Best way to contribute to libre software

17 respostas [Última entrada]
tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

I have been wondering how i can contribute more to the libre software community
and i am stuck

Dose anyone have any ideas of how i could best contribute?

Note:
i have lots of programming knowledge but i am recovering from a lot of depression/anxiety problems
that effect how well my brain can function so if i was doing programming it would have to be linear
or something simple like HTML/CSS

my skills are:

Good general computing and Gnu/Linux knowledge
and how to use a terminal well

Programming (when my brain works)
HTML/CSS/Good Lua/Basic Fortran/Good C/Basic GBZ80 assembler

knowledge of kdenlive and GIMP.
have installed Libreboot, Replicant and Rockbox multiple times.
host many servers and have a good internet connection.
own a librecmc router and tools to flash it.

Too much free time!

onpon4
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Joined: 05/30/2012

Lots of things can help libre software. This page lists some general ideas:

https://gnu.org/help/

quantumgravity
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Joined: 04/22/2013

"i have lots of programming knowledge but i am recovering from a lot of depression/anxiety problems"

If you really did and it was serious, then you went through hell. I hope you're better now; go easy on you and take your time.

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

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Joined: 10/31/2014

I think the only application that I miss on my setup is a VOIP client compatible with wingobse and so easy to use that even a monkey could manage. Encrypted VOIP of course. Something like TOX but stable, complete and reliable. I still find it problematic (not on my part but on my windose friends part..) to set up an encrypted video call. Contribute to tox maybe, if you have the skills and stay cool :)

tdlnx

I am a member!

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Joined: 04/09/2014

I've also found that there is a severe lack of documentation on free software. Even doing something as simple as trying to use hardware with free software and documenting your findings on h-node is incredibly helpful no matter how obscure the hardware is. Or write a guide using your knowledge of free programs so that someone who is not experienced will be able to make those programs useful in their daily lives.

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

"Or write a guide using your knowledge of free programs so that someone who is not experienced will be able to make those programs useful in their daily lives."

can you list the programs that are currently in need of documentation?

tdlnx

I am a member!

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Joined: 04/09/2014

I don't have a specific list in mind, I was talking in general. If you have a lot of experience using a libre program, I'd look around and see what sort of guides exist and either contribute to one or write your own. You can never have too much documentation!

pizzaiolo
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Joined: 03/12/2015

I have to second Heather here. You are absolutely a very important member of this community, Tom. Kudos to you for fighting back at depression :)

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

Thanks for your replys i will decide what to do tomorrow (currently 11 PM night)

Legimet
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Joined: 12/10/2013
tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

when running the following command from the tutorial
git clone https://devel.trisquel.info/richardtorvalds/package-helpers.git

i get this error:
remote: Not Found
fatal: repository 'https://devel.trisquel.info/richardtorvalds/package-helpers.git/' not found

any ideas?

aklis
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Joined: 04/19/2005

You should create an user on the gitlab instance, and use that instead of "richardtorvals"

It's explained here

Legimet
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Joined: 12/10/2013

Yes, make a fork of the trisquel/package-helpers.git repo and use that. It's all explained in that file.

Garsmith
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Joined: 07/27/2013

One way to help is to talk about what software you use. If I create something I often add a little comment what software was used to show people what that software program can do, a small ad for free software.

When talking about distributions I say that I run Trisquel and why. My best argument is that if I must compromise and use a proprietary software I consciously have to act and install it and I get aware of what software is proprietary and what is not. Do I relay need it or not? Is their a alternative I can use? With almost all other distributions the users are not aware of what software they are using is proprietary or not. Open source distributions keep its users ignorant.

"Ignorance is strength" ..... ?

islander
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Joined: 05/27/2013

Tom, would you be interested in helping create a site like this, but using only GNU-Linux-Libre distros?
http://www.instalinux.com/

You could host your FreeNetBootin app there also. We have several domains available for use by such projects.

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

that sounds like a good idea

what specifically would you want me to do?

tomlukeywood
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Joined: 12/05/2014

Duplicate post