I have been passionate about Free Software for a long time now. My contributions have always revolved around helping people make amazing things happen and realize what they are really capable of. I’ve shown many people that small niche that just fits them perfectly and seen them grow from there and make a difference.
Along the way I’ve always come accross two problems:
- “I can’t do X (usually programming), how could I ever be useful to a project”
- “This is so overwhelming, I don’t even know where to start.”
I’ve done a lot of things to overcome this but it wasn’t ever enough somehow. Today I am at FOSDEM presenting a book, that will be another step towards fixing these problems. Today I am releasing Open Advice.
Open Advice is the result of the collaboration of more than 50 people from all across Free Software. It is a collection of short essays about key things the authors wished they had known when they started contributing to Free Software. It’ll give a headstart to everyone who wants to contribute. It’ll also be useful for existing contributors who want to know a bit more about other projects and areas of contribution.
The book is available as a paperback and free PDF and is licensed under CC-BY-SA.
What are you waiting for? Download the PDF version today or order a printed version.
Additional goodies: The LaTeX source is available and a bug tracker exists as well.
A year ago I started working on this project and today it is reality. If you’re at FOSDEM I’m sure you can see me bouncing around with joy 😀
Congratulation to this achievement, and chapeau!
Well done and congratulations to you! I’m also at fosdem would be nice to meet up if you have some spare time.
Thanks for your efforts! Just as I was looking for my next book, this comes as a blessing 🙂 Where can I order a paper version, preferably hardcover, but paperback will do too?
Congratulations Lydia!
One more item off the list of things to do before you die. 🙂
Thanks folks 🙂
@Alf: There is a link on http://open-advice.org to lulu.com where you can buy a printed version.
it would be nice to have an epub version of this
This book is GREAT! Thank you so much, Lydia.
@Dave: I am happy to put an epub version on the website if someone creates one.
Congratulations for this really awesome book! Let’s see if I finish reading the PDF before or after my print copy arrives 🙂
Congratulations, Lydia! What an achievement. Does 4SQ have a badge for that? 🙂
@Mirko *lol* I don’t think there is a 4SQ badge for it _yet_
Since quite some KDE contributors seem to be involved, maybe make a dot story out of it? 🙂
Dot story is being worked on 😛
Congratulations on a great achievment! Can’t wait to read your book. 🙂
This is excellent news (even if I’m a little late in getting it)! Thanks for your work on this; I can’t wait to read it too.