dijk

April 24, 2020
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  1. Collaborating on Open Source Software The Virtual BASH – April

    24th, 2020 @MaritvanDijk77 github.com/mlvandijk medium.com/@mlvandijk
  2. Contributing to Open Source Software •Why (not) to contribute •What

    to contribute •How to contribute @MaritvanDijk77
  3. Why I got started with Open Source Software •Learn new

    things •Do something useful @MaritvanDijk77
  4. Reasons to contribute •Learning •Give back / Feel useful •“Scratch

    an itch” (fix something you need) •Build CV / Portfolio •Network •Other? @MaritvanDijk77
  5. Reasons not to contribute •It can be scary! •Limitations: Time,

    Legal, … •Bad previous experience @MaritvanDijk77
  6. What to contribute: Code •Fix bugs •Add new features •Refactor

    •Add unit tests •Upgrade dependencies @MaritvanDijk77
  7. What to contribute: Code •Fix bugs •Add new features •Refactor

    •Add unit tests •Upgrade dependencies •Review PR’s @MaritvanDijk77
  8. Documentation •Add info •Edit / clarify •Fix typos •Fix dead

    links •Review PR’s •Provide feedback @MaritvanDijk77
  9. Issues •Report issues • Ask if not sure • Check

    for duplicates • Provide relevant information: use template (or add one!) • Create an MCVE (https://stackoverflow.com/help/mcve) @MaritvanDijk77
  10. What to contribute: Not code •Help the community •Documentation •Issues

    •Testing •Other: Design, Product owner, etc. •Ask! @MaritvanDijk77
  11. What to contribute: Not time •Most projects run on volunteers

    •You (or your employer) can donate money •https://opencollective.com/ •https://sfconservancy.org/ •https://www.patreon.com/ •https://tidelift.com/ @MaritvanDijk77
  12. How to get started •Find a project •Check how to

    contribute to that project @MaritvanDijk77
  13. Check how to contribute • README • CONTRIBUTING (a.k.a. HACKING)

    • LICENSE (a.k.a. COPYING) • Code of Conduct • Style guides • Contributor License Agreement (CLA) – some projects • Ask! @MaritvanDijk77
  14. How to get started •Find a project •Check how to

    contribute to that project •Pick a task @MaritvanDijk77
  15. Pick a task •Solve your own problem J •Check for

    “Good first issue” or similar @MaritvanDijk77
  16. Pick a task •Solve your own problem J •Check for

    “Good first issue” or similar •Ask! @MaritvanDijk77
  17. How to get started •Find a project •Check how to

    contribute to that project •Pick a task •Set up your environment (if needed) @MaritvanDijk77
  18. Set up your environment •Tools •Git / version control •Programming

    environment (IDE, JDK, …) •Package manager (Maven, npm, …) @MaritvanDijk77
  19. Set up your environment •Tools •Fork & clone the project

    •See if you can build the project @MaritvanDijk77
  20. Set up your environment •Setup your environment •Fork & clone

    the project •See if you can build the project •If not: Ask (Pro tip: Add that info to docs!) @MaritvanDijk77
  21. How to get started •Find a project •Check how to

    contribute to that project •Pick a task •Set up your environment (if needed) •Collaborate! @MaritvanDijk77
  22. Collaborate: Your first PR •Discuss your intentions •Work on your

    contribution •Submit your contribution •Receive feedback & iterate •Contribution accepted! @MaritvanDijk77
  23. Collaborate: Your first PR •Contribution declined… “No is temporary, yes

    is forever” https://blog.jessfraz.com/post/the-art-of-closing/ @MaritvanDijk77
  24. Collaborate: Your first PR •Discuss your intentions •Work on your

    contribution •Submit your contribution •Receive feedback & iterate •Contribution accepted! •Ask & communicate! @MaritvanDijk77
  25. TL;DR •Contributing to open source doesn’t have to take a

    lot of time or programming skill •If you want to contribute, but don’t know how – ask the community! •Please go and collaborate! @MaritvanDijk77