One Sentence Answers for Free Software

Posted 8 Aug 2007 at 19:38 UTC (updated 8 Aug 2007 at 19:39 UTC) by ncm Share This

etbe asks Two Questions for All Serious Free Software Contributors:
1. What do you think is the most important single sentence of advice that you can offer to someone who wants to contribute to the free software community?
and
2. If you had the opportunity to say one sentence to someone who knows about computers and free software (EG they have used both Linux and Windows and done a small amount of programming) to convince them that they should join the free software team, what would it be?
slef answered in his blog:
1. He who does wins, so don't let the bastards grind you down.
and
2. Imagine every bug you found could be fixed by you if you want, or a friend, or an enemy, or someone you hire, or the original developer, or whoever and that it's your choice who you ask to do it, with no veto from the copyright holder: that's free software.
Those are very good questions, and pretty good answers. What are yours?

Off the top of my head..., posted 8 Aug 2007 at 19:48 UTC by Pizza » (Master)

1) Satisfy your own needs first.

2) Have you ever read the license agreements of the software you use for your livelihood?

Questions, posted 8 Aug 2007 at 20:12 UTC by ncm » (Master)

Pizza notes correctly that asking a question is a better way to start a conversation than making a bald assertion.

Some thoughts..., posted 8 Aug 2007 at 21:09 UTC by cdfrey » (Journeyer)

  1. Start with a small piece that looks possible: often starting is the hardest part.

  2. Participating in free software is not only adding to the common good, but also investing in yourself.

my answer to #1 & #2, posted 8 Aug 2007 at 22:02 UTC by badvogato » (Master)

Answer to #1 & #2 are the same:

ask for what you need and give what you want makes a jolly fellow...

Answers, posted 10 Aug 2007 at 11:39 UTC by abraham » (Master)

1. Figure out why you want to contribute to free software first. Until you know that, any other advice is futile.

2. Do you want to be lord in your own house?

Answer to Number Two:, posted 14 Aug 2007 at 03:51 UTC by MichaelCrawford » (Master)

"It'll get you chicks." :-D

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