Beginners in Open Source

8/10/2019 Beginners in Open Source

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How to get started with open source

A guide for beginners in open sourceOpen Voices, Issue 9Opensource.com


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Copyright

Copyright 2014 ed !"t, Inc. A## $ritten content #icensed under " Cre"ti%e Commons Attribution&'h"reA#i(e ) .0 *icense.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


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Introduction

+"(ing the first steps in "ny ourney c"n be sc"ry. +here "re ne$ obst"c#es to hurd#e, unf"mi#i"r#"ndsc"pes to tr"%erse, "nd usu"##y the destin"tion is shrouded in mystery. -ut th"ts "#so $h"t m"(esne$ %entures e/citing "nd $orth$hi#e.

+he co##ection of stories in this e-oo( "re "bout stri(ing out on the open source $"y. hether youre "nindi%idu"#, see(ing inform"tion on mo%ing "$"y from c#osed soft$"re, or "n org"ni"tion #oo(ing forfree "nd open "#tern"ti%es to the uti#ities th"t he#p your business succeed, these "re stories "bout findingyour footing in the $or#d of open source. 'e%er"# "re origin stories3 "bout ho$ e/perts disco%eredopen source, "nd ho$ they%e f#ourished in the time since. Others "re focused guides on finding theright soft$"re, using " specific open source too#, or introducing your neighborhood or to$n to thepo$er of the open source $"y.

emember th"t its not e"sy to get st"rted $ith "nything ne$, but, "s "n o#d -uddhist s"ying goes, It isbetter to tr"%e# $e## th"n to "rri%e.3 e hope these stories $i## he#p you tr"%e# $e## "#ong the open

source $"y, "nd (eep you tr"%e#ing for ye"rs to come.


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Open source as an alternative for small businesses

By Aseem Sharma (originally published February 2014)

Is it s"fe to use h"t "#tern"ti%es do I h"%e Is it e"sy to inst"##

+hese $ere some of the 5uestions "s(ed by Am"ndeep, " 6e$ 7e#hi b"sed o$ner of " sm"## sc"#ec#othing comp"ny, $hen I pitched to him " fe$ open source so#utions th"t cou#d m"(e his d"y&to&d"yoper"tions more efficient. 8or someone $ithout "ny I+ b"c(ground but " sh"rp business sense:, these$ere bri##i"nt "nd re#e%"nt 5uestions. +he "ns$ers to these 5uestions $ont ust he#p Am"ndeep, but ifsh"red bro"d#y m"y he#p reduce the "pprehension of " signific"nt number of sm"## sc"#e businesso$ners, especi"##y in Indi". ;y inter"ctions h"%e sho$n th"t " #ot of these businesses "re #oo(ing togro$, enh"nce their producti%ity, "nd most import"nt#y, s"%e costs.

Appro/im"te#y ntrepreneurship "nd +echno#ogy Centre, is " ne$ product de%e#opment

"nd digit"# m"r(eting speci"#ist "cti%e#y eng"ged in "ter#oo, one of the top entrepreneuri"# ecosystemsin the $or#d. As "n entrepreneur, he is "#$"ys f"ced $ith the ch"##enge of m"n"ging #imited resources$hi#e bui#ding tr"ction. !e h"s " p#ethor" of techno#ogy so#utions "t his dispos"#, "nd the technic"#(no$&ho$ to uti#ie these so#utions. Addition"##y, he h"s " robust support system to "d%ise "nd guidehim to the best "%"i#"b#e so#ution th"t fits his needs. 8or 6"bee#, open source so#utions pro%ide "nine/pensi%e "#tern"ti%e for cr"fting e"r#y st"ge prototypes for his ide"s "nd %"#id"ting them $ithcustomers. 8rom using ord?ress"nd its #ibr"ry of p#ugins, to %enturing into Open'hift Origin"nd@oom#", he h"s the (no$#edge to m"(e use of top notch techno#ogy to reduce ris(, m"n"ger resources,"nd bui#d tr"ction for his %enture.

+hese t$o different scen"rios indic"te " c"tegoric"# g"p in the (no$#edge of entrepreneurs $hen itcomes to "dopting open source so#utions. A#though there is some geogr"phic g"p bet$een theentrepreneurs in the de%e#oped "nd the de%e#oping $or#d, "s $e## "s " g"p th"t sp"$ns from businesse/posuree/perience, the prob#em is $ider th"n th"t. +here is " difference in producti%ity "nd efficiencybet$een entrepreneurs $ho uti#ie open source so#utions "nd those $ho do not. +he situ"tion becomesc#e"r $hen $e #oo( "t those sm"## sc"#e business o$ners $ho "re techno#ogy pros %ersus those $ho "renot.

A signific"nt number of businesses, in Indi" in p"rticu#"r "nd in the de%e#oping $or#d in gener"#, "re of" mom-and-pop business n"ture. -"sed on my recent inter"ctions $ith these sm"## sc"#e businesso$ners, I see $idespre"d misconceptions pert"ining to open source soft$"re. +he 5uestions th"tAm"ndeep from 6e$ 7e#hi "s(ed me "re critic"# in n"ture. In order for sm"## sc"#e businesses to "doptopen source so#utions, it is %it"# to "ddress these misconceptions.

Is open source software really safe?

+he 5uestion "rises from the b"sic process th"t is fo##o$ed to $rite code using open source $"y. If "nyh"c(er c"n re"d your code, then $hy c"nt they use the (no$#edge to their person"# benefit ;ost ofthose sorts of m"#icious "ttempts f"i# bec"use there "re " #ot of committed peop#e #oo(ing o%er thesource code, finding prob#ems, "nd fi/ing them. ;ore eyes t"me bugs 5uic(#y. And security byobscurity is no security "t "##. h"t stri(es me "t this point of time "re the $ords of security e/pert
http://www.converseit.com/http://www.converseit.com/http://www.converseit.com/https://uwaterloo.ca/conrad-business-entrepreneurship-technology/https://uwaterloo.ca/conrad-business-entrepreneurship-technology/http://wordpress.org/http://openshift.github.io/http://www.joomla.org/http://opensource.com/open-source-wayhttp://www.converseit.com/https://uwaterloo.ca/conrad-business-entrepreneurship-technology/http://wordpress.org/http://openshift.github.io/http://www.joomla.org/http://opensource.com/open-source-way


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-ruce 'chneier, B?ub#ic security is "#$"ys more secure th"n propriet"ry security8or us, open sourceisnt ust " business mode#D its sm"rt engineering pr"ctice.B

7e%e#oping code in "n open source f"shion is "n e/pression of " techni5ue. 'oft$"re, in our $or#d,shou#d be tre"ted "s " ser%ice $hich c"n be customied b"sed on the specific needs of " user, r"therth"n mere#y "s " product.

I (no$ " #ot of peop#e in%o#%ed "t different #e%e#s of open source proects. A## of them "re dri%en bytheir commitment to re"ch technic"# "nd profession"# e/ce##ence, "nd to "dd to the e/isting body oftechno#ogy (no$#edge. +he entire ecosystem of open source is bui#t on th"t commitment. +he *inu/oper"ting system, for e/"mp#e, $ith its pro%en tr"c( record of st"bi#ity "nd security, forms theb"c(bone of comp#e/ infr"structures "nd d"t" centers $or#d o%er. +he s"me benefits th"t he#p *inu/"nd other open source too#s succeed "t the enterprise #e%e# c"n be re"ped by sm"## businesses, too.

A coup#e of months b"c(, I re"d +hom"s 8riedm"ns The World is Flat An other$ise he#pfu# "ndinsightfu# boo(, the "uthor seems to host " thought process th"t open source is contr"ry to thede%e#opers right to m"(e " profit. A #ot of peop#e $ho thin( th"t $"y do not see the forest for the trees.+hey see free soft$"re, they see *inu/, but they miss the mu#ti&bi##ion do##"r ecosystem th"t surrounds

open source. Its true th"t -ri"n -eh#endorf, the person $ho orchestr"ted Ap"che $eb ser%er, did notm"(e " dime off it, but the immense %"#ue th"t this ser%er h"s "dded to the economy "nd the #egions ofsm"## to medium sie businesses th"t use this infr"structure is "n import"nt contribution. 8ree soft$"rede%e#oped by " community is not t"nt"mount to insecurity.

Are there quality alternatives available?

Eone "re the d"ys $hen open source $"s produced on#y by the engineers, for the engineers. 8rom $ordprocessing to c"#end"r "pp#ic"tions to ser%ers "nd to setting up te#ephone communic"tion net$or(s,sm"## businesses c"n benefit huge#y from open source so#utions. *et us t"(e the e/"mp#e of $ordprocessing, "n "cti%ity th"t "#most "## sm"## businesses, irrespecti%e of their fie#d, c"rry out.

;icrosoft ord is the premium soft$"re in the "re" but it is c#uttered $ith fe"tures th"t " #ot of sm"##businesses $ont e%er use. +he b#o"ting of ;icrosoft ord h"s cost its simp#icity. +here "re e"sy to use,simp#e, free, "nd open source $ord processors "%"i#"b#e out their. A fe$ of these th"t I h"%e been using"nd suggesting to sm"## businesses: "s "n "#tern"ti%e to ;icrosoft ord "reF

1. Apache Open OfficeF +his soft$"re prim"ri#y consists of si/ too#s for m"n"ging office t"s(s,n"me#yF riter "s " $ord processor, C"#c "s " spre"dsheet too#, Impress for mu#timedi"present"tions, 7r"$ for di"gr"ms "nd )7 "pp#ic"tions, -"se "s " d"t"b"se too#, "nd ;"th forcre"ting m"them"tic"# e5u"tions.

2. AbiWordF 7e%e#oped in 199G $ith the he#p of gt(mm, this open source $ord processor inc#udes

both simp#e $ord processing fe"tures to sophistic"ted fe"tures #i(e mu#tip#e %ie$s, p"ge co#umns,"nd gr"mm"r chec(ing.). LibreOfficeF +his is my f"%orite "nd "#$"ys "t the top of my recommend"tion #ist for "nyone

#oo(ing for " free "nd efficient $ord processing suite. A#though the fe"tures "re simi#"r to thoseof Ap"cheOpen Office, *ibreOffice is better $hen it comes to community support.

+here "re doens of other e/ce##ent "#tern"ti%e so#utions to propriet"ry soft$"re "nd thous"nds of opensource proects th"t c"n ser%e sm"## businesses. It c"n sometimes be difficu#t to se#ect the soft$"re$hich best m"tches specific needs, but there "re p#enty of peop#e g#ob"##y $i##ing to he#p you m"(ethose decisions "nd he#p t"(e sm"## businesses do$n the p"th to "n open "nd producti%e future.
https://www.openoffice.org/http://www.abisource.com/http://www.gtkmm.org/en/http://www.libreoffice.org/https://www.openoffice.org/http://www.abisource.com/http://www.gtkmm.org/en/http://www.libreoffice.org/


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How to contribute to OpenStack

By !i"h Bo#en (originally published February 2014)

*i(e "ny open source community, Open't"c( h"s its #oc"# 5uir(s $hen it comes to getting in%o#%ed in

the proect. +his is further comp#ic"ted, in the c"se of Open't"c(, by the f"ct th"t its "ctu"##y "co##ection of numerous sm"##er proects $hich "re #in(ed together %i" sh"red A?Is, but $hich h"%eindependent obecti%es "nd de%e#oper communities.

+his "rtic#e isnt comprehensi%e, by "ny me"ns, but its "n "ttempt to sho$ you some of the p#"ces$here you c"n p#ug into the community. Its especi"##y import"nt to note th"t you dont h"%e to be "progr"mmer to be " %"#u"b#e contributor to Open't"c(.

ailing lists

'ince it sp"ns timeones, continents, "nd #"ngu"ges, most of the communic"tion "round Open't"c(h"ppens on m"i#ing #ists.

+here "re " *O+ of m"i#ing #ists, but theres one m"in oneF openst"c(H#ists.openst"c(.org . ou c"nsubscribe or #oo( "t the "rchi%es. "ther th"n sp#itting technic"# discussion by sub&proect, its "## in onep#"ce, $ith subect #ine t"gs $here "ppropri"te. 8or e/"mp#e, " discussion of Cei#ometer $ou#d beindic"ted by Jcei#ometerK in the em"i# subect #ine. +he dis"d%"nt"ge of this "ppro"ch is, of course, thehigh %o#ume of the #istL"round 100 mess"ges per d"y. +he "d%"nt"ge, ho$e%er, is th"t you dont h"%eto subscribe to " doen other #ists to get " comprehensi%e picture of $h"ts going on "nd ris( missingout on some sub&proect you $ere un"$"re of.

+here "re "#so #ists for c#oud oper"tors, for found"tion go%ern"nce, security, "nd %"rious other sub&

te"ms. Vie$ the comp#ete #ist.

