Have you got what it takes to be a great open source contributor?
Contrary to what most would expect, being a good open source contributor doesn’t require a ton of experience or even expert coding skills. In fact, coding skills can be the least of your worries. To be a great open source contributor, one must possess skills and traits that go beyond technical know-how:
- Writing skills
There are many who can code, but only few who can clearly convey in words what they’ve just done with code. And in practically every area of open source- from submitting patches to reporting bugs to discussing project applications- there is a need for clear, complete and easily understandable documentation.
This is why a strong writing ability is very important for contributors. Clear and effective writing is essential for making sure that users understand the software. And when users are able to understand it, they are more likely to use and contribute to it.
- Proactive
As a contributor, you are called not just to be observant but to be proactive. This means that if you spot an error or bug, you don’t just report it, you also try and find a fix or submit a patch. But if you can’t fix it, simply submitting a bug report would already be a big help. The point here is that you should always find ways to contribute.
- Patient
In any one project, you need to work with a number of different people who each have priorities and responsibilities of their own. So if you urgently need to fix a bug, you can’t expect people to just drop whatever they’re doing to help you. You have to wait until they finish their priority tasks. This is where patience really serves you well.
- Kind and understanding
Different contributors have different levels of expertise. Some may already be well aware of the standards of inclusion for contributions, while others may not. It’s important for all contributors to keep this fact in mind, and therefore be understanding of one another and what each tries to contribute. If a contribution falls short of the standard, the contributor must be dealt with kindly and shown the proper way instead of being scolded and rejected. The latter will only discourage contributions to the detriment of the project.
- Thinks of what is best for the project
A good contributor thinks of what is best for the entire project and not only for himself. What does this mean? It means that the contributor must be judicious in choosing what to include in or exclude from a project. It means being able to strike a balance between new features and additional maintenance efforts and costs. It means knowing when to keep pushing for improvements, and when to let go of or hand off projects to others.
- A team player
While some projects are handled by only one person, in most cases it is run by a core group of persons and supported by several others who occasionally make contributions. With this setup it is important for all contributors to be able to work harmoniously together and support one another. Every question and concern, even every broken patch submitted should be attended to with respect because behind every single one is a person willing to contribute and be part of the community. Everyone must foster a sense of community as this is a large part of what keeps a project alive and constantly developing.
If you possess most or all of the above, then you’ve definitely got what it takes to be a great contributor! If you currently don’t however, no need to worry. All these skills can be learned and developed, so there’s always a chance for you to still make meaningful contributions in open source.
Start Making Contributions with SourceForge
Think you’re ready to start contributing to open source? Then you’re in the right place. SourceForge is a haven for developers and eager contributors, with thousands of free and open source projects from which to choose and contribute. To find the perfect project to participate in and know the latest developments in open source, keep it here at SourceForge.