[OSDC Israel] Workshops [was Re: OSDC::Israel::2007 Milestones]

[Shlomi Fish]

On Wednesday 12 July 2006 14:11, Amir E. Aharoni wrote:
> > I ask because nearly every programming language today is available in
> > an open-source version (for example GNU's C++ and Java), but we
> > wouldn't generally expect those languages at an open source
> > conference.
>
> This is not really a reply, but a thought:
>
> A lot of people talk about using free software, but how many are
> actually coding it?
>
> Obviously, *joining* a free software project as a coder is the
> greatest contribution to the community, but the act of joining seems
> quite steep for many who want to help (me, for example).
>
> My proposal: Organize workshops that show people how they can set up
> on their computers a development environment for an open source
> project. For example:
>
> * How to start writing a Firefox extension - what tools to install,
> how to debug, how to test on different platforms, how to publish it,
> etc.
> * How to set up an environment to build Firefox if i want to fix bugs
> in the main application (Gecko, Fx GUI, XPCOM, etc.... i know the
> buzzwords, but not much more than that)
> * How to write an Eclipse plugin
> * How to write a Perl module that will be good enough for CPAN
>
> I'm talking about a detailed workshop, that shows everything:
> * Checking that you have the right compiler and installing one, if you
> don't * The same for debugger, profiler, etc.
> * Setting up version control system - every major project has its own
> conventions for those

That sounds like a great idea to me. Of course, it is generally known that a 
prospective hacker is better off joining an existing effort (assuming one 
exists) than start a dinky project of his own.

Gabor did a Test::Live demonstration in one of the recent Perl meetings. What 
we did was add tests, comments and stuff to one of Adam Kennedy's modules, 
which are all placed in an svn repository where everyone with a CPAN ID can 
commit to.

We can do similar demonstrations for some (existing) Mozilla Plugins, GIMP 
plugins, Web-based apps, etc. The question of course is what prior knowledge 
we should assume.

Regards,

	Shlomi Fish

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Shlomi Fish      shlomif at iglu.org.il
Homepage:        http://www.shlomifish.org/

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