Looking to join the open-source community but feeling left out because you're not a
coding wizard? Fear not, Mozilla Club has arrived to guide you on your journey!
Open-source projects have become increasingly popular over the years, and they are an
excellent way to learn new skills, improve existing ones, and contribute to the tech
community. However, many people mistakenly believe that open-source projects are
only for developers and technical professionals. In reality, there are many ways that
non-technical individuals can contribute to open-source projects.
Open source offers plenty of exciting opportunities for non-coders to contribute, and the
possibilities are as diverse as the colors of a rainbow! From creating user
documentation and translating content to designing logos and creating artwork,
non-coders have an array of projects to choose from. So, if you're eager to get involved
in open source but don't know how to code, fear not, because the possibilities are
endless!
In this blog, we will explore some creative ways in which non-technical individuals can
contribute to open-source projects.
Documentation
Akey challenge in open-source projects is often inadequate documentation, creating a
barrier for new contributors. Non-technical individuals can make a significant impact by
improving documentation, including user guides and troubleshooting instructions. Clear
and concise documentation enhances project accessibility for both new users and
contributors.
Outreach
Jumpinto the open-source fun by becoming an outreach champ! Spread the word on
social media, crash conferences (virtually or IRL), and chat with your community about
the project. It's like being the project's hype person! Your outreach adventures not only
boost awareness but also reel in new contributors. Plus, you're crafting a cool
community vibe for the long haul. Time to make open source the talk of the town!
Design
Design is another area where non-technical individuals can contribute to open-source
projects. Open-source projects often lack good design, and this can be a significant
barrier for new users. Non-technical individuals with design skills can help by creating or
improving the project's logo, website, and other visual assets. Additionally, non-technical
individuals can help with user experience testing, which can help improve the overall
user experience of the project.
Translation
Many open-source projects have users from around the world, and providing
documentation and user interfaces in multiple languages is critical. Non-technical
individuals who speak various languages can help translate documentation, user
interfaces, and other content. Translation efforts can help make the project more
accessible to users from different regions and help build a more diverse community.
Community management
Non-techies can contribute by managing the project's community– engaging with
users, answering questions, and fostering a positive atmosphere. Active community
management creates a welcoming space for new contributors.
You can start looking for such opportunities on GitHub:
- Translate small sentences from English to your regional language for the Mozilla website here
- Chinesetranslations of IT resources here
- Translate Microsoft’s Data Science resources to Hindi here
You can explore these resources for quick and easy contributions without any prior experience:
- Answering questions: You can answer community questions on various topics. Helping fellow students with homework or getting connected with a community of students for note sharing.
- Get involved on Discord:Platforms like Discord and Slack are great facilitators for community building. Here people come together to discuss projects, academics, and other common interests.
- Mozilla Common Voice:Looking to be a part of a revolutionary initiative that promotes open voice recognition? Mozilla Common Voice is the answer! By simply recording 5 sentences in English, you can help build a massive dataset for the cause, without any fear of revealing your identity. However, if you're hesitant about uploading your voice online, you can still contribute by validating audio clips through text verification.
We hope we have provided you with various ideas on how to make non-technical
contributions to open-source from documentation and outreach to design and
translation. By contributing to open-source projects, you can help build a better and
more inclusive tech community.