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How does one get into Open Source, generally? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 hours ago by TotallyWorthLife@lemmy.world to c/opensource@lemmy.ml

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Hello,

I have been thinking about making the jump towards Open Source, not just using OSS but also contributing to it.

First, some OSS projects/apps I know of are Peertube, Lemmy (right now using Voyager app), Mastodon, Matrix (used to use the Element app, gave up because I realized it was too hard for those around me who got used to Whatsapp), OpenStreetMap (through OrganicMaps), Jellyfin, and Actual Budget, Godot Engine, Luanti, GrapheneOS... I might know more, but those are the ones I remember right now.

Second, I have some basic experience with programming (mainly Java [haven't learnt GUI yet tho], SQL, and C# for Unity videogames), but no experience entering an already created codebase yet, let alone making changes and sending them (and I admit I might need to get some practice with Git), so it is pretty intimidating. Do you have any advice about it?

Third, I'd like to hear about projects you find interesting or useful. Not neccesarily to contribute or even use them myself, but I'm interested in which other projects there are out there.

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[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 hours ago

You don't need to get into Open Source as a developer unless you're comfortable doing so. But that doesn't mean you can't jump in as a user. It really is as simple as typing "Best Open Source 'fill-in-the-blank'" and finding some projects that interest you.

Once you start using Open Source, you'll enter a community of other users who are always discussing different aspects of projects; which projects need maintainers/coders, which group is planning a fork, etc... You'll get to know the community by simply being part of the community.

Secondly, and this is one that I don't think get's mentioned often enough, just because you're not contributing code, doesn't mean you're not contributing. Again it comes back to that community we've built around us; if you're comfortable with the FOSS software that you use, you'll invariably stumble across new users with questions or advice, whether it be on the github or on forums or here on Lemmy, or even that site that must not be named.

Your involvement in helping others IS contributing.