Once you%e decided $h"t #ists: you $"nt to be on, you shou#d #isten 5uiet#y for " $hi#e to get "n ide"of the tone of the con%ers"tion "nd $ho the m"in spe"(ers "re. e"d the m"i#ing #ist eti5uette guidefortips on #oc"# cu#tur"# con%entions.

!it and !errit

If you $"nt to submit ch"nges to the code or document"tion, you## need to be f"mi#i"r $ith the Eit$or(f#o$. A#though the code repositories reside on Eit!ub,the p"tch process doesnt fo##o$ the Eithubpu## re5uest mode# you m"y "#re"dy be f"mi#i"r $ith. Inste"d, it uses Eerrit, $hich ensures th"t e%ery

ch"nge to "ny p"rt of the Open't"c( codeb"se is subected to the s"me rigorous testing process,$hether its " m"or function"# ch"nge or " tiny document"tion t$e"(. Vie$ the fu##y documented$or(f#o$.

>%ery ch"nge is submitted to " system th"t re5uires "t #e"st t$o hum"n re%ie$s of the ch"nge "s $e## "s" successfu# comp#etion of the testing suite. Once these re5uirements h"%e been met, the code is"utom"tic"##y merged into the Eit repo "nd becomes p"rt of the m"ster br"nch.

It is something of " p"in to go through this setup process, but once you%e done it once, you## ne%er
mailto:[email protected]://lists.openstack.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/openstackhttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Mailing_Listshttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Mailing_Listshttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/MailingListEtiquettehttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/MailingListEtiquettehttps://github.com/openstackhttps://github.com/openstackhttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Gerrit_Workflowhttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Gerrit_Workflowmailto:[email protected]://lists.openstack.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/openstackhttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Mailing_Listshttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/MailingListEtiquettehttps://github.com/openstackhttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Gerrit_Workflowhttps://wiki.openstack.org/wiki/Gerrit_Workflow


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need to do it "g"in, "nd the "d%"nt"ges "re enormous.

ask"openstack"org

hi#e discussions "bout the direction of the proect h"ppen on the m"i#ing #ists, MNA con%ers"tionsh"ppen on httpF"s(.openst"c(.org in " 't"c( O%erf#o$ sty#e forum. +his is the p#"ce to go if you h"%e

5uestions "bout Open't"c(, or if you $ish to he#p "ns$er others 5uestions.

?"rticip"nts in the forum e"rn ("rm" points th"t gi%e them "ccess to gre"ter #e%e#s of pri%i#ege "ndresponsibi#ity, such "s moder"ting 5uestions, editing 5uestions "nd responses, "nd "dding t"gs tocon%ers"tions. +he more you do, the more you c"n do.

I#C

If you prefer re"#&time con%ers"tion, there "re " number of Open't"c(&re#"ted ch"nne#s on the 8reenodeIC net$or(. +hey "re "## f"ir#y 5uiet, since "s(.openst"c(.org c"rries the m"in $eight of con%ers"tion,but theres gener"##y " #"rge cro$d G)< on the openst"c(ch"nne# "s Im $riting this: "nd someone $i##usu"##y "ns$er " 5uestion pretty 5uic(#y.

+he openst"c(ch"nne# is for gener"# discussion "nd MNA. +heopenst"c(&101 ch"nne# is for beginner5uestions th"t you might fee# emb"rr"ssed "s(ing e#se$here.

openst"c(&community is " ch"nne# $here peop#e conduct meetings to discuss " $ide %"riety ofOpen't"c(&re#"ted topics. A meeting bot t"(es notes so th"t they c"n be reported b"c( to %"rious p"rtsof the community. openst"c(&community is " good p#"ce to find out "bout #oc"# Open't"c( usergroups in your "re" "nd discuss %"rious community e%ents.

$vents'pe"(ing of e%ents, theres "#$"ys something going on some$here re#"ted to Open't"c(.

+here "re t$o m"in conferences e%ery ye"r, one in the Pnited 't"tes "nd one e#se$here, $here the ne/tsi/ months of Open't"c( de%e#opment is discussed "nd technic"# present"tions "re gi%en on the %"rious"spects of the proect.

+he ne/t one of these is the Open't"c( 'ummit $hich $i## t"(e p#"ce in At#"nt", Eeorgi" from ;"y12&1Q, 2014. Eet more det"i#s "nd register to "ttend on the $ebsite.+hen, the ne/t 'ummit $i## be he#din 6o%ember 2014 in ?"ris, 8r"nce. ;"ny sessions "re recorded. ou c"n $"tch present"tionsfromOpen't"c( 'ummit !ong Rong, #"st ye"r.

In "ddition to these m"or e%ents, sm"##er #oc"# e%ents "re "#$"ys h"ppening "nd #isted on the site.Open't"c( meetups c"n be t$o peop#e meeting to ch"t to hundreds of "ttendees g"thering for form"#present"tions. egion"# user groups "re #isted"nd if there isnt one in your "re", consider st"rting oneup. A## you need is "nother person $ho $"nts to meet to t"#( Open't"c(.
http://ask.openstack.org/http://www.openstack.org/summit/openstack-summit-atlanta-2014/http://www.openstack.org/summit/openstack-summit-atlanta-2014/https://www.openstack.org/summit/openstack-summit-hong-kong-2013/session-videos/https://www.openstack.org/summit/openstack-summit-hong-kong-2013/session-videos/http://www.openstack.org/community/events/http://www.openstack.org/community/http://ask.openstack.org/http://www.openstack.org/summit/openstack-summit-atlanta-2014/https://www.openstack.org/summit/openstack-summit-hong-kong-2013/session-videos/http://www.openstack.org/community/events/http://www.openstack.org/community/


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%o something

In the end, if you $"nt to get in%o#%ed in Open't"c(, or "ny open source proect, the tric( is to ust dosomething. If you $"it "round for someone to te## you $h"t to $or( on, you## be $"iting " #ong time.'tep up "nd "ns$er " 5uestion, fi/ " typo, p"tch " bug, or go to "n e%ent.

'ee you in the communityS

Eet st"rted in open source on#ine "nd off#ine

-y obin ;ui#$i( origin"##y pub#ished 8ebru"ry 2014:

h"t s(i##sdo you need "nd $hich proectsshou#d you p"rticip"te in "s beginner in open source

+hese "re common 5uestions for beginners to open source soft$"re, h"rd$"re, communities, "ndmethodo#ogies. 6e$ fo#(s to open source c"n st"rt their disco%ery on#ine "nd off#ine. >%ents "ndproects of m"ny different (inds $i## he#p beginners find $h"t they "re good "t "nd "##o$ them to get to(no$ their o$n s(i##s.

!et started with open source online

Codecademy

Codec"demyis " $ebsite $here you c"n #e"rn se%er"# progr"mming #"ngu"ges in "n inter"cti%e $"y.*"ngu"ges such "s !+;*, ?!?, uby "nd ?ython "re " fe$. ith e"ch #"ngu"ge, you #e"rn the b"sics,#i(e synt"/ "nd comm"nds, "nd by finishing "ssignments, you e"rn points "nd b"dges.

I c"n recommend Codec"demy, "s I signed up myse#f to fo##o$ the ?!? #essons. +he first #essons st"rtre"# e"sy, "nd this course continues to te"ch you the most common comm"nds "nd progr"mming

structure "nd synt"/. >"ch #esson ends $ith pr"cticing $h"t you ust #e"rned. A## you need for courses"t Codec"demy is your bro$serLno e/tr" soft$"re is re5uired.

Code School

Codeschoo#t"(es " different "ppro"ch for #e"rningD students t"(e $h"t they c"## Bp"thsB to uby,@"%"script, !+;*C'' "nd iO'. here Codec"demy pro%ides its courses in on#ine re"ding m"teri"#,Codeschoo# presents them through %ideo #essons "nd ch"##enges.

>"ch Bp"thB cont"ins se%er"# #essons th"t t"(e you through " specific progr"mming #"ngu"ge. Ag"in, no

e/tr" setup is re5uired, ust the site "nd your bro$ser. h"t m"(es Codeschoo# interesting is th"t they"#so pro%ide " course in progr"mming "pps for the i?hone "nd i?"d.

Code"org

Code.orgis (no$n for its !our of Code progr"m "nd offers simi#"r courses such "s @"%"script "nd?ython but "#so tutori"#s for beginners. +hese beginner tutori"#s #et you so#%e pu#es in " 'cr"tchi(een%ironment b"sed on the Angry -irds g"me, te"ching you concepts #i(e repe"toops, condition"#s, "ndb"sic "#gorithms.
http://opensource.com/life/14/1/get-involved-open-source-2014http://opensource.com/life/14/1/open-source-projects-for-beginnershttp://www.codecademy.com/https://www.codeschool.com/http://code.org/http://opensource.com/life/14/1/get-involved-open-source-2014http://opensource.com/life/14/1/open-source-projects-for-beginnershttp://www.codecademy.com/https://www.codeschool.com/http://code.org/


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Code.org c#e"r#y st"tes the "ge c"tegory to $hich the courses "pp#y, "nd the re5uirements to fo##o$them, $hich in most c"ses is " bro$ser or "n iO' or Android de%ice.

Scratch

8or the youngest beginners "ge GT: in open source, there is the popu#"r progr"mming #"ngu"ge

'cr"tch.

S"rat"h is a programming language and an online "ommunity #here "hildren "an programand share intera"ti$e media su"h as stories% games% and animation #ith people &rom allo$er the #orld As "hildren "reate #ith S"rat"h% they learn to thin' "reati$ely% #or'"ollaborati$ely% and reason systemati"ally

'cr"tch h"s " %ery user "nd (id&friend#y interf"ce. It te"ches (ids the %ery b"sics of progr"mming.'cr"tch pro%ides inform"tion for educ"tors"nd p"rents, m"(ing it e"sy to "d"pt in c#"ssrooms or "thome.

!et started with open source offline

&ocal 'ser !roups

If you "#re"dy h"%e "n interest for " specific open source progr"mming #"ngu"ge, or p#"tform #i(e*inu/, #oc"# user groups "re " gre"t $"y to get introduced. +hese groups typic"##y meet $ee(#y tomonth#y. A gre"t benefit of this off#ine "ppro"ch is the "bi#ity to "s( 5uestions, sh"re (no$#edge, "ndfind guid"nce in $h"t you "re #e"rning.

A gre"t e/"mp#e of this "re the *inu/ Pser Eroups*PEs: "nd ?!? Pser Eroups. Other $e## (no$nopen source proects h"%e user groups "s $e##, #i(e 7rup"#"nd ;y'M*.

Hackerspaces and makerspaces

A h"c(ersp"ce,"#so (no$n "s h"c(#"b or m"(ersp"ce, is " community #ed $or(sp"ce. ItUs " p#"ce$here peop#e meet $ith " common interest, for e/"mp#e reg"rding computers, techno#ogy, or science.

!"c(ersp"ces c"n be " gre"t $"y of disco%ering the use "nd de%e#opment of open source "nd openh"rd$"re. 7ifferent from " #oc"# user group, " h"c(ersp"ce c"n be "bout more th"n one topic orinterest. +his pro%ides " beginner in open source $ith the opportunity to e/p#ore se%er"# open source

soft$"re or h"rd$"re proects, "nd thus, to find out $here his or her interest #ies.

!"c(ersp"ces "re e"sy to find, ust se"rch the Internet "nd you $i## most #i(e#y find one c#ose to hometh"t you c"n %isit. 'ome h"c(ersp"ces run " $ebsite $ith " #ist of proects. +his is " good $"y to se"rchfor something th"t you "re interested in. +o gi%e you "n ide", this is the proect #istfor " h"c(ersp"ce inAmsterd"m 6ether#"nds:.
http://scratch.mit.edu/http://scratch.mit.edu/educators/http://scratch.mit.edu/parents/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_user_grouphttps://groups.drupal.org/https://wikis.oracle.com/display/mysql/List+of+MySQL+User+Groupshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspacehttps://wiki.techinc.nl/index.php/Projectshttps://wiki.techinc.nl/index.php/Projectshttp://scratch.mit.edu/http://scratch.mit.edu/educators/http://scratch.mit.edu/parents/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_user_grouphttps://groups.drupal.org/https://wikis.oracle.com/display/mysql/List+of+MySQL+User+Groupshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackerspacehttps://wiki.techinc.nl/index.php/Projects


10/40

Coderdo(os

>/p#oring Coderdoos $"s inspired by t$o of my pre%ious#y pub#ished inter%ie$s $ith *une %"n >$i(7igit"# Eir# 201): "nd @u#ie Cu##enAmb"ss"dor for Ire#"nd during >urope Code ee( 201):.

oder*o+o, The open sour"e% $olunteer led% global mo$ement o& &ree "oding "lubs &or

young people

Coder7oo is " non&profit g#ob"# mo%ement "nd $"s founded in 2011 by @"mes he#ton "nd -i## *i"o.-ec"use Coder7oos "re open source by n"ture, e%ery 7oo is different "nd "utonomous. oung peop#ebet$een the "ges of < "nd 1< meet "t 7oos to #e"rn ho$ to progr"m "pps, g"mes, soft$"re, "nd more.In the true spirit of the open source $"y, Coder7oos "re set up, run, "nd t"ught "t by %o#unteers.

