User.
There are a number of things that come to mind when we encounter this term. It could be a person who, quite simply, uses something. But it could also be a derogatory term, used to describe a person who has abused the use of something.
In the world of open source, the term “user” has been pulled toward both ends of this spectrum, between the former definition and the latter. In the end however, what it really is and what it needs to be is neither. In the world of open source, a user is more of a contributor with duties and responsibilities.
More than Just a User
Users are not mere recipients of open source software. By working with an open source project users automatically become part of that project’s development. Because open source projects don’t have the same areas of documentation, quality control and marketing that proprietary projects do, it needs added manpower for these areas. That’s where users come in.
The role of users is crucial to open source. It is one of the pillars that make open source what it is- a place where users are not simply users, but a community that’s building up and developing a project as it is being used.
What Users Ought to Do
This responsibility may seem intimidating at first . But if you’ve been in the open source space long enough, you’re probably already doing what is expected of any open source user, and that’s to contribute to the project. While this often means contributing code, this isn’t the only way one can contribute:
- Testing the software and providing feedback on it is essential to refining the project’s quality, functionality and ability to meet users’ needs.
- Reporting bugs is another significant way of improving the software without writing any code.
- Creating documentation is another meaningful contribution. Even small ones like tutorials or articles posted on social media can be very helpful, and can also serve as marketing.
- Speaking of marketing, this is another great contribution. If you’re fond of using the software and think it’s fantastic, let others know. Talk about it, write about it; you could even teach others about it through workshops and meetups.
There are plenty of ways that users can fulfill their role and be the responsible contributors that they ought to be in the area of open source. No matter how small, it is essential that users remember and act on their responsibilities as this is key to ensuring the continuation and effectiveness of the open source system.
SourceForge on User Contributions
Here at SourceForge, we highly encourage not just developers but also users to contribute to their favorite projects. Even the smallest contribution can be a big help in the long run. Still unsure of how you can begin giving back to open source? Stay tuned to SourceForge as we tackle this topic on our coming posts.