I feel like a moocher for running GNU/Linux without giving something back. I could pay for a distro, but I'd rather contribute in some other way. So how do you give back? Programming? Error checking? Let me hear it!

Whenever possible I try to give the simplest of things back: bug reports. Since I'm not a coder I cannot give back in that sense. I could, I suppose, get involved in something that needs some music work (games?), but to be honest, I haven't really got the time to compose stuff at the moment... just started a teacher training course.

I would say to just spread the word... convince friends and family to try it out. with more and more people making the switch, i'm sure that it'll spark up some good funding from the big pockets of capatalism for all those starving coders around the world.

I occasionally pay for the distro every once in awhile or buy some merchandise, like t-shirt or whatever.

I also come here to help support Linux which gives back in different kind of way. I've also donated to this great site as well, bought some merchandise and help moderate.

I just convinced my friend to switch to debian, since his windows got thrashed (surprise... )
Anyway, since he doesn't know anything about Linux, i'll be helping him a lot, but i contributed by getting another convert!
-NSKL

That's one thing I do. I tell everyone I can about it. The problem is, the people that I usually talk to are not exactly computer enthusiasts. Take my girlfriend, for example. She checks her e-mail (web-based University mail) and types papers. That's about all she does. To her, there wouldn't be much benefit in switching. Same way with my dad. He knows a little about computers, but he just surfs the internet mainly. To me, it doesn't seem like those types of users would benefit much from Linux.

No, but would they be disadvantaged at all? You see, Linux isn't about whether or not you need/want a *nix type OS, it's increasingly becoming an issue over whether or not you want a choice. Your girlfriend and your father may not need to change, but have they tried? You can check emails (web-based too!) and write papers, and surf the internet in Linux as well!

I know this, the problem is convinving them that it is worth the "trouble" to switch. I am thinking about downloading the Knoppix distro and letting them try it out. That way, there is no messing with Partition Magic or anything, and they can see if they like it.

Well, if you would be installing and configuring it for them, how much 'trouble' would it be for then? I've had that argument from my brother before now, and it annoys me! (note: please pass on my annoyance to your gf and dad, they're not directed towards yourself).

Give back. Like taking the trash out for Linus?

You don't neceesarily have to convert everyone you meet. Linux has evolved into a religion. You just educate them about what Linux is and is not.

Me? I'm gonna be a C++ programmer and doing some coding or bug-fixing.

I think that all can benefit from Linux. How many times as Windoze crashed while your gf was typing a term paper. How much money did they spend on that OS?
If you want to try to convinence them to switch setup a spare computer next to theirs and let them use that and / or show them how they can do the same thing on Linux. I admit that I have a windoze computer still running (haven't been able to cut all strings) but I never quit being amazed by the power and stability that I enjoy with Linux.

As for how do I help. I try to give complete and honest answers, here at LQ, without prejudgment of the situation. I've also donated money to the KDE team, bought a couple of versions of Linux, bought lots and lots of books (not sure if that does anything, but if publishers see that Linux is being sought after, maybe others will too). I'm a mid-level PHP / MySQL developer with knowledge in Apache and perl.
I should be contributing to sourceforge.

p.s. Almost forgot - The biggest way we all help is just by using linux. Use it to browse the web, (wow kinda goes back to Dad). The more people use Linux the more companies will have to shift their focus to linux as a medium to design for.

Unfortunately, her laptop running XP home runs flawlessly, not crashing once since she got it in late June. Her desktop with '98 is a different story. But that's the thing. Her laptop is what she does the lot of her work on. So maybe I could convince her to donate the desktop to Linux and see if she likes it. Will Linux run on a Compaq with every piece of hardware integrated to the motherboard? Me = hate Compaq.

i helped my wife switch and she's in contact with book publishers everyday and sometimes mentions that she uses linux. big publishing companies get to here about and editor using linux (pretty cool).

in the process of helping local community college install/learn to use different distros of linux on some computers. they just spent over 16000 on licences for os/office for ms products so they are open to looking at alternatives.

Yeah, I was at a secondary school recently (11-18) and they had shed loads of computers, all loaded with either Win2K or WinXP, and all loaded with OfficeXP. I had a quick chat with their head of IT and he sayed, basically, 'We can't afford to train up any of out IT technicians to use Linux, and we can't afford to employ anyone that already knows how to use Linux'. How can these people not see the money they could be saving by not using MS software? It's glaringly obvious!
</rant>
Oh... would you look at that! This thread is in one of the General forums and seems to have gone off topic... how unusual!

I was just asked by my sis in law to put mandrake on her laptop which she bought without OS - in terms of benefits, she saved £70 on the OS and can watch multi-region DVDs.

Then, her mum heard about it and was fed up with Win98 crashing and getting viruses (they had a trojan) that she asked me to install it on their machine, as a dual boot.

They're both happy and the biggest thing they're pleased about is the security. If anything goes wrong, they can get a net connection and I'll log on for them and try and sort it out from my house. They're impressed with that.

As for what I give back - its just that - setting people up. I don't try and convert them - if they ask me for it, then I'll do it for them. They seem to be converting without pushing it down their throats - which is a pleasant surprise.