6oteF e"d more "bout ho$ Coder7oos "re "bout more th"n ust coding in my inter%ie$$ith *une%"n >$i(. ou## find they c"n "#so be "bout robotics, p#"ying $ith open source h"rd$"re #i(e Arduinoor "spberry ?i bo"rds, "nd #e"rning the s(i## of so#dering.

Online versus offline

here the on#ine options gi%e you #ots of opportunities to #e"rn the beginnings in open sourceprogr"mming #"ngu"ges, itUs the off#ine opportunities th"t re"##y introduce beginners to "## the opensource proects th"t "re out there.

oung beginners especi"##y off to " gre"t st"rt if they try 'cr"tch or %isit " #oc"# Coder7oo orh"c(ersp"ce.

.outh re"ommendations,

Age /- and up, odeorg beginner tutorials% S"rat"h% oderdo+os

iddle s"hool, a$as"ript and 3ython% ha"'erspa"e% user groups

igh s"hool, Apps &or i5S% ha"'erspa"e% user groups
http://opensource.com/life/14/1/interview-digital-girl-lune-van-ewijkhttp://opensource.com/life/14/1/europe-code-week-interview-julie-cullenhttp://opensource.com/open-source-wayhttp://opensource.com/life/14/1/interview-digital-girl-lune-van-ewijkhttp://opensource.com/life/14/1/interview-digital-girl-lune-van-ewijkhttp://opensource.com/life/14/1/europe-code-week-interview-julie-cullenhttp://opensource.com/open-source-wayhttp://opensource.com/life/14/1/interview-digital-girl-lune-van-ewijk


11/40

)uilding an open source community

By ihai 6uiman (originally published February 2014)

I h"%e to#d the storyof ho$ 8in+?, the first open source "pp#ic"tion for processing fin"nci"#

tr"ns"ctions, $"s born. !ere, I $ou#d #i(e to present " deeper %ie$ on ho$ the community is beingbui#t, its structure "nd go%ern"nce "nd $hy I thin( peop#e shou#d oin such communities. I myse#f "m "founding member of t$o communities, the first being bui#t together $ith my friends "fter our firstb"che#or p"rty, from " desire to preser%e our spirit of oy "nd good %ibes. +he second one is the opensource community "round 8in+?, c"##ed 8I6(ers Pnited.

An open source proect c"nnot succeed $ithout " po$erfu# community th"t supports its de%e#opment.At the s"me time, >ric "ymond s"id in The athedral and the Ba7aarth"t " necess"ry pre&conditionfor success in "n open source proect is h"%ing something runn"b#e "nd test"b#e to p#"y $ith. +herefore$e h"%e the chic(en "nd egg di#emm" of $hich comes firstLthe product or the community.8ortun"te#y, 8in+? h"d both, being the resu#t of e%o#ution from its pre%ious commerci"# %ersion to open

source "nd h"%ing " comp"ny, p"rtnersU net$or( "nd " user b"se th"t $ou#d become the st"rting pointfor the open community 8I6(ers Pnited.

hi#e it m"y seem th"t the tr"nsition from the c#osed community to 8I6(ers Pnited is destined to besmooth, there "re m"ny "dustments to be m"de. +he ro#es in the community h"%e to ch"nge dr"stic"##y,from the former $"y of inter"ction bet$een supp#y "nd dem"nd sides, in order to benefit from "## the"d%"nt"ges "n open en%ironment h"s to offerLreduced time&to&m"r(et, better resu#ts de#i%ered from "strong co##"bor"tion, cost s"%ings. Of course, " coherent go%ern"nce str"tegy h"s to be est"b#ished sothe proect doesnUt go off r"i#s.

Community structure

Communities "re groups of indi%idu"#s sh"ring common interests. 8I6(ers Pnited is not different, "##members h"%ing the s"me go"# to impro%e the processing of fin"nci"# tr"ns"ctions b"sed on opensource "pp#ic"tions, pushing the interoper"bi#ity #e%e# in order to "chie%e " ne$ sem"nticst"nd"rdi"tion for fin"nci"# tr"ns"ctions. 8or this specific community "nd mission, se%er"#profession"# profi#es of indi%idu"#s "nd institutions "re $e#comedF technic"# de%e#opers, I+ "rchitects"nd designers, imp#ementers, support, 5u"#ity "ssur"nce:, business business (no$#edge in b"n(ingpr"ctice, st"nd"rds, fin"nci"# tr"ns"ction processing, b"n(ing or corpor"te tre"sury, corpor"te to b"n(business etc.:, communic"tion, m"r(eting, m"r(et "n"#ysts, "uditing "nd #eg"# consu#t"nts.

In order to successfu##y est"b#ish the str"tegy "nd obecti%es, to m"n"ge "nd contro# the "cti%ity of the

community, the community $e concei%ed h"s the fo##o$ing three go%erning entitiesF Eener"#Assemb#y, -o"rd of 7irectors "nd Censor. In the e"r#y st"ges of the community, the go%ern"nce isensured by the founding comp"ny, since it is the so#e contributor. 8or no$, the community h"s "+echnic"# Committee coordin"ted by the comp"nyUs C+O, $hich inc#udes 10 proect #e"ders. In time,ne$ hier"rchies $i## emerge b"sed on merit "nd contributions, so "ny member c"n be e#ected.

#easons to (oin the *I+kers 'nited community

+he most common 5uestion is $h"tUs in it for me, #hy should 8 +oin this "ommunity9
http://opensource.com/business/13/12/fintp-to-open-sourcehttp://www.jus.uio.no/sisu/the_cathedral_and_the_bazaar.eric_s_raymond/_10.htmlhttp://opensource.com/business/13/12/fintp-to-open-sourcehttp://www.jus.uio.no/sisu/the_cathedral_and_the_bazaar.eric_s_raymond/_10.html


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+he re$"rds "re %ery different from the tr"dition"# c#osed&source proects, $here there is " c#e"r #imit.8or supp#iers, the types of re$"rd&e"rning contributions "re in the ob description, for $hich you get "month#y p"ychec(. 8or the dem"nd side, $h"t you p"y is $h"t you get, $ith #imited f#e/ibi#ity fromboth pro%iders "nd budget o$ners.

In open source communities, the benefits "re different for e%ery member profi#e, but the essence is th"te%erybody is in%o#%ed bec"use of h"%ing " sh"red interest "nd "cts "s "n entrepreneurLh"%ing ide"s,initi"ti%es "nd the freedom to "ct "ccording#y to o$n be#iefs.

8or the adopters, the benefits of using "nd supporting open source soft$"re h"%e been deb"ted in#ength, "nd they inc#udeF

1. +he po$er to inf#uence proects "nd str"tegies2. 8reedom from %endor #oc(ing). -enefit from better, more secure "nd re#i"b#e products4. -etter +CO "nd time to m"r(et=. educe de%e#opment "nd m"inten"nce costQ. Attr"ct "nd ret"in de%e#opment t"#ent


13/40

, ways open source is transforming tech in -./0

By :ren ;ia7i (originally published February 2014)

8or the #"st dec"de $eU%e $"tched "n epic contest unfo#d bet$een open source "nd propriet"ry

techno#ogy, "nd 2014 is the ye"r th"t this dyn"mic $i## r"dic"##y tr"nsform. +he #ines bet$een opensource "nd propriet"ry "re becoming irre%oc"b#y b#urred "s propriet"ry firms pour resources into opensource de%e#opment "nd open source comp"nies di"# in their re%enue mode#s. Abo%e "## e#se, the opensource community is producing the techno#ogies businesses need to be competiti%e in the d"t"&rich 21stcentury.

+he open source mo%ement, bui#t on the m"r(etp#"ce of ide"sU "nd the sc"#"bi#ity of co##"bor"tion, iss$"##o$ing the propriet"ry $or#d. +o underst"nd $here the entire tech $or#d is going, I be#ie%e $eneed to (eep " c#ose eye on these fi%e open source trendsF

/" %ata storage clustering

In 2014, open source techno#ogy $i## "##o$ d"t"centers to c#uster together stor"ge systems "nd therebygro$ "t " r"pid p"ce. +he soft$"re $i## "##o$ us to c#one "n entire stor"ge system, m"(ing it possib#e tobring ne$ d"t"b"se ser%ers on#ine $ithin minutes. >ssenti"##y, open source $i## cr"c( the prob#em of"bsorbing high %o#umes of d"t" "t high speed.

+his "bi#ity to bui#d up stor"ge sp"ce 5uic(#y is cruci"# bec"use our digit"# uni%erse is e/p"ndingr"pid#y. In " 2011, the Intern"tion"# 7"t" Corpor"tion I7C: found th"t the g#ob"# %o#ume of digit"#d"t" is rough#y doub#ing e%ery 2 ye"rs, "nd by 2020 our digit"# uni%erse $i## ho#d 40 tri##ion gig"bytes.+he "mount of inform"tion m"n"ged by enterprise d"t"centers $ou#d gro$ =0&fo#d, "ccording to thereport. Open source c#ustering $i## m"(e this e/p"nsion efficient "nd "fford"b#e.

-" 1roprietary software companies go open source

?ropriet"ry soft$"re pro%iders fee# immense pressure to support open source techno#ogy. A#thoughOr"c#e h"s been (no$n to b"sh open source, the comp"ny h"s "t #e"st 14 "cti%e open source initi"ti%es"nd h"s become " corpor"te sponsor of the Open't"c( 8ound"tion, $ith p#"ns to integr"te Open't"c(c"p"bi#ities into its products "nd c#oud ser%ices. In 'eptember 201), I-; "nnounced th"t it $ou#din%est W1 bi##ion into *inu/ "nd open source inno%"tion to he#p its customer run big d"t" "nd c#oudcomputing so#utions on I-;Us ?o$er 'ystems ser%ers. @ust this @"nu"ry, ;icrosoft open sourced itsAure c#oud ser%er design through 8"ceboo(Us Open Compute ?roect. +he other tech gi"nts "re

fo##o$ing suit.

Open source $i## m"(e e%en further inro"ds in the pub#ic sector this ye"r. +he P.'. go%ernment h"sbui#t Open'ource.go%, " b"c(&end site dedic"ted to he#ping dep"rtments migr"te to open sourcetechno#ogy. +he ?ent"gonUs 7efense Ad%"nced ese"rch ?roects Agency 7A?A: "#one is funding"nd contributing to o%er


14/40

2" High performance computing

Open source $i## produce the ne/t gener"tion of high perform"nce computing c#usters th"t under#ie bigd"t" "n"#ysis "nd "pp#ic"tions. +he high speeds of such computing c#usters pro%ide the "bi#ity to p"rseg"rg"ntu"n %o#umes of d"t" in mi##iseconds. >nterprises in e%ery sing#e industry no$ need suchc"p"bi#ities to m"(e use of the d"t" they co##ect. C#ustering c"n "#so he#p enterprise $ebsites support

$ide f#uctu"tions in %isitors "nd us"ge $ithout f"#tering in perform"nce. e cre"ted this c#usteringtechno#ogy $"y b"c( in 2004 before d"t" "n"#ytics bec"me cruci"# to business str"tegies. +od"y, it $i##be the (ey to pinning do$n %"#u"b#e d"t" "t " re"son"b#e cost.

0" obile development

ith the re#"ti%e dec#ine of des(tops "nd rise of mobi#e de%ices, open source is becoming thefound"tion for superior mobi#e de%e#opment. >/isting p#"tforms #i(e @oom#", Con%ertigo, 7re"m8"ctory, Open;>A?, "nd m"ny others "##o$ de%e#opers to bui#d their product, get it to m"r(et 5uic(#y"nd sc"#e. Open source progr"mming #"ngu"ges, d"t"b"ses, midd#e$"re engines "nd other too#s $i##continue to fue# mobi#e de%e#opment "nd the gro$th of " mobi#e open source ecosystem.

