[PLUG] From {proprietary consumer} TO {FOSS contributor} HOW???

[Ben Koenig]

Well, if your interests are QA/QC focused, then I'd recommend looking at
the various desktop environments. the overall linux platform is still weak
in the solutions space. Getting started on a desktop like gnome or kde is
very word-of-mouth. You need someone to walk through the first steps in
order to become self-sufficient.

Case in point, I spent a decent chunk of this morning getting kmail to send
emails via office365. It works, and the process to set it up isn't that big
a deal, but there is absolutely ZERO documentation on the subject. Doing a
google search brings you to reddit pages complaining about how incomplete
KDE is... but it's really just a complete lack of written instructions the
software works fine once you figure out how to configure it.

And most other user-facing applications are pretty much the same. Someone
with technical skills has to go through these apps and desktop environments
and systematically categorize, organize, and document how each feature and
function is intended to be used. I'd recommend taking a look at the current
state of KDE's documentation as an example. The entire plasma5 desktop is
pretty much devoid of instructional info. Most other DE's are in the same
situation.

-Ben

On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 8:40 AM Mike C. <mconnors1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> In regards to your diverse history. You're not the only one: I dare say my
> background is more diverse not only vertically within in a technical
> speciality but also horizontally across many industries. I'm also diverse
> across types of work and I've had difficulties finding work due to this.
> I'm not a polymath by any means but I don't fit squarely in a box nor have
> a conventionall career path.
>
> I too wish I could've done Physics experiments for a living when I was in
> college.
>
> Rereading your question. It seems to me you've already answered the WHAT
> question of providing USEFUL_FEEDBACK.
>
> There comes a point when asking for advice/guidance from others that we
> just have to start carving our own path. I've been struggling with this for
> years now myself.
>
> Have you been to a Hackathon before? That also might be a good place to
> start. I just read an article about Hactoberfest and a large portion of the
> attendees where new users & devs.
>
> Best of luck to you!
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 5:59 AM Richard Owlett <rowlett at cloud85.net>
> wrote:
>
> > On 03/28/2020 08:46 AM, Ben Koenig wrote:
> > >[snip]
> > >
> > >> If I were trying to do what you are I'd start with getting clearer
> about
> > >> what I'm really interested in and what I have to bring to the table
> >
> > Basically I agree. That is is why I wrote in my initial post:
> > > I do not have the technical skills to contribute viable code.
> > > I've been a computer *USER* since early 60's.
> > > Is there a forum whose goal is guiding consumers to provide _USEFUL_
> > feedback?
> >
> > I already have a good idea of where to:
> >    1. find current topics of interest to differing audiences.
> >    2. contribute any useful results.
> > Mailing lists which qualify include debian-user, debian-blends, and
> > debian-boot.
> >
> > The desired forum may not be explicitly software focused, let alone be
> > for a specific Linux distro. Based on my experience of taking multiple
> > Freshman writing courses over three decades, many contributors might be
> > writing instructors. What I wish to do is read the archives of such a
> > forum to better organize my efforts.
> >
> > >>  From my experience, that's harder to do. It's easier to ask others
> what
> > >> they need. Figuring it out for oneself is a slower process of
> > refinement.
> > >>
> > >>
> > > +1 Start by telling us more about your personal interests. Hobbies?
> > > Careers? [snip]
> >
> > Don't know how productive that will be <chuckle>
> > I was in 9th grade when Sputnik was launched. I was very good in math
> > and science. My farther was an electrical engineer. Thus it was
> > foreordained that I was destined to pursue a BSEE. Hindsight suggests
> > that pursuing a Physics program would have been more successful. I spent
> > a decade as an electronics tech in a university research environment.
> > Then two decades in private sector doing engineering and customer
> > support (emphasis on QA/QC).
> >
> > Once when job hunting thru a temp-to-permanent agency, I got one
> > interview because the company owner wished to meet someone who would not
> > only claim, but document, such a strangely diverse history ;}
> >
> >
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> >
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