an intro talk about getting involved in Free Software I gave at Campus Party Europe 2012

1. Free Software
your chance to change the world and how to
get there
Lydia Pintscher (@nightrose)

2. WTH is Free Software?

3. Freedom to:
● use
● study
● modify
● re-distribute

4. Who here has used
Free Software?

5. Who here has contributed to
Free Software?

7. Why should you do it?

8. Make a difference!
● disaster management
● anonymous communication
● assistive technology
● internationalisation and localisation
● recording human rights violations and
election manipulation
● climate science and environmental
conservation
● hospital management
● knowledge sharing/education
● ...

9. How can you do it?

10. two ways to get into Free Software
unstructured structured

11. ● Google Summer of Code
● GNOME Outreach Program for Women
● Season of KDE
● X.Org Endless Vacation of Code
● ...

12. choose a project you use and like

13. all projects need help
(not all realize it though)

14. choose an area you like

16. look for a get involved page

17. lurk for a while

18. start doing stuff
(look for junior jobs)

19. some tips

20. be realistic about your skills
Open Hatch Codecademy

21. start small

22. get comfortable in the open

23. meet people

24. be visible and talk about
what you are doing

25. help others
(you're not alone)

26. give credit where credit is due

27. take on responsibility
(and do not disappoint)

28. don't give up

29. open-advice.org

30. Go out and do it!

31. Questions?!
@nightrose
Oh and btw: Your mother was right. Sharing is good.