," 'niversities teaching open source

Pni%ersities h"%e #ong been users "nd producers of open source techno#ogy, "nd students "re getting inon the "ction. As Venture-e"t reported b"c( in 6o%ember, t$enty&t$o uni%ersities inc#uding 't"nford,;I+, -er(#ey, "nd C"rnegie ;e##on h"%e "## te"med up $ith 8"ceboo( to pro%ide students $ith"c"demic credit for $or(ing on open source proects. Pni%ersities "re "d"pting their curricu#ums "nd$e#coming such opportunities to m"(e sure th"t students gr"du"te $ith in&dem"nd s(i##s "nd the bestemp#oyment prospects. -eyond the 8"ceboo( inspired proects, e%ery m"or tech uni%ersity h"s f"cu#tymembers $or(ing on open source proects often $ith their students:. As high schoo#s, unior highs "nd

midd#e schoo#s pic( up the s#"c( in Americ"Us computing educ"tion, I h"%e no doubt open source $i##find its $"y into their curricu#" too.

+he open source %ersus propriet"ry contest is ending bec"use " critic"# m"ss of techno#ogists inbusiness "nd go%ernment recognie th"t open source techno#ogy offers higher perform"nce, sc"#"bi#ity,"nd re#i"bi#ity "t " much #o$er price th"n propriet"ry so#utions. Open sourceUs #e"dership in d"t"stor"ge c#ustering, high perform"nce computing, "n"#ytics "nd mobi#e de%e#opment $i## secure opensource domin"nce o%er the ne/t dec"de. +he open source shift "mong propriet"ry soft$"re pro%iders"nd the rise of open source in tech educ"tion $i## "#so reprogr"m the intern"tion"# tech $or(force tostudy, m"ster "nd imp#ement open source so#utions "cross e%ery m"or industry. ;y hope is th"t $eremember 2014 "s the ye"r $e beg"n to %ie$ open source "s the norm r"ther th"n the e/ception intechno#ogic"# inno%"tion.


15/40

How to get started in civic hacking

By Andre# yder (originally published February 2014)

h"t is ci%ic h"c(ing

'e%enty peop#e g"thered together one sunny O"(#"nd "fternoon to %o#unteer "nd impro%e their city.+here $ere no r"(es or y"rd too#s norm"##y seen "t %o#unteer&d"y e%ents though. 6o p"int brushes, notr"sh b"gs, no c"nned soup bins. +hese se%enty peop#e $ere #"den $ith #"ptops "nd $ere %o#unteeringto impro%e the cityUs $ebsite.

+his group of eng"ged citiens $ere bui#ding O"(#"nd Ans$ers, " ne$ e"sy $"y to get "ns$ers for themost common 5uestions "s(ed on the O"(#"nd City $ebsite. 8rom finding out ho$ to p"y p"r(ingtic(ets, to chec(ing $h"t obs the City is hiring for, the ne$ $ebsite is citien&focused "nd communitybui#t.

+he d"y #ong e%ent $"s c"##ed " B$rite"thonB "nd the m"ority of the fo#(s in the room $ere not $ebde%e#opers but #ong time O"(#"nd residents $ho c"me to $rite "ns$ers. +echno#ogists $ere there toothough, setting up ser%ers "nd for(ing the open source code for the site. +hese $eb de%e#opers, "ns$er$riters, "nd City st"ff $ere "## t"(ing p"rt in the gro$ing ne$ mo%ement of ci%ic h"c(ing.

Ci%ic h"c(ing is peop#e $or(ing together 5uic(#y "nd cre"ti%e#y to he#p impro%ego%ernment.3L@"(e *e%it"s

!ere "re " fe$ more e/"mp#es of popu#"r open source ci%ic h"c(ing proectsF

One-usA$"yon Eit!ub:City budget %isu"#i"tionson Eit!ub:

)11 'er%ice +r"c(eron Eit!ub:8#u 'hot 8inderon Eit!ub:'treet;i/on Eit!ub:CityVoiceonEit!ub:

Open source civic hacking

Open source soft$"re is fund"ment"# to ci%ic h"c(ing. ?"ssion"te %o#unteers $rite code "nd in%entser%ices th"t impro%e their o$n neighborhoods, but do so in " $"y th"t c"n be repe"ted in othercommunities "round the $or#d. -eing "b#e to e"si#y sh"re code $ithout restriction is $h"t "##o$s forci%ic techno#ogy to sc"#e.

8or e/"mp#e, " fe$ ye"rs "go in -oston there $ere se%ere sno$ storms th"t buried the fire hydr"nts.+he s"me sno$ $"s do$ning po$er#ines "nd sp"r(ing fires. 'ome ci%ic h"c(ers s"$ this prob#em "ndcre"ted Adopt&"&hydr"nton Eit!ub:, " $"y for neighbors to %o#unteer to sho%e# out the hydr"nts ontheir b#oc(. +he fo##o$ing summer, the s"me code $"s for(ed "nd redep#oyed in !ono#u#u, not forsno$ but for tsun"mi sirens. Adopt" h"s since been redep#oyed doens of times "nd is being const"nt#yimpro%ed by coders "cross the country.
http://answers.oaklandnet.com/http://www.codeforamerica.org/2013/06/07/defining-civic-hacking/http://onebusaway.org/https://github.com/OneBusAway/http://openbudgetoakland.org/https://github.com/daguar/oakland-budget-vizhttp://servicetracker.cityofchicago.org/https://github.com/codeforamerica/srtrackerhttp://chicagoflushots.org/https://github.com/tkompare/chicagoflushotshttp://streetmix.net/https://github.com/codeforamerica/streetmixhttp://www.southbendvoices.com/https://github.com/codeforamerica/cityvoicehttps://github.com/codeforamerica/cityvoicehttp://adoptahydrant.org/https://github.com/codeforamerica/adopt-a-hydranthttp://sirens.honolulu.gov/http://answers.oaklandnet.com/http://www.codeforamerica.org/2013/06/07/defining-civic-hacking/http://onebusaway.org/https://github.com/OneBusAway/http://openbudgetoakland.org/https://github.com/daguar/oakland-budget-vizhttp://servicetracker.cityofchicago.org/https://github.com/codeforamerica/srtrackerhttp://chicagoflushots.org/https://github.com/tkompare/chicagoflushotshttp://streetmix.net/https://github.com/codeforamerica/streetmixhttp://www.southbendvoices.com/https://github.com/codeforamerica/cityvoicehttp://adoptahydrant.org/https://github.com/codeforamerica/adopt-a-hydranthttp://sirens.honolulu.gov/


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!etting started

A gre"t first proect is to inc#ude your city in "n e/isting ser%ice. +"(e C#ic( th"t hoodon Eit!ub: fore/"mp#e. ItUs " fun g"me th"t he#ps te"ch "bout " cityUs neighborhoods. h"ts gre"t "bout it is th"t ith"s c#e"r instructionsfor "dding your o$n city to the g"me. +hese instructions inc#ude using opensource too#s, co##"bor"ting on Eit!ub, "nd finding open d"t"L"## necess"ry s(i##s for getting st"rted in

ci%ic h"c(ing.

*inding open data

+he ci%ic h"c(ing mo%ement is dependent on being "b#e to e"si#y find d"t" "bout go%ernments "nd thep#"ces they go%ern. If tr"nsit d"t", #i(e bus schedu#es "nd tr"in st"tion #oc"tions, "renUt "%"i#"b#e th"n$e cou#dnUt m"(e "ny usefu# "pps "bout tr"nsit. *uc(i#y, m"ny cities underst"nd the import"nce ofm"(ing their d"t" "%"i#"b#e "nd h"%e open d"t" port"#s no$. 7"t".go% h"s" #istof m"ny of thego%ernment d"t" port"#s "round the country "nd $or#d. +hese port"#s g"ther "## the "%"i#"b#e d"t"setsth"t " city h"s "nd puts them "## on#ine in one p#"ce. +he best d"t" port"#s h"%e th"t d"t" in " m"chinere"d"b#e form"t, so th"t it c"n be e"si#y inc#uded in "pps. Chec( your cityUs $ebsite to find if " d"t"

port"# e/ists. If not, then $or(ing $ith your city to get one setup is " gre"t ci%ic h"c(ing proect to st"rt$ith.

Open source d"t" port"#sF

CRA6

7RA6

'ocr"t"

Community

ItUs import"nt to remember th"t ci%ic h"c(ing inc#udes both community "nd techno#ogy. A## "spiringci%ic h"c(ers need to oin $ith others to so#%e our ci%ic prob#ems together. Chec( out the Code forAmeric" -rig"deto find " #oc"# %o#unteer group or st"rt your o$n. +he best p"rt of oining up $ithother ci%ic h"c(ers is finding out ho$ theyU%e "chie%ed successes in their o$n cities. +he -rig"de isone of the best resources for disco%ering the #"test open source too#s "nd proects to $or( on. A#so,$or(ing $ith city st"ff "nd ci%ic #e"ders $ho "re p"rt of the -rig"de is %it"# so th"t the ci%ic techno#ogy"pps cre"ted by ci%ic h"c(ers so#%e re"# societ"# prob#ems. ;"ny different s(i##s "nd m"ny differentperspecti%es "re needed to $or( on prob#ems th"t effect m"ny different peop#e. 8in"##y, to get re"##yimmersed in the ci%ic h"c(ing mo%ement, consider "pp#ying for the Code for Americ" 8e##o$shipprogr"m.

!"ppy h"c(ingS
http://click-that-hood.com/https://github.com/codeforamerica/click_that_hoodhttps://github.com/codeforamerica/click_that_hood/wiki/How-to-add-a-city-to-Click-That-%E2%80%99Hoodhttp://www.data.gov/open-gov/http://www.data.gov/open-gov/http://ckan.org/https://drupal.org/project/dkanhttp://open-source.socrata.com/http://brigade.codeforamerica.org/http://www.codeforamerica.org/about/fellowship/http://www.codeforamerica.org/about/fellowship/http://click-that-hood.com/https://github.com/codeforamerica/click_that_hoodhttps://github.com/codeforamerica/click_that_hood/wiki/How-to-add-a-city-to-Click-That-%E2%80%99Hoodhttp://www.data.gov/open-gov/http://ckan.org/https://drupal.org/project/dkanhttp://open-source.socrata.com/http://brigade.codeforamerica.org/http://www.codeforamerica.org/about/fellowship/http://www.codeforamerica.org/about/fellowship/


17/40

3ho helps your &inu4 distribution run smoothly?5hank a packager today

By dubuntu:

for the hobbyist "spbi"n:for the medi" "rtist Pbuntu 'tudio:

for the e"sy&going user ;int:

for the des(top "pp#ic"tion "nd c#oud Pbuntu:

simp#e "nd #ight$eight Arch:

f"ithfu##y bui#t from source code Eentoo:

re#i"b#e "nd unpretentious '#"c($"re:

And, the #ist (eeps going for tens of other distributionsth"t "re continuous#y e%o#%ing.

In "## the c"ses, the *inu/ distributions "re "ggreg"ting free "nd open source p"c("ges, configuring

them "nd combining them in " m"nner th"t ensure their proper co##ecti%e beh"%ior. +h"n(s to "## th"tconfigur"tion "nd testing, "dopters of *inu/ distributions h"%e the pe"ce of mind of simp#y inst"##ing "p"c("ge " gi%en "pp#ic"tion: "nd h"%ing the confidence th"t it $i## $or( nice#y $ith the otherp"c("ges current#y inst"##ed in the system.

+he Bm"gic e#%esB behind the scenes $ho $or( tire#ess#y to m"(e this $or( smooth#y "re thepa"'agers. +he %"st m"ority of *inu/ p"c("gers "re %o#unteers $ho dedic"te their e%enings "nd$ee(ends to cre"te "nd m"int"in the ge"rs of the *inu/ distributions they #o%e.

-"c( in 8ebru"ry 2012, I h"d the #uc( of being the first tr"inee of the 7ebi"n ;"int"iner of the ;onth;o;:progr"m, st"rted by Andre"s +i##e. +he go"# of the ;o; progr"m is to educ"te "nd tr"in ne$

p"c("gers for the 7ebi"n distribution by p"iring tr"inees $ith mentors "nd doing the tr"ining $hi#ep"c("ging " ne$ re"# "pp#ic"tion. +he progr"m h"s "## the ingredients for b"#"ncing "n interesting,ch"##enging, "nd re$"rding t"s(.

7uring my tr"ining, $e #e"rned ho$ to p"c("ge fis&gtm, the open source imp#ement"tion of;;P;?'th"t is of gre"t import"nce for the ecosystem of open source >#ectronic !e"#th ecordssystems. +hefis&gtm p"c("geh"s ust been "ccepted in the7ebi"n unst"b#edistribution.

