Difference between revisions of "Contribute"

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Here's a chance to be a part of a great new open source project.  There are 3 types of developers LinuxMCE needs:
 
Here's a chance to be a part of a great new open source project.  There are 3 types of developers LinuxMCE needs:
  
1. '''Maintainers for the existing open source projects incorporated in LinuxMCE:''' Although LinuxMCE is new (March 07), it consolidates a lot of existing open-source projects, like Ubuntu, Xine, MythTV, Pluto, Asterisk, etc.  So it would be very helpful to have some developers from those existing projects join the team to be sure changes to those projects don't break LinuxMCE, and that LinuxMCE always includes the latest and greatest versions.
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# '''Maintainers for the existing open source projects incorporated in LinuxMCE:''' LinuxMCE consolidates a lot of existing open-source projects, like Ubuntu, Xine, MythTV, Pluto, Asterisk, etc.  So we'd like some developers from those existing projects to join the team to be sure changes to those projects don't break LinuxMCE, and that LinuxMCE always includes the latest and greatest versions.
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# '''Add new open source projects to LinuxMCE:'''  LinuxMCE is largely a framework for integrating lots of open source projects and enabling them to seamlessly work together.  So there's lot's of other great open source projects out there that it would be nice to integrate.  Adding your existing open source project to LinuxMCE not only makes LinuxMCE better, it adds a ton of functionality to your project and likely allows it to do things not otherwise possible.  This is where Open Source blows away closed source.  In the closed source world, you could never see all the competing software companies work together and share their code so it all seamlessly works together like LinuxMCE does.
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# '''Totally new code for LinuxMCE:'''  Most of the functionality in LinuxMCE is already complete, and in general adding 'major' new features is a matter of integrating an existing open source project, rather than writing all new code from scratch.  However, because LinuxMCE talks to so many devices, there are lots and lots of devices out there it would be nice to add support for.  We're hoping to be able to get some companies to sponsor a lot of this work, since this would open up a new market for them. 
  
2. '''Add new open source projects to LinuxMCE:'''  Because LinuxMCE does so much and has such broad and varied features brought together as one, and is essentially a framework for allowing lots of open source projects to seamlessly work together, there's lot's of other great open source projects out there that it would be nice to integrate into LinuxMCE.  It makes LinuxMCE better, of course, when it does more, but also for the existing open source projects that are brought into LinuxMCE, it adds a ton of new features and benefits and makes them even more useful.  The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  And this ability to tightly tie together lots of different software is where Open Source blows away traditional closed source.  In the closed source world, you could never see all the various competing software companies work together and share their code so it all seamlessly combines.
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In addition to developers we also need:
  
3. '''Totally new code for LinuxMCE:'''  Most of the functionality in LinuxMCE is already complete, and in general adding 'major' new features is a matter of integrating an existing open source project, rather than writing all new code from scratchHowever, because LinuxMCE does so much and talks to so many devices, there are lots and lots of devices out there it would be nice to add support for. I'm hoping to be able to get some companies to sponsor a lot of this work, since this would open up a new market for themIt's my goal to drum up as much interest in LinuxMCE as I can so that there's a sizeable installed base of users, and that the manufacturers of home electronics devices will add LinuxMCE support for their products, or help sponsor the development.
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# '''Documentation:'''  This is probably our weakest point right nowIt's hard to get the full benefit of LinuxMCE because a lot of the features are not well documented and it's hard to grasp the full capabilities.
 
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# '''QA/Testing:'''  We have setup an automated build system that creates a new test release each night, and a bug tracking systemSince programmers never like to test and debug, yet that's what matters most when building a user base, we really need some detail oriented people to stress LinuxMCE and go through all the functions to flush out all the bugs.
In addition to developers we also need:
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# '''Promotion:'''  We need to get a substantial user base so the companies that make products for the home are motivated to support LinuxMCE and to get momentum behind the development. If you're good at promotion, like making a demo video or flash animation, or posting announcements, or getting some press interest, why not lend a hand?
  
4. '''Documentation:'''  This is probably our weakest point right nowIt's hard to get the full benefit of LinuxMCE because a lot of the features are not well documented.
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If you'd like to join the team, feel free to dive right in add yourself to the [[Contacts]] pageIf you'd like some orientation and assistance, you'll find our contact info there, and we'd be happy to email, IM, Skype or phone you and chat with anybody interested in joining the team.
  
5. '''QA/Testing:'''  I have setup an automated build system that creates a new test release each night, and a bug tracking system.  Since programmers never like to test and debug, yet that's what matters most when building a user base, we really need some detail oriented people to stress LinuxMCE and go through all the functions to flush out all the bugs.
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See also: [[Contributing to LMCE]]
  
If you'd like to join the team, feel free to dive right in add yourself to the [[Contacts]] page.  If you'd like some orientation and assistance, you'll find my contact info there too (Paul Webber), and I'd be happy to email, IM, Skype or phone you and chat with anybody interested in joining the team.
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[[Category:Development]]

Latest revision as of 05:13, 29 September 2012

Here's a chance to be a part of a great new open source project. There are 3 types of developers LinuxMCE needs:

  1. Maintainers for the existing open source projects incorporated in LinuxMCE: LinuxMCE consolidates a lot of existing open-source projects, like Ubuntu, Xine, MythTV, Pluto, Asterisk, etc. So we'd like some developers from those existing projects to join the team to be sure changes to those projects don't break LinuxMCE, and that LinuxMCE always includes the latest and greatest versions.
  2. Add new open source projects to LinuxMCE: LinuxMCE is largely a framework for integrating lots of open source projects and enabling them to seamlessly work together. So there's lot's of other great open source projects out there that it would be nice to integrate. Adding your existing open source project to LinuxMCE not only makes LinuxMCE better, it adds a ton of functionality to your project and likely allows it to do things not otherwise possible. This is where Open Source blows away closed source. In the closed source world, you could never see all the competing software companies work together and share their code so it all seamlessly works together like LinuxMCE does.
  3. Totally new code for LinuxMCE: Most of the functionality in LinuxMCE is already complete, and in general adding 'major' new features is a matter of integrating an existing open source project, rather than writing all new code from scratch. However, because LinuxMCE talks to so many devices, there are lots and lots of devices out there it would be nice to add support for. We're hoping to be able to get some companies to sponsor a lot of this work, since this would open up a new market for them.

In addition to developers we also need:

  1. Documentation: This is probably our weakest point right now. It's hard to get the full benefit of LinuxMCE because a lot of the features are not well documented and it's hard to grasp the full capabilities.
  2. QA/Testing: We have setup an automated build system that creates a new test release each night, and a bug tracking system. Since programmers never like to test and debug, yet that's what matters most when building a user base, we really need some detail oriented people to stress LinuxMCE and go through all the functions to flush out all the bugs.
  3. Promotion: We need to get a substantial user base so the companies that make products for the home are motivated to support LinuxMCE and to get momentum behind the development. If you're good at promotion, like making a demo video or flash animation, or posting announcements, or getting some press interest, why not lend a hand?

If you'd like to join the team, feel free to dive right in add yourself to the Contacts page. If you'd like some orientation and assistance, you'll find our contact info there, and we'd be happy to email, IM, Skype or phone you and chat with anybody interested in joining the team.

See also: Contributing to LMCE