I wouldlike o contribute to the cause of the open source in general and linux in particular... i am a newbie in this kinda software development model...i am studying and using linu for the last one year... and i am really excited using linux ... Can anyone tell me how can i contribute to the cause .. technical as well as non-technical...

Best thing to do is just write, create and or share any programs you can write that might benefit and be useful for others. If you don't start your own, you can always browse open source projects, see if they need help, etc.
Your also contributing when you use opensource software. Find a bug, submit it. If you can patch it, even better.
Even asking and answering questions is being part of opensource. Every little bit helps the next person that comes along and reads this information on a site just like this.

Cheers.

first if ya can and want to code: find a subject you like or want to learn, mybe make a stupid little program just ot help you learn (hey it mgiht actualy be usful, i see programs out there that all tehy do is display a set of eyes on the screen), once ya find somthing worth programing or a feature some project is lacking that you willing to make, then go ahead and make it, and put it online (if its a added feature then jsut send the patch back to the people it come from, and/or put it online just in case its not included people can use it)

if ya know another language and want to translate, you can make translations for programs ( look at gettext as its used to pick what language translation should be used),

in the end its all up to you, write programs, translate, help people, tell people about open source (or whatever program you think is best), or even just host some web pages for projects if youd like, even making skins or themes or background art would count i think?

hey can i join any working poject ???? if i can how ?? can u help me plzzzz???

I'm sure it depends on the project. Browse projects on sites like www.sourceforge.net and www.freshmeat.net in which many will have posted if they need help, etc.

i would like to know how to get about joing a project ... plzzz

Another way to support Linux is to buy the official disks (or related merchandise) from the vendor, or to contribute to sites such as LQ.

As trickykid also mentioned, you can help advance OS projects by contributing your time/knowledge to answering other people's questions at this and other websites. I applaud your enthusiasm. -- J.W.

well, i dono i most projects have "suscrube to make our code" things, but from what i see, you can usualy sumbit patches to the project, somtiems there "development" mailing lists were people can talk and get organized, and cvs : wich lets update code yourself somtimes,

easyest thing to do: if ya modify a program and want it included in teh min relae you can make a patch (using the diff program), sumbit it to, whoever you can get a hold of that has acess to the public source, and see if tehy will acept it

SciYro, as much as I enjoy reading your posts, I have to say one single thing: Dude, get a spell checker (or at least a non-stained keyboard)!

All in good fun and no harm intended.


Håkan

Seriously, did I just post blank posts above? Did you even read anything I've said so far?

And yes, I agree with you as I've warned him before about his spelling habits and lack of using our tools if he can't simply take the time to give good responses to members with good spelling and grammar checks. At times the spelling is so bad, a veteran user might understand what he means by misspelling but a new person seeking advice might not.

I am asking you yet again SciYro, if you can't properly spell in your replies, don't reply then. This is your last warning cause quite frankly, I'm tired of the complaints.

We have a spell check, use it or just spell it correctly the first time. Stop staring at your keyboard and look at your post and preview it before submitting it.

Regards.

Also you can support linux by making packages from sorce.

-Joey

If you have some extra cash laying around, become an Associate Member of the FSF.

joey i didnot get you what u meant.... can u just clarify in a much more better way

He most likely means if you use Slackware, you can create packages for it from using the source files, etc.

hey i have used only debian, redhad and freebsd, (occassionally Mandrake)...