Eoing through the tr"ining $"s eye opening. I #e"rned " gre"t de"# of %ery usefu# too#s "nd pr"ctices,th"t since then I continue to use d"i#y. 8rom the proper use of E?E (eys, to chroot cont"inment"nd
http://www.redhat.com/products/enterprise-linux/http://fedoraproject.org/http://www.debian.org/http://www.edubuntu.org/http://www.raspbian.org/http://ubuntustudio.org/http://www.linuxmint.com/http://www.ubuntu.com/https://www.archlinux.org/http://www.gentoo.org/http://www.slackware.com/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Linux_Distribution_Timeline.svghttps://wiki.debian.org/DebianMed/MoMhttps://wiki.debian.org/DebianMed/MoMhttp://people.debian.org/~tille/http://sourceforge.net/projects/fis-gtm/http://opensource.com/health/12/3/join-m-revolution%E2%80%94get-your-toolshttp://osehra.org/blog/packaging-fis-gtm-debian-linux-distribution-0http://packages.debian.org/sid/fis-gtmhttp://www.debian.org/releases/sid/http://www.debian.org/releases/sid/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Privacy_Guardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroothttp://www.redhat.com/products/enterprise-linux/http://fedoraproject.org/http://www.debian.org/http://www.edubuntu.org/http://www.raspbian.org/http://ubuntustudio.org/http://www.linuxmint.com/http://www.ubuntu.com/https://www.archlinux.org/http://www.gentoo.org/http://www.slackware.com/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Linux_Distribution_Timeline.svghttps://wiki.debian.org/DebianMed/MoMhttps://wiki.debian.org/DebianMed/MoMhttp://people.debian.org/~tille/http://sourceforge.net/projects/fis-gtm/http://opensource.com/health/12/3/join-m-revolution%E2%80%94get-your-toolshttp://osehra.org/blog/packaging-fis-gtm-debian-linux-distribution-0http://packages.debian.org/sid/fis-gtmhttp://www.debian.org/releases/sid/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Privacy_Guardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroot


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remote screen sh"ring $ith tmu/. +he co##"bor"tion en%ironment $"s $e## described by Andre"s +i##e"sF B"(ing up in the morning to re"#ie th"t someone in "nother continent h"s "#re"dy so#%ed for youthe prob#em th"t h"d you stuc( #"st night.B

In ide"# circumst"nces, " *inu/ p"c("ger $or(s c#ose#y $ith the de%e#opers of the upstre"m p"c("ge insuch " $"y th"t ne$ re#e"ses of the p"c("ge c"n be "d"pted 5uic(#y to be inc#uded in the ne/t re#e"se ofth"t *inu/ distribution. In m"ny c"ses, the process of p"c("ging unco%ers issues $ith the p"c("ge th"tre5uire the upstre"m de%e#opers to m"(e ch"nges "nd "dustments. A p"c("ger "#so $or(s in c#osecoordin"tion $ith other p"c("gers in the s"me *inu/ distribution bec"use m"ny p"c("ges h"%edependencies on other p"c("ges or pro%ide ser%ices for other p"c("ges, m"(ing it %it"# th"t thecommunity of p"c("gers coordin"te their upd"tes to ensure the consistency of the fin"# *inu/distribution.

As *inu/ users, it is often e"sy to forget disreg"rd: ho$ much $or( goes into the cre"tion "ndm"inten"nce of " *inu/ distribution.-ecoming " *inu/ p"c("ger is "n e/ce##ent $"y to #e"rn "bout soft$"re de%e#opment, 5u"#ity contro#,proect m"n"gement, "nd soft$"re m"inten"nce in "n en%ironment of p"ssion"te indi%idu"#s $hodeep#y c"re "bout the output of their $or(. +his is "n e/perience "## young de%e#opers shou#d h"%e.

After h"%ing #e"rned the ropes of *inu/ p"c("ging, "nd h"%ing seen first h"nd the dedic"tion of thiscommunity, I de%e#oped " gre"t de"# of respect "nd "ppreci"tion for their $or(. 6o$, e%ery time Iinst"## " p"c("ge, $hether it is from the comm"nd #ine $ith

sudo apt-get install package

or

yum install package

or "ny of the e5ui%"#ent gr"phic"# interf"ces, I p"use "nd thin(F

B+h"n( you to the person $ho spent m"ny hours configuring "nd bui#ding this "pp#ic"tion so th"t IdidnUt h"%e to.B
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tmuxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tmux


19/40

3ith greater permissions6 comes greaterresponsibility

By ei'o !upp (originally published February 2014)

I c"me to $or( $ith open source "fter "n e/perience in co##ege. e used " system c"##ed Psenet,"$or#d $ide distributed discussion forum. At the uni%ersity, there $"snt "n em"i# c#ient I #i(ed, so I$rote one "nd ust g"%e it inc#uding the source code: to $hoe%er $"nted it. +his e/perience introducedme to " community of peop#e $ho m"de things "nd sh"red themD it "#so introduced me to " ob "t my"#m" m"ter "s " Psenet "dministr"tor.

In th"t position, I $"s "n "dministr"tor for one of the "t th"t time: top 10 Psenet ser%ers in the $or#d.It $"s running open source soft$"reF Inter6et6e$s I66:. unning this ser%er t"ught me ho$ tosupport bug reports "nd send p"tches to the m"int"iner. +hen, I too( o%er m"int"ining the 8AMdocument "nd did th"t for some ye"rs.

*"ter, I beg"n $or(ing for " comp"ny running @-oss App#ic"tion 'er%er ). e cre"ted some of there5uired "rtif"cts using X7oc#et. e h"d some p"in points $ith both, so I $rote p"tches "ndenh"ncments for both. After some time, I got "ccess to the source repository "nd I $"s then "b#e todirect#y chec( on the fruits of my #"bor "nd I bec"me more in tune $ith the inner $or(ings of theproect. or(ing $ith X7oc#et, I incorpor"ted the p"tches others submitted, "ns$ered 5uestions, "ndsubmitted bug reports. >%entu"##y, I got the rights to do re#e"ses, $hich fe#t %ery speci"#.

+he thing "bout open source is th"t " #ot of it st"rts $ith h"%ing " p"in point, #i(e using soft$"re th"t$"s gi%en to you to use th"t you dont #i(e. If you "re #uc(y "nd th"t soft$"re is open source, you c"nh"%e " #oo( "t the source code. And, if the Bp"in pointB is big enough, you c"n debug it "nd cre"te "p"tch. Or, if you h"%e some 5uestions "bout "n "spect of th"t soft$"re, those 5uestions m"y get

"ns$ered by someone on the de%e#opment te"m, or you might figure it out for yourse#f. +hen, $hen thene/t person comes "#ong "nd "s(s th"t 5uestion, you (no$ the "ns$er "nd c"n he#p the proect "s "$ho#e by "ns$ering it.

Answering questions and submitting patches

hen youre getting st"rted $ith open source proects, "ns$ering 5uestions "nd submitting p"tches $i##e"rn you credibi#ity $ithin the proect, "nd "t some point its #i(e th"t the fo#(s in the Binner circ#eB $i##"s( you if you $"nt to h"%e the rights to direct#y commit your p"tches or to edit document"tion p"ges.ith gre"ter permissions, comes gre"ter responsibi#ity... "nd gre"ter possibi#ities to m"(e "n imp"ct on

the proect.

If you c"nt code, remember th"t there "re so m"ny $"ys to get in%o#%ed in "n open source proectbeyond "oding. *i(e, fi/ing typos in the document"tion or tr"ns#"ting it. ;"ny proects "#so h"%e "bugtr"c(er. Pse it to %ie$ "n o#d bug report, then try it $ith the #"test %ersion of the soft$"re "nd reportthe resu#t b"c( in the tr"c(er so th"t the de%e#opment te"m c"n better udge $hen "nd ho$ to fi/ it.

!ere I sh"red 10 $"ys to get in%o#%ed in "n open source proect $ithout $riting "ny code.

hen you contribute, dont be dis"ppointed if fo#(s "re too busy to #oo( direct#y #oo( "t your
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterNetNewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XDoclethttp://opensource.com/life/13/10/ten-ways-open-source-projectshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterNetNewshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XDoclethttp://opensource.com/life/13/10/ten-ways-open-source-projects


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contribution. +his isnt person"#S +ry to m"(e it e"sy for them to consume your $or( by "pp#ying "sm"## p"tch th"t e/p#"ins $h"t is bro(en "nd $h"t c"n be done to fi/ it. @ust s"ying Bdoes not $or(B$ithout further d"t", gets e%eryone no$here. 'imi#"r#y, if you cre"te " ch"nge in the source code, m"(esure it "pp#ies nice#y "nd does not bre"( "ny tests. 'tri%e to be " te"m p#"yer "nd it $i## e"rn youcredibi#ity $hich $i## resu#t in f"ster feedb"c( "nd gre"ter "ccessibi#ity to the open source proect.


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ay open source be with you

By ory illiard (originally published February 2014)

;y introduction to open source soft$"re beg"n $hen I $"s sitting on " ser%er room f#oor, $ith my

he"d in my h"nds, comp#ete#y frustr"ted $ith " indo$s 2000 ser%er. >%ery night there $ere someser%ices th"t $ou#d cr"sh. >%ery morning I $ou#d get ye##ed "t by my o%er&be"ring boss. I $"s ne$ tothe comp"ny, it $"s my first I+ ob fresh out of 6et$or( Admin co##ege, $here I gr"du"ted "t the top ofmy c#"ss, but I cou#dnt fi/ this prob#em bec"use it $"s " B(no$n ;icrosoft issue,B "nd I ust h"d to$"it for the upd"te.

I h"d (no$n "bout *inu/ "nd $"s fo##o$ing its progress $hi#e "ttending co##ege. I (ept re"ding "boutits roc(&so#id oper"tion, so I $"nted to test it out in our comp"ny ris(ing my o$n nec( "nd b"con:.'omeho$, I con%inced my boss th"t $ith the purch"se of " W200 used computer I cou#d so#%e "## hisprob#ems. ;y p#"n $"s to rep#"ce one of the ser%ices th"t $"s c"using prob#ems ust to see if *inu/cou#d h"nd#e the ob. I se"rched the Internet "nd found " #ot of inform"tion "bout ed !"t "nd ho$

bri##i"nt their ser%ices $ere, but there $"s no $"y I $ou#d be "b#e to con%ince my boss to buy " ed!"t ser%er subscription. !ec(, I dont e%en thin( he p"id for his ;icrosoft #icensesS

>%entu"##y, I found CentO'. I used "n on#ine $"#(&through for setting up " 7yn"mic !ostConfigur"tion ?rotoco# 7!C?: ser%er on *inu/, booted it up, "nd dis"b#ed the ;' 7!C? ser%ice. I$"s o%eroyed to find th"t the 7!C? ser%ice r"n perfect#y. It e%en g"%e me more po$er "nd contro#o%er $h"t $"s going on. I $"s tru#y ecst"tic.

After " coup#e $ee(s of f#"$#ess oper"tion, I suggested $e mo%e "nother prob#em ser%ice o%er. 8"stfor$"rd "bout eight months, "nd I h"d mo%ed "## ser%ices o%er to *inu/ "nd my ob bec"me so e"sy. Ih"d no prior e/perience $ith *inu/ "nd didnt (no$ $h"t to do if it cr"shed, but I m"de thorough notes"nd cou#d rebui#d $h"te%er it $"s in " m"tter of minutes. It ne%er cr"shed. 6e%er needed rebooting.*ife $"s good.

e"rs "fter this e/perience, my indo$s X? #"ptop $"s t"(ing )0 minutes to boot e%ery morning,inc#udering ittery oper"tion "nd frustr"tion "fter frustr"tion on my end. 'o, I m"de the s$itch to *inu/.I $"s so#d on ed !"tCentO'8edor" bec"use of their community, contributions to open source, "ndthe phi#osophyth"t the 8edor" distribution h"s. 8edor" be#ie%es in bui#ding " community distributionth"t promotes "nd fosters open source %"#ues "nd be#iefs $hi#e rem"ining free for e%eryone. +hey "rededic"ted to freedom "nd inno%"tion, "nd they contribute e%erything b"c( to the free "nd open source$or#d.

'o, I se#ected 8edor" "s my fu##&time person"# distro. And, I "m no$ using 8edor" $ith the Cinn"mon

EPI, bec"use Enome ) fee#s " bit #i(e " t"b#et interf"ce to me. +h"ts "nother be"utifu# thing "bout*inu/, you h"%e the freedom to choose the option th"t best suits your needs.

