Re: [Fsfe-uk] "Contributing to Free Software" article

[Tom Chance]

Roger,

It's really good. Here are a few thoughts (I've only just looked at this for 
the first time):

1.1 - the software isn't *able* to be modified... how about "which allows 
certain freedoms, including..." or "which can be modified..."?

In general, it reads well, but I was left feeling that the advice was in 
places a bit random, especially in the coding section. As a document aimed at 
companies using free software, especially companies involved with software 
development, it would work well, since I assume they'd simply approach the 
projects they already rely on and use your tips to guide them in. But as a 
document for individuals, it's too sketchy, especially for non-coders.

Perhaps you could expand the 2.0 point to explain that there are many things a 
user can do to contribute, that they should consider these following tasks as 
options, and then include a few words on how to select a project to 
contribute to, how to approach them, etc.

I also think it'd be a good idea to mention a few projects that have schemes 
specifically aimed at recruiting relatively clueless users keen on 
contributing. The KDE Quality Team project (http://quality.kde.org/) does 
this, for example, and has some more expansive guides, especially in areas 
you don't have space to explain well (e.g. documentation, user interface, 
communication and promotion).

And being an overtly and overly political type, I'd include a note about 
working with free software-friendly organisations to protect free software 
against legislative and technological threats :-)

Regards,
Tom


On Saturday 19 Jun 2004 13:26, Roger Leigh wrote:
> I've put an updated version of the article here:
>
> http://www.whinlatter.uklinux.net/affs/affs-contribute.ms
> http://www.whinlatter.uklinux.net/affs/affs-contribute.pdf
> http://www.whinlatter.uklinux.net/affs/affs-contribute.ps
>
> Feel free to put a copy on the website.  As previously, I'd welcome
> any comments or suggestions.
>
>
> Regards,
> Roger