Contributing to the OpenBSD project or any other open-source project
is a rewarding experience that allows you to learn, improve your
skills, and give back to the community. Here are the steps and
considerations to start contributing to the OpenBSD project as a
developer:
1. Familiarize Yourself with OpenBSD:
- Use OpenBSD, get to know its philosophy, its documentation, and
its codebase. Understanding the system and the community's
standards and expectations is crucial.
2. Join the Mailing Lists:
- Sign up and participate in OpenBSD mailing lists, especially the
tech mailing list where much of the development discussion
happens. Be respectful, and learn from the discussions.
3. Identify Areas of Interest:
- Identify areas within the project that interest you or where you
see a need. It could be bug fixing, system tools, user
applications, documentation, or driver development.
4. Learn the Coding Standards:
- Familiarize yourself with OpenBSD's coding style and
standards. Consistency in coding style is important in
collaborative projects.
5. Start Small:
- Start with small tasks such as bug fixing or improving
documentation. These contributions are valuable and can help you
become familiar with the contribution process.
6. Work on Bug Reports:
- Look for bug reports, test existing bug reports, and provide
feedback or solutions. The bug tracking system can be a good
place to find where help is needed.
7. Create and Submit Patches:
- If you have code contributions, create patches and submit them to
the appropriate mailing list for review. Be prepared for
feedback, and be open to making revisions to your contributions.
8. Respect Feedback:
- Feedback is a valuable part of the open-source development
process. It helps you learn and improve your contributions.
9. Follow Up:
- Stay engaged, follow up on your contributions, and address any
additional feedback or questions from reviewers.
10. Engage with the Community:
- Engage with other developers, contribute to discussions, and
attend OpenBSD events or meetups if possible.
11. Read OpenBSD's FAQ on Contributing:
- OpenBSD has a FAQ section on how to contribute to the
project. It is recommended to read through it to understand the
expectations and processes.
12. Consider Becoming a Regular Contributor:
- As you gain experience, consider becoming a regular
contributor. With time and consistent, quality contributions,
you might be invited to become a developer with commit access.
Remember, contributing to open-source projects like OpenBSD is about
more than just code. It's about being part of a community and working
together to improve and advance the project.