Open source 7edi training

+hrough "## these e/periences, I found th"t $h"t I%e #o%ed is #e"rning "bout open source. I #o%e thefreedom I fee# $hen inst"##ing soft$"re on "ny m"chine. 6o #imit"tions. And, it oper"ted c#e"ner, $"se"sier to person"#ie, "nd $"s free "s in freedom. es, I## "dmit it, I fe## in #o%e $ith open source. I
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Overviewhttps://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Overview


22/40

found th"t in "## my comm"nd #ine h"c(ing, editing scripts, "nd trying to re"d code th"t I cou#dnt yetre"d, I $"nted more. I $"nted to #e"rn ho$ to $rite open source soft$"re. I $"nted to contribute to thegre"ter good. I fe#t #i(e I needed to become "n e%"nge#ist of open source soft$"re "nd st"nd"rds. It fe#tright. It fe#t pure. I $"s Bon " mission from E"d.B I promote *inu/ to "nyone $ho $i## #isten. I h"%esuccessfu##y con%erted "bout 20 f"mi#ies to using *inu/ fu## time "nd offer them free support $henthey need it.

Current#y, I "m h"#f$"y finished $ith my three ye"r Computer >ngineering +echno#ogyComputer'cience course "t A#gon5uin Co##ege in Ott"$" Ont"rio C"n"d". It is " gre"t schoo#, "nd "## I+ students#e"rn "bout *inu/ "s p"rt of the course curricu#um. 'ome instructors promote *inu/ "nd open sourcesoft$"re in their c#"ssrooms, $hi#e others dem"nd their students run indo$s "nd use propriet"rysoft$"re. I h"%e been trying to promote "nd encour"ge the use of *inu/ "nd other open source soft$"re#i(e *ibreOffice for our c#"sses "nd "ssignmentsD I person"##y try to use on#y open source soft$"re e%en"t the e/pense of #osing m"r(s.

At this point in my open source ourney, I h"%e so m"ny ide"s for open source proects, "nd once Icomp#ete my tr"ining I $"nt to contribute to other ongoing proects #i(e Enome "nd Cinn"mon EPIs,Adobe -r"c(ets, "nd 8edor". I fee# #i(e " (id in " c"ndy store th"t is $"iting for his "##o$"nce so I c"n

spend it "##S

I "m tre"ting my educ"tion "s if it is open source @edi tr"ining. I c"nt $"it for my first epic b"tt#e tobegin. ;"y open source be $ith you.


23/40

Consuming open source software8 How to use andbuy it

By The 5uter"ur$e Foundation (originally published February 2014)

Vendors "nd origin"# e5uipment m"nuf"cturers O>;:L"nd their I+ customers, go%ernments, "nd"c"demicsL"re "## using, buying, "nd m"(ing open source soft$"re, "nd often "## three "cti%ities "tonce. +his is " good $"y to thin( "bout oneUs re#"tionship $ith open source soft$"re proects. +here "rethree "cti%ities one typic"##y eng"ges in $ith respect to the open source soft$"re proectF m"(e, use,buy.

'ometimes one is performing "## three "cti%ities $ith respect to " sing#e proect, e.g. buying ed !"tAd%"nced 'er%er for prim"ry dep#oyment in I+, $hi#e "#so using the Centos distribution forde%e#opment "nd testing, "nd contributing m"(ing: " fe$ bug fi/es b"c( to the Centos proect. Atother times one h"s " different re#"tionship $ith e"ch proect in the enterprise portfo#io, e.g. buying@-oss support for the "pp#ic"tion ser%er, $hi#e using 8edor" *inu/ from ed !"t:, "nd using "ndcontributing b"c( to the >c#ipse integr"ted de%e#opment en%ironment I7>: proect in de%e#opment.

Psing "nd buying #iber"##yicensed open source soft$"re is re#"ti%e#y str"ightfor$"rd. One is simp#yconsuming the soft$"re. One buys " product th"t is b"sed on open source #icensed soft$"re in the s"me$"y th"t one buys other soft$"re. One e%"#u"tes the %endorUs offering "g"inst oneUs o$n I+re5uirements "nd m"n"ged procurement ris( profi#es. Another $"y to s"y this is th"t you donUt procureed !"t *inu/ ser%er soft$"re different#y th"n you historic"##y bought 'o#"ris or might buy ;icrosoftindo$s 'er%er systems.

Psing "n open sourceicensed soft$"re proect "s opposed to buying " product b"sed on it: "dds"ddition"# consider"tions th"t shou#d f"ctor in the strength of its community "nd the costs of supporting

th"t choice either through the de%e#opment of in&house e/pertise or e/tern"# speci"#ists. One de%e#opsin&house e/pertise by p"rticip"ting in the open source proectUs community.

One re%ie$s " proectUs document"tion "nd tutori"#s, forum "nd em"i# #ist "cti%ity, "nd IC ch"nne#s.One "#so shou#d consider the "%"i#"bi#ity of contr"cting support from "round the community. +heseconsider"tions "re the s"me $hether the open source soft$"re under consider"tion is too#s "nd systemsor de%e#oper #ibr"ries "nd fr"me$or(s. +he in%estig"tions "nd tr"de&offs "re no different $hether one is"n indi%idu"# $ith "n "mount of time to in%est to so#%e the prob#em or "n I+ dep"rtment $"nting to useopen source soft$"re on " #"rge sc"#e.

Once one st"rts to m"(e open source soft$"re, i.e. to produce it, there "re different consider"tions.

+hese "re the t$o scen"rios for producing open sourceFContributing to "n e/isting proect, "dding %"#ue through bug fi/es "nd ne$ function"#ity "nd non&

soft$"re contributions #i(e document"tion "nd tr"ns#"tions:.'t"rting " ne$ open source proect, $hich me"ns org"niing the infr"structure, de%e#oping the initi"#

soft$"re, "nd pro%iding for the e"r#y community.

+he moti%"tion for contributing to "n open source proect is simp#e. ?eop#e gener"##y st"rt using opensource soft$"re before they become contributors. +hey use it bec"use it so#%es " prob#em. Once theyuse the soft$"re for " $hi#e they $i## encounter " bug, h"%e " ch"nge they $"nt to m"(e, or possib#y


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document " ne$ use c"se. Contributions c"n be gi%en b"c( if the user is comfort"b#e m"(ing thesoft$"re ch"nges "nd the proect community h"s done " good ob of m"(ing it e"sy to contribute.

It sounds e"sy enough to simp#y m"(e the necess"ry ch"nge "nd ignore the contribution b"c( to thecommunity, but #i%ing on " person"# for(ed copy of the soft$"re comes "t " cost. +here "re t$o m"inprob#emsF other enh"ncements "nd bug fi/es "renUt seen "nd sh"red e/cept by inst"##ing ne$er %ersionsof the offici"# soft$"re, "nd the for(ed soft$"re $i## need to be re&integr"ted if upgr"ding. +his c"n"mount to signific"nt $or(.

It is f"r better to contribute oneUs ch"nges b"c( to the proect community if fe"sib#e, $or(ing $ith theproect m"int"iners to ensure it is contributed correct#y "nd p"tched into the m"in de%e#opment tree.+he onus is on the community to m"(e it e"sy to contribute "nd on the on the contributor to do socorrect#y. +he cost of #i%ing on " for( gets $orse o%er time "s the for(ed br"nch drifts further "$"yfrom the proectUs de%e#opment"# course. ItUs $e## $orth the in%estment to embr"ce the efficiencies ofthe de%e#opment mode# "nd contribute b"c(.

+he steps from using to contributing "nd p"rticip"ting in "n e/isting proect "re sm"##. A comp"ny th"tchooses to use "n open source soft$"re proect to so#%e its prob#ems r"ther th"n purch"sing " product

h"s "#re"dy in%ested in #e"rning the proect enough such th"t contribution is "n e"sy step $ith "utom"ticcost s"%ings o%er #i%ing on " for(. +he contribution step is e"syLe%en if one is p"ying for support.

!o$e%er, cre"ting oneUs o$n open source soft$"re proect re5uires more c"re "nd in%estment, "nd $ee/p#ore th"t in the b#og postFa'ing 5pen Sour"e So&t#are, the "onsiderations around a pro+e"t=ssu""ess

5riginally posted in a series on the 5uterur$e Foundation blog !eposted using reati$e ommons
http://www.outercurve.org/Blogs/EntryId/119/3-Making-OSS-the-considerations-around-a-projects-successhttp://www.outercurve.org/Blogs/EntryId/119/3-Making-OSS-the-considerations-around-a-projects-successhttp://www.outercurve.org/Blogs/EntryId/114/2-Consuming-OSS-using-and-buying-ithttp://www.outercurve.org/Blogs/EntryId/119/3-Making-OSS-the-considerations-around-a-projects-successhttp://www.outercurve.org/Blogs/EntryId/119/3-Making-OSS-the-considerations-around-a-projects-successhttp://www.outercurve.org/Blogs/EntryId/114/2-Consuming-OSS-using-and-buying-it


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3hat9s the best &inu4 desktop environment for me?

By eine (originally published February 2014)

hen you inst"## " *inu/ distribution, " set of progr"ms comes "#ong $ith it. Its e"sy to "dd "nd de#ete

e#ements of the progr"ms th"t dont fit $ith your needs, but $h"t "bout "#tering the #oo( "nd fee# of thedistribution to suit you +he (ey is to "dd " second des(top en%ironment or $indo$ m"n"ger.

+his is "n e/"mp#e of ho$ *inu/ is "## "bout freedom of the user, by the user.

+he "bi#ity to ch"nge "nd "#ter the des(top en%ironment is ust "s import"nt "s being "b#e to ch"nge "nd"#ter the under#ying technic"# components. A fe$ ye"rs "go *inus +or%"#ds comp#"ined "bout theE6O;> ) des(top "nd reported#y s$itched to " different one. +he Pnity en%ironment for Pbuntuc"used " simi#"r re"ction by users. On the other side of the propriet"ry di%ide, ;icrosoft indo$s Gcre"ted turmoi# "mong users $ith their ti#ed ne$ #oo(. Psers $"nted their 't"rt menu b"c( "nd to be"b#e to get things done "s they h"d before.

unning *inu/, ch"nging or "dding " different des(top en%ironment is "s e"sy "s inst"##ing "ny otherprogr"m. @ust inst"## the soft$"re, #og out, "nd #og in b"c( "g"in on the ne$ en%ironment. Reep in mindth"t most des(top en%ironments come bund#ed $ith specific te/t editors "nd termin"# progr"msLyouc"n decide $h"t you to (eep "nd $h"t to dump. And, choosing " different $indo$ m"n"ger ustch"nges the $"y you inter"ct $ith your *inu/ bo/, it doesnt c"use you to #ose ne$ progr"ms.

3hich desktop environment is the best?

8irst, #oo( "t the h"rd$"re of your computer. +he des(top en%ironment c"n be be"utifu# but e"t up " #otof your resources. ;y top four recommend"tions b"sed on " b"#"nce of be"uty "nd resources "reF

1. E6O;>)2. R7>). Cinn"mon4. Pnity

On #ess po$erfu# systems, " 10&ye"r&o#d des(top or netboo( for e/"mp#e, " more str"ightfor$"rddes(top en%ironment th"t $i## do " good ob $ithout pushing the coo#ing f"n "## the time is " better fit,#i(eF ;A+>, X8C>, *X7>, Open-o/, or >n#ightenment.

;ost *inu/ distributions offer " def"u#t des(top en%ironment th"t fits best $ith its o%er"## concept. Isee it "n orchestr" of instruments "## p#"ying nice#y together. !e"%y en%ironments "#so pro%ide %ery

comp#ete soft$"re by def"u#t. 7es(tops #i(e X8C> "nd *X7> come $ith #ighter progr"ms, but sti##$i## not #et you do$n on producti%ity. Of course, you c"n "dd comp#ete suites #i(e *ibreOffice to "#ight des(topD th"t $"y you h"%e " f"st st"rting computer "nd fi#e m"n"ger, but "#so re"# po$er for$riting, c"#cu#"ting, "nd cre"ting present"tions.

3hy &inu4?

7es(top en%ironments for *inu/ "#so he#ps reduce costs "nd en%ironment"# footprints for indi%idu"#s,sm"## groups, "nd #"rge businesses, bec"use you c"n use the h"rd$"re you "#re"dy o$n inste"d of


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buying ne$ "nd sti## upd"te to the #"test "nd gre"test. +he Eerm"n city of ;unich recent#y s$itched to*inu/ "n offici"##y promotes its use to reduce e&$"ste in the community. A#so, support for *inu/ distrosis typic"##y good $ith regu#"r upd"tes for "t #e"st " ye"r or t$o, $hi#e others (eep up support for #ongerperiods, #i(e the *+' %ersions.

If ch"nging to " ne$ oper"ting system sounds d"unting, simp#y cre"te " b"c(up of your fi#es befores$itching. Addition"##y, "## of the $e##&est"b#ished *inu/ distributions come $ith e/ce##ent instructionsth"t guide you through the inst"##"tion.

