6 Ways You Can Help Make Linux Better
While Linux is a great OS, some pitfalls can make it less easy to use than Windows or macOS. Since Linux distros are community-driven projects, if you want them to be better, it’ll be up to you to contribute.
Here are some ways you can contribute to improving the Linux ecosystem.
1. Use Linux
This might seem obvious, but one of the best ways to improve Linux is to actually use it. You’ll see firsthand what its capabilities are and where it needs improvement. This means that you’ll know which bugs to fix and which user interface elements need more polish.
2. Beta Test Linux
If you’re brave or have a spare machine, you can also test upcoming releases of Linux on your machine. Even a virtual machine will work.
If you use Debian, you might want toswitch from Debian Stable to Debian Testing.
Using a bleeding-edge distro like Arch Linux will allow you to spot problems faster before they make it into a production distro. You’ll be able to report bugs this way.
3. Report Any Bugs You Find
If you encounter a problem in a Linux distro or an open-source program, don’t just whine about it on a forum or social media. Do something about it. Use the bug reporting mechanism that the developers provide to tell them about what’s going on.
Most large open-source projects, including Linux distributions, have some bug-tracking tool they use to track the progress of bugs. This is one thing that’s refreshing about Linux compared to proprietary systems: they don’t hide their flaws.
4. Help Other Linux Users
Perhaps you remember when you first started to use Linux. Things might have seemed confusing. Where do you go for help? How do you do this in Linux? How do you even get Linux installed?
One great thing about Linux is that it’s a community, much more than other operating systems. It’s also the reasonwhy techies love Linux. There has always been grass-roots, user-to-user support from people who use Linux. This ranges from in-person user groups to forums and IRC channels.
If you have a problem, there is often someone out there who knows how to fix it.
5. Contribute Money to Linux Distros
Even though Linux may be free in terms of price, it still takes time and money to develop. Linux andopen-source software is funded in a variety of ways.
Some software is the result of research projects and the development is funded by universities. Other companies sponsor open-source development. A good example is Red Hat, which develops Red Hat Enterprise Linux, as well as Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu.
Still, a lot of Linux distributions and other open-source projects are like PBS programs: they’re funded by viewers, or rather, users, like you. That means if you really care about them, you’ll have to pay for them.
Many projects have donation pages where you can contribute directly. Some of them also have merchandise pages where you can buy something to show off your love of a certain project. You can show off a coffee mug at the office or a t-shirt on the street.
6. Contribute Efforts to Linux Distros
Linux, even if it seems more professional these days, still largely relies on volunteer contributions. The Linux kernel, distributions, and other open-source projects are the shining jewels of the free and open software movement.
If you know how to code, you should seriously consider donating some of your effort to your favorite distro or other project. If you have other skills, those may be needed.
If you have a way with words, software projects will always cry out for good documentation. You might try improving the manual or wiki pages. If you’re artistically inclined, you might consider contributing to the graphic design of a project or volunteering to spruce up their website.
Depending on your skills, you can likely contribute something of lasting value to Linux.
It’s Up to You to Improve Linux
Linux isn’t going to improve on its own. You’ll have to put in some effort, such as writing code or testing beta versions of distros. There are lots of things you can do to contribute to Linux.
Impressed by Linux, want to get involved, but have no programming skills? Here’s how to contribute to Linux without coding.
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