Hello all

I've recently installed Redhat 9 and I've heard that the best way to "get into" Linux is simply helping out with an open project. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a current project that isn't too hard to help out with, and is mostly console-based. I've looked through the freshmeat archives and all the projects there are a bit complicated.

I know C, and can probably pick up other languages pretty easily. I read a FAQ that listed 5 languages that would be useful: Python, Java, C/C++, Perl, and LISP. Are any of these languages used more than another, and which should I focus on if I want to program on Linux?

Thanks

Well, really it's best for you to just work on whatever you find interesting. There's always more work to be done on Gnome (the default red hat 9 desktop), which is written in C. Check it out at developer.gnome.org

Python => useful to know, but currently isn't used much for desktop apps.
Java => not used much outside of enterprise servers
C/C++ => used for desktop apps
Perl => server stuff/scripting
LISP => not really used outside of emacs

C is a good language to know. Just find a project, and get stuck in.

Have fun

If you go to http://sourceforge.net/people/ there is a help wanted type section where they list many projects in need of assistance.