5ips for installing

+here "re o%er )00 *inu/ distros to choose from, ust t"(e " #oo( "t most popu#"r onesS If you "reunf"mi#i"r $ith *inu/, one of the top 10 distros is " good st"rting point, "#though ;int "nd Pbuntu $i##be " #ot e"sier for " no%ice user th"n Arch. ;int "#so inc#udes the necess"ry soft$"re to run %ideos "ndmusic. ith 8edor" this is more difficu#t bec"use this distro on#y inc#udes non&propriet"ry dri%ers.After " $hi#e you## get used to *inu/ "nd you cou#d try something different, #i(e inst"##ing " differentdes(top en%ironment or "nother distro. -ut, first stic( to the b"sics "s pro%ided unti# you (no$ more

"nd fee# comfort"b#e using the system.

ou c"n try *inu/ using " *i%eC7 of the distro of your choice. 7o$n#o"d the .iso fi#e "nd inst"## it on "4E- P'- f#"sh dri%e. P6etbootinis " progr"m th"t "##o$s you to cre"te boot"b#e #i%e P'- dri%es$ithout burning " C7, "nd is "%"i#"b#e for indo$s, ;"c "nd *inu/. @ust try the *i%e %ersion for "$hi#e before you inst"## it on your computer. If it is not to your #i(ing, ust m"(e " boot"b#e *i%e P'-$ith "nother distro. If you "#re"dy use " %irtu"# m"chine, you c"n try it from there.

8in"##y, *inu/ers "re friend#y peop#e "nd "re "b#e to offer he#p $hen you get stuc(. +he 7istro"tchp"ges offer #in(s to the distro specific user forums. emember, you "re not the first one trying, so " #otof 5uestions "nd "ns$ers "re "#re"dy gi%en.
http://distrowatch.org/dwres.php?resource=popularityhttp://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/http://distrowatch.org/dwres.php?resource=popularityhttp://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/


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How to teach hacking in school and open upeducation

By 3ete er7og (originally published February 2014)

h"te%er you m"y h"%e he"rd "bout h"c(ers, the truth is they do something re"##y, re"##y $e##Fdisco%er. !"c(ers "re moti%"ted, resourcefu#, "nd cre"ti%e. +hey get deep#y into ho$ things $or(, tothe point th"t they (no$ ho$ to t"(e contro# of them "nd ch"nge them into something e#se. +his #etsthem re&thin( e%en big ide"s bec"use they c"n re"##y dig to the bottom of ho$ things function.

8urthermore, they "rent "fr"id to m"(e the s"me mist"(e t$ice ust out of " (ind of scientific curiosity,to see if th"t mist"(e "#$"ys h"s the s"me resu#ts. +h"ts $hy h"c(ers dont see f"i#ure "s " mist"(e or "$"ste of time bec"use e%ery f"i#ure me"ns something "nd something ne$ to be #e"rned. And these "re"## tr"its "ny society needs in order to m"(e progress. hich is $hy $e need to get it into schoo#s.

6o$, there is the e/pected resist"nce from schoo# "dministr"tions "nd p"rents. ;ost#y bec"use peop#e

dont (no$ $h"t h"c(ing re"##y is. ;"ny peop#e $ho h"%e been c"##ed h"c(ers, especi"##y by themedi", or $ho h"%e gotten in troub#e for Bh"c(ingB $ere not, in f"ct, h"c(ers. ;ost "## of them $ereust thie%es "nd fr"udsters. hen you re"d in the ne$s, Teen girl ha"'s Fa"eboo' to harass a"lassmate, $h"t youre seeing is " sens"tion"#ied he"d#ine. h"t " h"c(er re"ds in th"t he"d#ine isFean girl #at"hed "lassmate type in her Fa"eboo' pass#ord and then logged in as her. +h"t me"npeop#e "nd crimin"#s do b"d things $ith communic"tions medium is not " re"son to fe"r the medium.'choo#s "re there to educ"te "nd c"n embr"ce this distinction for re"# ch"nge.

!"c(ing is " type of methodo#ogy. Its " $"y to do rese"rch. !"%e you e%er tried something "g"in "nd"g"in in different $"ys to get it to do $h"t you $"nted !"%e you e%er opened up " m"chine or "de%ice to see ho$ it $or(s, re"d up on $h"t the components "re, "nd then m"(e "dustments to see

$h"t no$ $or(ed different#y +h"ts h"c(ing. ou "re h"c(ing $hene%er you deep#y e/"mine ho$something re"##y $or(s in order to m"nipu#"te it, often cre"ti%e#y, into doing $h"t you $"nt.

A h"c(er is " type of h"nds&on, e/perimenting scientist, "#though perh"ps sometimes the term Bm"dscientistB fits better, bec"use un#i(e profession"# scientists they di%e right in, fo##o$ing " fee#ing r"therth"n " form"# hypothesis. +h"ts not necess"ri#y " b"d thing. ;"ny interesting things h"%e beendesigned or in%ented by peop#e $ho didnt fo##o$ st"nd"rd con%entions of $h"t $"s (no$n or be#ie%edto be true "t the time.

8or e/"mp#e...

+he m"them"tici"n, Eeorg C"ntor, proposed ne$ ide"s "bout infinity "nd set theory th"t c"used

outr"ge "mongst m"ny fe##o$ m"them"tici"ns to the point th"t one c"##ed his ide"s " Bgr"%e dise"seBinfecting m"them"tics.6i(o#" +es#" is "nother person considered " Bm"d scientistB in his d"y, but he (ne$ more "bout ho$

e#ectricity beh"%ed th"n "nyone e#se. !e designed possib#y the first brush#ess motor th"t r"n on ACe#ectricity but is most#y (no$n for the +es#" effect "nd the +es#" coi#.+hen there $"s Ign" ?hi#ipp 'emme#$eis $ho figured out th"t doctors need to $"sh their h"nds

bet$een tre"ting p"tients to (eep dise"ses from spre"ding. !e $ondered if the dise"ses fo##o$ing him"round bet$een p"tients $ere his f"u#t, so he decided to try $"shing h"nds bet$een his p"tient %isits"nd sure enough the tr"nsmissions dis"ppe"red. !is ide"s $ent "g"inst both the scientific con%entions


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of $h"t $"s (no$n "t the time "bout germs nothing: "s $e## "s the con%enience of the doctors $hofe#t it $"s too much h"ss#e to (eep $"shing their h"nds.

It ust so h"ppens th"t the $"y the Internet is designed "nd the huge number of different "pp#ic"tions,systems, de%ices, "nd processes it h"s m"(es it the most common p#"ce to find h"c(ers. ou cou#d s"yits " p#"ce $here inform"tion c"n run free bec"use it $"s bui#t open "nd free by h"c(ers so its the bestp#"yground for h"c(ers. -ut its not the on#y p#"ce. ou c"n find gre"t h"c(ers in "#most e%ery fie#d "nd

industry "nd they "## h"%e one thing in commonF they spend time #e"rning ho$ things $or( so they c"nm"(e them $or( in " ne$ $"y. +hese h"c(ers didnt #oo( "t something "s the origin"# designers did, butinste"d s"$ bigger or better potenti"# for it "nd h"c(ed it to be something ne$.

h"t you m"y thin( you (no$ "bout h"c(ers is th"t they c"n bre"( into other computers "nd t"(e o%erother peop#es "ccounts. +hey c"n re"d your em"i# $ithout you (no$ing. +hey c"n #oo( through your$eb c"m $ithout your permission "nd c"n see you "nd he"r you in the supposed pri%"cy of your o$nhome. +h"ts not untrue.

'ome h"c(ers see net$or( security "s ust "nother ch"##enge, so they tin(er $ith $"ys to tric( or foo#the system, but re"##y $h"t theyre trying to do is out&thin( the net$or( inst"##ers or designers. +hey

disco%er "s much "bout the net$or( "s they c"n, $here it gets its instructions, the ru#es it uses, "nd ho$it inter"cts $ith oper"ting systems, the other systems "round it, the users $ho h"%e "ccess to it "nd the"dministr"tors $ho m"n"ge it. +hen they use th"t to try different $"ys of getting $h"t they $"nt. +his(ind of h"c(ing c"n be gre"t#y benefici"# to the $or#d for underst"nding ho$ to be s"fer "nd forbui#ding e%en better techno#ogy.

Pnfortun"te#y though, sometimes the h"c(ing is done by crimin"#s "nd $h"t they $"nt is i##eg"#,in%"si%e, "nd destructi%e. And those "re usu"##y the on#y h"c(ers you re"d "bout in the ne$s. A h"c(eris not someone $ho posts to someones "ccount $hen they #e"%e " soci"# medi" p"ge open or shou#der&surfs p"ss$ords "nd then #ogs into their "ccount #"ter. +h"ts not h"c(ing. A h"c(er "#so is not someone$ho do$n#o"ds " script (iddie too# to bre"( into someoneUs em"i#. +hose "rent h"c(ersD those "re ustthie%es "nd %"nd"#s.

!"c(ing itse#f is not i##eg"#. At #e"st not "ny more th"n thro$ing " roc( is i##eg"#. It "## comes do$n tointent. If you thro$ " roc( "nd your intent is to inure someone, th"ts " crime. If your intent is not tohurt someone, but someone does get hurt, th"t m"y not be " crime, but you "re responsib#e for your"ctions "nd $i## h"%e to p"y restitution. An Institute for 'ecurity "nd Open ;ethodo#ogies I'>CO;:proect c"##ed the !"c(er ?rofi#ing ?roect found th"t the most d"m"ge from h"c(ing comes fromyoung, ine/perienced h"c(ers d"m"ging other peop#es property by "ccident. hich is somethingp"rents "nd te"chers "#re"dy te"ch (ids $hen it comes to roc(&thro$ing, but it doesnt tr"ns#"te $e##$hen it comes to ho$ to beh"%e in cybersp"ce. If $e "re te"ching h"c(ing, then $e c"n "#so te"chresponsibi#ity, "ccount"bi#ity, "nd m"(e it c#e"r ho$ to beh"%e $hen h"c(ing "round other peop#esproperty. +his $i## encour"ge students to stic( to h"c(ing the things they bought "nd o$n.

+he c"%e"t to th"t is th"t there "re c"ses $here it m"y be i##eg"# to h"c( something you bought "ndo$n. +here "re h"c(ers $ho h"%e been punished for h"c(ing their o$n de%ices "nd computers. +hesethings $ere c#osed to pre%ent them from being copied or ch"nged despite th"t they p"id for it "nd o$nit. +hese "re h"c(ers $ho h"c(ed progr"ms, music, "nd mo%ies they bought so it #oo(ed, beh"%ed, "ndsounded the $"y they $"nted to or p#"yed on other de%ices they bought "nd o$ned "nd $ereprosecuted for it. >speci"##y $hen they open#y sh"red their ide"s $ith others. !"c(ers $i## find th"t "nyc#osed source soft$"re they buy m"y be i##eg"# to h"c(, e%en if its ust to chec( for themse#%es th"t itssecure enough to run on their o$n computer. +his is bec"use m"ny of the things th"t you purch"se m"y
http://www.isecom.org/http://www.isecom.org/


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come $ith Copyright "nd " contr"ct "s "n >nd Pser *icense Agreement >P*A: th"t s"ys you c"nt.And you "gree to it $hen you open or inst"## the product, e%en if you c"nt re"d it or find out "bout it"fter you%e opened or inst"##ed the product. es, th"ts sne"(y "nd unf"ir.

-ut th"ts "## the more re"son to te"ch young peop#e to h"c(. ou see, educ"tion is open. It c"n be#eg"##y h"c(ed to te"ch (ids to thin( open#y, be inspired, be curious, "nd thus, to be " h"c(er. h"th"c(ing is re"##y "bout is t"(ing contro# of something if you dont #i(e ho$ it $or(s. hy $ou#d you dothis +o h"%e the freedom to m"(e something you o$n do $h"t you $"nt. And to (eep others fromch"nging something you o$n b"c( to the origin"# form or copying "## your ide"s, dr"$ings, $ritings,"nd pictures to " c#oud some$here to be contro##ed by someone e#se $ho c#"ims its for your Bbestinterest.B

As " h"c(er, you (no$ $h"t your o$n best interest is. 'ometimes you buy something "nd the comp"nyyou bought it from $i## "ttempt to forcefu##y or s#y#y m"(e sure you c"nt customie it or ch"nge itbeyond their ru#es. ou c"nt p#"y it some$here e#se or use it "ny other $"y th"n "s intended,supposed#y to protect you. And th"t might be o("y to "gree to "s #ong "s you "ccept the f"ct th"t if youbre"( it then you c"nt e/pect them to fi/ it or rep#"ce it. +h"t $ou#d me"n th"t h"c(ing something youo$n does more th"n m"(e it yours, it m"(es it irre%oc"b#y "nd undeni"b#y yours. As sc"ry "s th"t m"y

sound to some, it cert"in#y h"s its "d%"nt"ges. >speci"##y if you $"nt to (eep others, #i(e the comp"nyth"t m"de it "nd the m"r(eting comp"ny theyre re&se##ing your inform"tion "nd h"bits to, out of yourstuff.

