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Finding an Open Source Project

GrundlterrorGrundlterror Registered User regular
edited May 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
Recently, there was someone on the forums looking for a C++ coder for a game. I attempted to get on that team, but I haven't heard back from him in some time. However, this sparked a desire to work on something like this.

I recently graduated with a bachelors in computer science and while I look for a job I'd like to get involved in some sort of open source project. What are some places to look for, and general advice on, open source projects that accept contributors?

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Posts

  • JacksWastedLifeJacksWastedLife Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Drupal.org?

    JacksWastedLife on
  • Dr. TrevorkianDr. Trevorkian Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Why not browse projects on GitHub to find something you're interested in and feel your contributions would help?

    Dr. Trevorkian on
  • GrundlterrorGrundlterror Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Dr. Trevorkian wrote: »
    Why not browse projects on GitHub to find something you're interested in and feel your contributions would help?

    Because I've never heard of GitHub before, or what it is, so I wouldn't know to use it. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for! Getting started in open source.

    Grundlterror on
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  • Dr. TrevorkianDr. Trevorkian Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Grundlterror wrote: »
    Dr. Trevorkian wrote: »
    Why not browse projects on GitHub to find something you're interested in and feel your contributions would help?

    Because I've never heard of GitHub before, or what it is, so I wouldn't know to use it. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for! Getting started in open source.
    Ahhh well awesome. Glad I could point it out. =^)

    There's also SourceForge, but it's ...hm... a bit on the old and busted side, lamentably. However, lots of established projects are on there.

    Dr. Trevorkian on
  • ImprovoloneImprovolone Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Dude, go you for contributing.

    Improvolone on
    Voice actor for hire. My time is free if your project is!
  • Jimmy KingJimmy King Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Do you have any interet in MUDs? MUDs are always looking for devs. My primary experience is CWG, which is an attempt to modernize CircleMUD. I haven't done any code work on CWG in several years, but back when I was, the guys at CWG and the leader of the project were all very cool, glad to have people get involved, and willing to help people new to the code base.

    http://cwg.lazuras.org/

    Another obvious, but possibly difficult option, is to start your own project. Yeah, it's not likely to become the next Linux or Apache HTTPD, or GIMP, but there's no reason you can't start your own project doing whatever you want and put it up on sourceforge or google's code thingy. Write your own game engine using SDL or XNA or what have you.

    Jimmy King on
    https://bash-shell.net | https://mobelux.com/
  • theSquidtheSquid Sydney, AustraliaRegistered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Jimmy King wrote: »
    Do you have any interet in MUDs? MUDs are always looking for devs. My primary experience is CWG, which is an attempt to modernize CircleMUD. I haven't done any code work on CWG in several years, but back when I was, the guys at CWG and the leader of the project were all very cool, glad to have people get involved, and willing to help people new to the code base.

    http://cwg.lazuras.org/

    Another obvious, but possibly difficult option, is to start your own project. Yeah, it's not likely to become the next Linux or Apache HTTPD, or GIMP, but there's no reason you can't start your own project doing whatever you want and put it up on sourceforge or google's code thingy. Write your own game engine using SDL or XNA or what have you.

    On the subject, Gnome could really use a native MUD client that doesn't suck. Just a suggestion.

    theSquid on
  • GrundlterrorGrundlterror Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Jimmy King wrote: »
    Do you have any interet in MUDs? MUDs are always looking for devs. My primary experience is CWG, which is an attempt to modernize CircleMUD. I haven't done any code work on CWG in several years, but back when I was, the guys at CWG and the leader of the project were all very cool, glad to have people get involved, and willing to help people new to the code base.

    http://cwg.lazuras.org/

    Another obvious, but possibly difficult option, is to start your own project. Yeah, it's not likely to become the next Linux or Apache HTTPD, or GIMP, but there's no reason you can't start your own project doing whatever you want and put it up on sourceforge or google's code thingy. Write your own game engine using SDL or XNA or what have you.

    I don't really think I could start my own project but contributing to a MUD would be something I would love to do. Do you think I could tell them that you referred me?

    Also, Provolone, I noticed your thread about the website. If you are need help let me know, I'd be happy to contribute here and there. I did a bit of web stuff in school.

    Grundlterror on
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  • Smug DucklingSmug Duckling Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Dr. Trevorkian wrote: »
    Grundlterror wrote: »
    Dr. Trevorkian wrote: »
    Why not browse projects on GitHub to find something you're interested in and feel your contributions would help?

    Because I've never heard of GitHub before, or what it is, so I wouldn't know to use it. This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for! Getting started in open source.
    Ahhh well awesome. Glad I could point it out. =^)

    There's also SourceForge, but it's ...hm... a bit on the old and busted side, lamentably. However, lots of established projects are on there.

    GitHub is one of the most popular open source project hosting sites right now. code.google.com is another, as is SourceForge.

    There are tons of small and large open source projects out there. A lot of the open source software you use (if any) is probably looking for contributors. Most open source projects are starving for developers and would gladly accept people willing to help out.

    Some examples of high profile open source projects that you could contribute to are:

    - Django (A python web framework)
    - Drupal (A content management system)
    - WordPress (A PHP content management system)

    Just to name a few.

    There are uncountably many smaller ones (in which you could probably have a bigger impact) too. Just browse around code.google.com or GitHub to try to find some.

    Smug Duckling on
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  • admanbadmanb unionize your workplace Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Getting into a framework is a great idea, because learning to build something that's used to build things is great experience. They also have a lot of side projects, libraries, and extensions that are likely to piqué your interest.

    admanb on
    twitter, github
  • Jimmy KingJimmy King Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Grundlterror wrote: »
    Jimmy King wrote: »
    Do you have any interet in MUDs? MUDs are always looking for devs. My primary experience is CWG, which is an attempt to modernize CircleMUD. I haven't done any code work on CWG in several years, but back when I was, the guys at CWG and the leader of the project were all very cool, glad to have people get involved, and willing to help people new to the code base.

    http://cwg.lazuras.org/

    Another obvious, but possibly difficult option, is to start your own project. Yeah, it's not likely to become the next Linux or Apache HTTPD, or GIMP, but there's no reason you can't start your own project doing whatever you want and put it up on sourceforge or google's code thingy. Write your own game engine using SDL or XNA or what have you.

    I don't really think I could start my own project but contributing to a MUD would be something I would love to do. Do you think I could tell them that you referred me?

    Also, Provolone, I noticed your thread about the website. If you are need help let me know, I'd be happy to contribute here and there. I did a bit of web stuff in school.
    You could tell them that I referred you, but they probably don't even remember me at this point. I believe I was using the nick "ret" on there at the time. It really wouldn't matter anyway, though. They're good guys and love to see people keeping MUDs alive, so they'll be happy to see you, referral/recommendation or not.

    Jimmy King on
    https://bash-shell.net | https://mobelux.com/
  • Smug DucklingSmug Duckling Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Open Source projects, as a general rule, will take anyone who wants to help. They're pretty starved for developers usually.

    Smug Duckling on
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  • Jimmy KingJimmy King Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    A bit of a thread resurrection here, but I just came across a couple of things that might be of interest to the OP on slashdot.

    Some guy's story on how he got involved with FOSS development from the front page of slashdot.

    http://openhatch.org/ - seems to be a semi-social networking site based around FOSS projects and work they need done that you can look over for things you think you would like to do, contribute to the projects, etc.

    Jimmy King on
    https://bash-shell.net | https://mobelux.com/
  • GrundlterrorGrundlterror Registered User regular
    edited May 2010
    Awesome! Thanks Mr. The King, because I was still having trouble finding some that interested me :P

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