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140 lines
6.0 KiB
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
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<HEAD>
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<title> Getting Involved in Open Source LG #43</title>
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<H4>
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"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"
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</H4>
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<center>
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<H1><font color="maroon">Getting Involved in Open Source</font></H1>
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<H4>By <A HREF="mailto:andrew@ultraviolet.org">Andrew Feinberg</A></H4>
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</center>
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<P> <HR> <P>
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<EM>How to join and render help to the Linux community.</EM>
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<p>
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Linux has always been maintained by volunteers. In fact, the ``gift
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culture'' of the Open Source community has always been one of its strong
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points. However, the majority of users who would like to contribute do not
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know how to get involved. This article will discuss aspects of becoming
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active in the Open Source community and contributing to the Linux
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kernel and other projects, including my experiences with becoming involved
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in the Debian project.
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<p>
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<h3>The Kernel</h3>
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<p>
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The contributors file in /usr/src/linux on my home system is huge. My
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linux-kernel mailing list folder is always full of mail from people,
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eagerly discussing the ins and outs of improving this operating system. Many
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people assume that Linus is the sole author of Linux. Not true, I tell
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them. Linux is the prime example of the ``benevolent dictator'' model of
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open-source development. A prospective developer submits code to Linus or
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one of the few ``lieutenants'' such as Alan Cox. They decide what will go
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into the kernel.
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<p>
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Another scenario is that certain parts of the kernel,
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such as the kernel NFS system, have a maintainer.
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Code is submited to them, and they decide what goes into their part
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of the kernel. Occasionally, Linus or someone will ask for a person to take
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over a part of the kernel. If you volunteer, make sure you know the code
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and can handle the responsibility of maintaining it and accepting patches.
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Be prepared to handle loads of mail if something breaks. Also, make sure
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you are on the linux-kernel mailing list.
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<p>
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<h3>GNOME</h3>
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<p>
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One of the more exciting developments in the past year has been the effort
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to provide Linux with an easy to use desktop. One of the two front-runners
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in that effort has been GNOME: the GNU Network Object Model Environment.
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Unlike the kernel, GNOME uses CVS, a version control system, to keep track
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of code submitted by developers around the world. This eliminates the need
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for someone to patch sources by hand to create an upgrade. To get CVS
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access to GNOME, send mail to Miguel de Icaza (miguel@kernel.org). Include
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a description of what code you will be writing, along with an encrypted
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password. More information is available at <A HREF=http://www.gnome.org/>
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http://www.gnome.org/</A>.
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<p>
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<h3>Debian</h3>
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<p>
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Debian GNU/Linux is unique in that unlike most other distributions, it is
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maintained entirely by a team of volunteers from all over the world.
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Becoming a Debian developer entails your maintaining a package;
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that is, you will make sure the latest version is on the Debian FTP
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site and that bugs get fixed as soon as possible fixes are done by you, if you
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package your own software, or the upstream maintainer, if you package
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someone else's software. or the software of a project such as GNOME or
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Mozilla. Because developers can place packages into the distribution
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tree, Debian is rather strict on security issues, especially when it comes
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to letting new developers into the project. A PGP key, (or coming soon,
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GNUPG) key is a must, and this key must be signed by another Debian
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developer. This may seem Draconian, but it is imperative that they be sure
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that the developers are who they say they are. After they receive your
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PGP/GPG key (signed), someone may call you for a telephone interview. This
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will consist of asking you a few questions, generally about the package(s)
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you intend to maintain. The whole process takes time, but it ensures
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the distribution is secure.
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<p>
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<h3>Wrapping It Up</h3>
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<p>
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The open-source development model allows talented people to collaborate on
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projects from across the world. If someone feels they have something
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useful to contribute, they can. This article only touches on three
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projects. The Open Source movement is truly a ``gift culture''. You are
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judged by what you have contributed and the quality of your code.
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Countless projects are out there that can benefit from the
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assistance of the community. With your help, they can flourish, and you
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may be ``known by your initials''.
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<p>
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<h3>Resources</h3>
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<p>
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GNOME:<BR>
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<A HREF=http://www.gnome.org/>http://www.gnome.org/</A>
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<p>
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Debian GNU/Linux:<BR>
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<A HREF=http://www.debian.org/>http://www.debian.org/</A><br>
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<A HREF=http://www.debian.org/devel>http://www.debian.org/devel</A>
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(Developer Information)
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<p>
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The Linux Kernel Mailing List:
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<A HREF=http://www.tux.org/hypermail/linux-kernel/>
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http://www.tux.org/hypermail/linux-kernel/</A> (archives)<br>
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To subscribe,
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send mail to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu with <tt>subscribe linux-kernel</tt> in
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the body.
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<p>
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<!--===================================================================-->
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<P> <hr> <P>
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<center><H5>Copyright © 1999, Andrew Feinberg <BR>
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Published in Issue 43 of <i>Linux Gazette</i>, July 1999</H5></center>
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