And fin"##y, of course (no$ing ho$ to h"c( m"(es you more secure. 8or m"ny, m"ny peop#e, securityis "bout putting " product in p#"ce, $hether th"ts " #oc( or "n "#"rm or " fire$"## or "nything th"ttheoretic"##y (eeps them secure. -ut sometimes those products dont $or( "s $e## they shou#d, or theycome $ith their o$n prob#ems th"t ust incre"se your BAtt"c( 'urf"ce,B $hen " security product shou#dbe shrin(ing it. +he Att"c( 'urf"ce is "## the $"ys, "## the inter"ctions, th"t "##o$ for something orsomeone to be "tt"c(ed.:

And ye"h, good #uc( getting th"t product impro%ed in " m"ss&m"r(eting, p"y&"s&you&go, copyrighted,c#osed&source, Byou bought it "s&is "nd th"ts $h"t you h"%e to #i%e $ithB (ind of $or#d. +h"ts $hy itsso import"nt to (no$ ho$ to h"c( your security. A h"c(er $ou#dnt buy the s"me p"d#oc( you $ou#dbec"use " h"c(er sees #oc(s in terms of ho$ m"ny seconds they $ou#d need to open it. !"c(ers #e"rn to"n"#ye " product "nd figure out $here it f"i#s "nd ho$ to ch"nge it so it $or(s better. +hen they mighth"%e to h"c( it some more to (eep th"t comp"ny they bought it from, from ch"nging it b"c( to thedef"u#tS

'o h"c(ing in terms of bre"(ing security is ust one "re" th"t h"c(ing is usefu#, bec"use $ithout being"b#e to do th"t, you m"y h"%e to gi%e up some freedom or some pri%"cy th"t you dont $"nt to gi%e up.And some of you m"y not c"re right no$ "bout cert"in things you do or s"y or post, but the Interneth"s " #ong memory "nd its getting better "nd better "t he#ping others rec"## those memories of you.h"t goes on the net st"ys on the net. And (ids tod"y "re pretty much born on the net.: 6ot to mentiontechno#ogy is getting more "nd more out of our "bi#ity to contro# it. +h"t mobi#e phone of yours or th"tne$ f#"tscreen $ith bui#t&in c"mer" for '(ype "re #i(e#y doing things th"t you dont (no$ "nd dontcontro# $ith $h"t they see "nd he"r. It t"(es some h"c(ing to $rest#e th"t contro# b"c(.

'choo#s "nd educ"tors $ho re"d this "nd $"nt to te"ch their students to h"c(, "nd $h"t h"c(ing c"n be,need to be "$"re upfront th"t it $ont be e"sy. +here $i## be resist"nce from c#osed minds. 'choo#"dministr"tions m"y "#so need to contend $ith the f"ct th"t h"c(ing some things m"y be i##eg"# in theirst"te, "nd they $i## need to get open source h"rd$"re "nd soft$"re to try to st"y on the #eg"# side of


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things. hen te"ching students ho$ to h"c( "nd $h"t h"c(ing is, it c"n be h"rd to do $ith $ords. +rye/periences "nd putting it into pr"ctice to re"##y get your point "cross.

8ree, open proects #i(e !"c(er !ighschoo#c"n he#p (ids de%e#op the s(i##s, fee#ing, "nd intuitionthrough pr"ctice $ith support so they dont bre"( the $rong things. +he possibi#ity of bre"(ingsomething is simp#y p"rt of the process, "nd shou#d not be " f"ctor (eeping te"chers "nd schoo#s fromte"ching h"c(ing. +hey shou#d pro%ide th"t support $ith "n open source "nd open minded effort.
http://www.hackerhighschool.org/http://www.hackerhighschool.org/http://www.hackerhighschool.org/


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!et more contributors to your pro(ect with betterdocumentation

By Amye S"a$arda (originally published February 2014)

It is not uncommon to h"%e " cyc#e of ne$s "round communities being unfriend#y to $omen orne$comers or peop#e $ho "rent "#re"dy there. -y ne$s I me"n someone posts something th"t is c#oseto their he"rt "bout some unustice "nd other peop#e comment on it or $rite their o$n posts "ndgener"##y, the mor"# of the story isF But #e should be better than this>

+his is norm"# "nd desired beh"%ior "s p"rt of the o%er"## community. +his cyc#e is " good thingbec"use it c"uses peop#e to thin( "bout their beh"%ior "s community members "nd $h"t its #i(e to be"n outsider "nd ho$ they c"n impro%e. +hese "re "## positi%e steps bec"use it springs from "n honestdesire to be better peop#e. +h"ts "$esome.

*"te#y, I%e been po(ing in "re"s of techno#ogy $here I dont tend to tre"d often. One "re" h"s been

pic(ing up " ne$ piece of techno#ogy by #oo(ing "t the document"tion. +his p"rticu#"r ourney beg"nby being " E#"ss >/p#orer, "nd th"ts " story th"t I%e t"#(ed "bout on my o$n b#og "t "mye.org, so I$ont rec"p it here. -ut, #"te one night, "s I $"s churning through document"tion on $h"t Android $i##"ctu"##y do "nd "## of these fr"n(#y "m"ing: things th"t your sm"rtphone h"rd$"re h"s the c"p"bi#ityof doing "mbient "ir pressure, "nyone:, it struc( me th"t document"tion is one of the gre"t #e%e#ers ofour time.

>%eryone h"s to re"d document"tion. >%eryone. ou (no$ those times $here you ump in "nd dontbother to re"d the m"nu"# "nd then $onder $hy it didnt $or( e##, yes... this h"ppens to e%eryone.+he person ust do$n#o"ding to try it out "nd the person $ho $rote %"st s$"thes of the code both h"%e" %ested interest in document"tion. Er"nted, there "re different spectrums to their interest, but they "re

both %"#id. I thin( of it " #itt#e bit #i(e the )rd gr"de student $hos ust #e"rning to re"d music "nd theprofession"# pi"nist $ho c"n sightre"d inst"nt#yLbut, they both need the score to (no$ $h"t the ne/tnotes to p#"y "re.

Ei%en th"t conte/t, your document"tion in your open source community s"ys something "bout $h"tyou e/pect your community to be. I re"#ie th"t I "m going to get p#enty of comments "bout ho$ yourcode is se#f&documenting. 6o, de"r sirs "nd m"d"ms, it %ery much isnt. >/pecting your code to be se#f&documenting is #i(e m"r(ing indi%idu"# trees in your forest $ithout p"ying "ttention to $here the forest#i%es. Is this in the "rctic +he tropics h"t sort of cre"tures "m I #i(e#y to find under th"t roc( $hen Ipu## it up h"t "m I #oo(ing "t "nd $here do I e/pect to be ne/t

Im enoying $or(ing through the Android document"tion bec"use its " p#"tform "nd it #ets you (no$"t ne"r#y e%ery turn. Its c#e"r#y defined "nd #"id out, but there "re sti## pieces of the %oc"bu#"ry th"t "reunf"mi#i"r.

I r"n "cross this t$eet by Hre#s5ui" $hi#e b"c( "nd it h"s stuc( $ith me...

+heoryF *"c( of document"tion promotes impostor syndrome. I must be supposed to(no$ this "#re"dybe "b#e to figure it out on my o$n ...3
https://twitter.com/relsqui/statuses/400201132821065728https://twitter.com/relsqui/statuses/400201132821065728


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!eres $hy I%e he#d onto itLit might be " theory but " theory is the highest scientific #"$, "nd its up tous to dispro%e it. +heres p#enty th"t you c"n doD ust (eeping " running te/t document "s you getthrough " proect is he#pfu# "s $e##.

-ottom #ineF If youre not going to document $h"t you did for other peop#e, ho$ "bout doing it foryour future se#f $ho $i## come b"c( in si/ $ee(s "nd not remember $here you $ere going for

Open source too#s to bui#d your best business-y 6"bee# !uss"in origin"##y pub#ished 8ebru"ry 2014:

In @"nu"ry 201), I st"rted e/p#oring open source so#utions to he#p imp#ement my business ide". I usedordpress, @oom#", "nd Open'hift to cre"te 8i#m-o/8esti%"#, " p#"tform for stre"ming document"ryfi#ms.;ote, 8t is still in the testing phase

I cre"ted, %"#id"ted, "nd g"ined tr"ction for my busines ide" due to the speed $hich these open sourcetoo#s offered. 'o, if youre "n entrepreneur, I encour"ge you to e/p#ore open source possibi#ities. !ere"re some of the things I #e"rned.

Identify feature sets for functionality

Open source so#utions "re modu#"r in n"ture. Often, by bre"(ing do$n the fin"# product into sm"##erfe"tures it becomes e"sier to find modu#es "nd p#ugins $ith the function"#ity you $"nt. 8or e/"mp#e,one of the fe"tures I $"nted to imp#ement for 8i#m-o/8esti%"# $"s gre"ter inter"cti%ity bet$eenre"ders. Inste"d of #oo(ing for one p#ugin to do this, I bro(e it do$n into " sep"r"te set of fe"tures, such"s sh"ring "nd discussion forums, then I $"s "b#e to find indi%idu"# p#ugins for sh"ring "nd discussionsbec"use open source bro"dened the choices of so#utions "%"i#"b#e "nd pro%ided off&the&she#f options tocre"te the so#ution I $"nted.

&ook for new tools

A#$"ys be on the #oo(out for ne$ p#ugins, too#s, "nd "ppro"ches to imp#ementing the fe"tures you$"nt for your business. +he open source community is %ery "cti%e, "nd ne$ so#utions "re "#$"ys beingde%e#oped. 8or e/"mp#e, $ith 8i#m-o/8esti%"# I $"nted "n integr"ted p"yment system $hichsho$c"sed pre%ie$ %ideos "nd "##o$ed buyers to $"tch the document"ries they h"%e purch"sed. Ise"rched for o%er ) months for " p"yment so#ution $ith these fe"tures before I c"me "cross Eumro"d, "ser%ice designed for stre"ming content th"t "#so em"i#s " secure "nd "ccessib#e #in( to the buyer.

%ocument6 backup6 and test at every step

-ec"use open source so#utions "re so f#e/ib#e "nd modu#"r, it is possib#e for the function"#ity to bre"($hen modu#es "re inst"##ed th"t h"%e simi#"r or comp#iment"ry function"#ities. It is imper"ti%e th"t youdiscip#ine yourse#f into documenting, b"c(ing up, "nd testing your $eb so#utions "s you go. On "t #e"stt$o occ"sions I h"d to rebui#d 8i#m-o/8esti%"# from scr"tch. On both occ"sions I $"s "b#e to recre"tethe $ebsite in under " d"y bec"use of my system"tic "ppro"ch to document"tion, reco%ery, "nd testing.'imi#"r#y, some p#ugins I inst"##ed $or(ed on one bro$ser but did not $or( on "nother. It $"s on#y bytesting th"t I found the f"u#t "nd $"s "b#e to cont"ct the p#ugin cre"torD then $e beg"n $or(ing on "so#ution.
http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/27/19-percent-of-the-web-runs-on-wordpress/http://beta.filmboxfestival.com/http://www.disqus.com/http://www.gumroad.com/http://www.gumroad.com/http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/27/19-percent-of-the-web-runs-on-wordpress/http://beta.filmboxfestival.com/http://www.disqus.com/http://www.gumroad.com/


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hi#e I $"s bui#ding "nd de%e#oping my business, the open source community pro%ided e/ce##enttechnic"# support "nd document"tion. As "n entrepreneur, open source so#utions present " uni5ueopportunity to de%e#op your business in " cost&effecti%e, r"pid, "nd efficient m"nner.


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does t"(e time "nd energy, $hich m"ny communities of proects "renUt $i##ing to e/pend. +h"tUs $hyOpen!"tch e/istsS e (no$ th"t some proects put more effort into $e#coming contributors, "nd $e$"nt to he#p you find those proects.

+he (inds of proects th"t $e#come ne$comers donUt see you "s " burden. +hey see you "s " huge he#pDe%en $hen youUre strugg#ing to underst"nd bugs in the issue tr"c(er or get the de%e#opmenten%ironment set up. hen you "s( " member of "n open source proect for he#p, th"t gi%es themimport"nt inform"tion "bout $h"t p"rt of their proect is confusing or incorrect. +he 5uestions you "s("nd guid"nce you need #ets them (no$ ho$ he#p others #"ter on. And of course, once youU%e gottenf"mi#i"r $ith the proect, youU## be "b#e to he#p e%en mor

Beginners in Open Source

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