That's a big issue, yes. In addition to that, there's simply no easy-to-find info explaining how you can contribute, where and how to get started and how easy it can be. You have to know where to look already or look around for a while, be in the 'right' Circle, read the right comms, or have been involved in the closed beta phase or mailing lists discussions. There's nothing in the FAQs, nothing on the Site Map, nothing on the Open Source page. If you search for 'volunteer' the FAQs can lead you to dw_volunteers but this community only has a very cut and dry list of projects, which doesn't mention bugs or code, and no welcome post. The community info doesn't say anything useful besides indicating membership is restricted to existing volunteers. Well, thank you. The info on dw_dev_training says it's for people using "Dreamhacks". Again, no welcome post or how-to. The info only mentions IRC as a means of communication. The intro post, found in the sidebar, links to a Wiki guide but it says you need Dreamhack again and the Dreamhack article doesn't tell you what you need to do to get it. You may post in the comm but why do it when you don't even know if you'll be able to help yet? :/ Dw_news oftens mentions volunteer projects but doesn't make it obvious that you can contribute even when you have no previous experience or technical skills or special hardware or whatever a newbie or even I, a not-so-newbie, can imagine is needed.
I have very little experience with volunteering but I volunteered twice on two different sites for the same project at about the same time. The one I ended up working on was the one where communication was fast and easy, I could start working immediately and the techs and owner were amazingly nice. I also volunteered on Dreamwidth once. It was in April. I haven't got an answer since or seen a post giving people news about the project.
Of course, that's only my POV. Maybe you're not looking for people needing more handholding and guiding in the initial stage than what you already provide. *shrug*
no subject
Dw_news oftens mentions volunteer projects but doesn't make it obvious that you can contribute even when you have no previous experience or technical skills or special hardware or whatever a newbie or even I, a not-so-newbie, can imagine is needed.
I have very little experience with volunteering but I volunteered twice on two different sites for the same project at about the same time. The one I ended up working on was the one where communication was fast and easy, I could start working immediately and the techs and owner were amazingly nice. I also volunteered on Dreamwidth once. It was in April. I haven't got an answer since or seen a post giving people news about the project.
Of course, that's only my POV. Maybe you're not looking for people needing more handholding and guiding in the initial stage than what you already provide. *shrug*