Getting Started on Contributing to Free Software
Open Source For You|September 2024
Interested in contributing to free and open source software but wondering where and how to begin? Dive in to find out...it's quite simple.
Nandakumar Edamana
Getting Started on Contributing to Free Software

Contributing to free and open source projects is one of the best things a budding software engineer can do to oneself. Like with internships, you get to learn a lot and meet brilliant people. You populate your CV with the names of important projects, and they appear on your public GitHub profile in case someone is trying to cross-check, even though your contribution was just a typo fix. Finally, you feel worthy because you improved something that others clearly benefit from, and feel proud that you acted instead of merely complaining.

It is partly due to my involvement with free software that I was able to solve some peculiar problems at work and excel in some tests at school easily while my peers were trying hard. If a person like me–whose contributions to others’ projects have always been very minimal–feels like this, imagine how it’d change the life of someone who contributes seriously.

Just before getting into the how-to part, let me remind you that you shouldn’t be hyper-focused on external contributions to the point that you don’t have any projects of your own. It’s not about control. If you have any disagreements with the owners of a project, you can easily fork the project because it is free software. You cannot revoke your contributions, but you might be able to reuse them. The real problem is that, if you are a mere contributor, chances are you’ll end up being an expert in some narrow area. On the other hand, if you start and grow projects on your own, you can learn everything — from programming to packaging and branding to marketing.

Please don’t be discouraged by this tip. I want you to keep it in mind because contributing to free software can be addictive!

What does contribution mean?

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Open Source For You.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Open Source For You.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS OPEN SOURCE FOR YOUAlle anzeigen
Amazon Bedrock: A Boon for the Financial Services Industry
Open Source For You

Amazon Bedrock: A Boon for the Financial Services Industry

Amazon Bedrock is a fully managed service that provides access to foundation models from top AI providers, enabling organisations to build and scale generative AI applications. It is specifically designed to bring AI solutions to the financial sector. Let's explore all that it can do...

time-read
9 Minuten  |
December 2024
Quantum-Safe VPNs: The Future of Secure Communication
Open Source For You

Quantum-Safe VPNs: The Future of Secure Communication

As quantum computing continues to advance, it poses a significant threat to traditional cryptographic algorithms that secure our digital communications. Virtual private networks (VPNs), which rely heavily on encryption, are particularly vulnerable. Quantum-safe VPNs utilise post-quantum cryptographic algorithms to protect against quantum attacks.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 2024
Popular Open Source Toolkits for Quantum Machine Learning
Open Source For You

Popular Open Source Toolkits for Quantum Machine Learning

Quantum machine learning is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to solve the complex problems of the AI age. Here are a few open source libraries and frameworks that help with quantum computations.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
December 2024
Quantum Computing: Harnessing Open Source for Innovation and Accessibility
Open Source For You

Quantum Computing: Harnessing Open Source for Innovation and Accessibility

We explore how open source initiatives are shaping the future of quantum computing, making it more accessible and driving innovation through collaboration.

time-read
9 Minuten  |
December 2024
How Quantum Computing Differs from Classical Computing
Open Source For You

How Quantum Computing Differs from Classical Computing

Despite being in its infancy, quantum computing has numerous potential applications in modelling, cybersecurity, AI/ML, and other fields. But how do quantum and classical computing compare with each other? Let's find out...

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 2024
From Bits to Qubits: The Growth Story of Quantum Computing
Open Source For You

From Bits to Qubits: The Growth Story of Quantum Computing

Quantum computing may still be in the early stages of evolution, but its potential impact on everyday life is significant. We delve into the key concepts behind it, the reasons for its rapid growth, and how global advancements are shaping its future.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
December 2024
Pytket: A Comprehensive Guide to Quantum Circuit Design
Open Source For You

Pytket: A Comprehensive Guide to Quantum Circuit Design

Pytket stands out as a powerful toolkit in the realm of quantum computing, offering a suite of features that cater to both researchers and industry practitioners. Its key strengths include optimisation, platform-agnostic support, flexible quantum circuit design and hybrid algorithm support. These features make Pytket a versatile tool for various quantum computing applications, from machine learning and cryptography to optimisation problems in industrial settings.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
December 2024
Cirq: The Open Source Framework for Programming Quantum Computers
Open Source For You

Cirq: The Open Source Framework for Programming Quantum Computers

Explore the key features, capabilities, and impact of Cirq, an open source quantum computing framework developed by Google, on the quantum programming landscape.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 2024
The Role of Open Source in Accelerating Quantum AI
Open Source For You

The Role of Open Source in Accelerating Quantum AI

Here's an overview of how open source frameworks are being utilised to build quantum machine learning models, including quantum neural networks and quantum kernel methods. The challenges and future directions in the quantum AI landscape are also discussed.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
December 2024
Quantum Machine Learning: An Overview
Open Source For You

Quantum Machine Learning: An Overview

Quantum machine learning (QML) is a burgeoning field at the intersection of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. In recent years, the integration of quantum mechanics with machine learning algorithms has sparked substantial interest among researchers and technologists alike. Here's a quick look at the essentials of creating quantum algorithms for AI models, their practical use cases on open source platforms, and best practices for implementing these advanced algorithms.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
December 2024