6 ways to contribute to open source without using code

You often hear how rewarding it can be to contribute to open source and it is true, but typically when software engineers advise others it is usually code contributions. Fortunately, today there are many opportunities to contribute to open source without writing a single line of code.

Now let's look at some options:

1. Evangelize:

Often source code contributions involve evangelizing on behalf of a specific project. For example, if you love the latest JavaScript library and use it for all of your data visualizations, you might consider sharing that experience in a chat. This would be a great way to develop your own reputation and to attract more users to the project.

2. Bug reports:

When more users are part of a project it means that there will be more bug reports. When there are more of these, it translates into more bug fixes. AND more fixes means better software. Dare to write your own report, which in an indirect but significant way, will contribute to the improvement of the software and without writing a single line of code.

3. Mentor:

Sometimes those bug reports are often short of relevant and specific information. It usually takes a long time for project developers to find and discuss the author of the bug report to fully understand the scope of the issue.

You can guide these bug report authors through the process of writing a good bug report. This is a rich and nuanced process that can help the core team of any open source project, saving you a lot of headaches and time that can be spent elsewhere.

4. Writes:

If you are someone who does not like to speak in public, then you can write words, not code, in the name of open source. For example, you can contribute informational blog posts about a particular project, are useful and in turn attract more users to it.

If a blog post is too much of an effort for you, you may consider answer questions about technology on forums, mailing lists, StackOverflow or Twitter. In this way, you can develop your own knowledge about the technology and also contribute to the general information available on the web.

5. Organize a MeetUp

An interesting idea is to organize a MeetUp in your city about the specific open source tool you want to chat with. With this you can build non-digital communities around this topic. Activities of this style are valuable for those who cannot be online all the time, and also for those who prefer to put a face to an avatar when interacting with other users on the software.

6. Improve security

This is one of the topics that is often neglected in open source projects. If your expertise lies in this area of ​​cyber security or test security, you may consider contributing your knowledge to improve a project. Can find and provide solutions for security holes and thus improve the software directly, while improving the user experience throughout the project.

One of the advantages of open source is that it allows knowledge to be shared, exchanged, grown, learned and discussed about the different projects that arise. These software were not created in front of a computer and therefore there is no reason to limit the ability to contribute to open source by a text editor and keyboard.