So you want to contribute to open source?

[Peter Savage]

A few weeks ago, I had an idea for a book. I've no idea if it's been done
before, but I feel that the concept could be adapted to Ubuntu even if it
has. The basic idea for the book is to provide an almost one stop resource
for people wanting to start contributing to open source. Written from the
point of view of a ficticious guy wanting to start a new project, the book
would see him;

   - Planning out his ideas
      - Talking to community about needs
      - Planning time and structure
      - Looking for projects to build from
   - Choosing a language to code in based on it's merits
      - Comparisons of different languages / methods
      - Rapid Application Development
   - Registering and using Launchpad properly
      - What are all the options in LP?
      - Releases/Milestone usage
      - Setting it all up
   - Writing the code
      - Structuring your work environment
      - Bazaar, how to use effectively
      - Presentation
      - Commenting
   - Packaging the code
      - Ubuntu Packaging Guide - Nuff said
   - Bug triaging
      - Getting started on bug triaging
      - gdb and the like
      - Effective use of LP
   - Managing teams
      - Teams in LP
      - Assigning tasks to team members
      - Evaluating team members strong points
   - Effective communication
      - Keeping people in touch
      - Communication email/blog/mailing list
   - Continual management
      - Keeping things fresh
      - Holding events

Going into nothing in huge detail, but giving enough information to get
started in every area. The book is intended to give anyone wanting to start
in contributing, the information they need. I believe that this is something
that many people starting in Ubuntu need. I personally was dwarfed by all
these procedures and doctrines when I first joined the team. I want to make
it as easy as possible for others to join up and start helping out.

I'm hoping that the book will largely be written by community members. I
would love to get a team together to discuss what they feel should be in the
book. After that we can split it up and get people working on it. It may be
that there are some docs that will fulfill the needs of some chapters even
with a small rewrite.

I'm hoping to also get it published on lulu.com or something similar, unless
a publisher gets interested in it. Much like the Official Ubuntu Book is
written by several authors, I'm hoping this book will fill a gap and become
a reference not just for Ubuntu, but for anyone wanting to start in open
source. It should be seperated cleanly, so people can dip in to get the help
they need.

It could be that this crazy idea is a load of old shoes. In which case leave
a comment to that effect [image: ;)] However if you feel that this could be
an important document, please please get in touch, if only to register a
wish for a certain section. Something perhaps you found missing when you
started in Ubuntu/OSS.

http://www.progbox.co.uk/wordpress/?p=260

-- 
Pete Savage - cbx33::silentk
wiki.ubuntu.com/PeteSavage
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