Hello,

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

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

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

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

Edit: Thank you for the responses, what I got was basically find OSS to replace not-OSS I currently use, and contribute either fixing issues myself, helping with other stuff (making issues, writting or translating documentation, helping newer users), or giving feedback on the project.

  • Onno (VK6FLAB)@lemmy.radio
    32·
    21 days ago

    Basically two choices:

    1. Find a project you’re interested in and make a contribution. Many projects tag certain issues with something like “Good First Issue” as a way of lowering barriers to entry. Other things are updating documentation, fixing typos, then you can branch out into patches and pull requests.
    2. Make your own FOSS project.
    • solomonschuler@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      to extend this, look in the errors/bugs section of the software to see, that can at least allow you to brainstorm some solutions.

      to make your own FOSS project, it’s not as easy as creating it, you need motivation something that you are trying to improve, that (simply put) doesn’t exist In other open source projects.

      I’ve recently made scripts that convert scilab code to MATLAB since I use xcos often for my engineering coursework, my university uses MATLAB which is why I spend my free time on creating it.

      • eldavi@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        … you need motivation something that you are trying to improve …

        wanting to fix something that annoys you works much better. lol

    • slazer2au@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      21 days ago

      Pretty much on point.

      You don’t have to touch the whole codebase to contribute, you can only touch the parts you are familiar with.