Six ways to get involved on Linux: How to contribute to the operating system you love

Although Linux is a great operating system, it may have some inconveniences when compared to Windows or macOS. Since Linux distributions are community-supported projects, your contributions are needed if you want them to get better.

Here are some ways you can improve the Linux ecosystem.

1. Use Linux

This may be obvious, but one of the best ways to improve Linux is to actually use it. You will experience firsthand its capabilities and areas for improvement. This means you'll know which bugs need fixing and which user interface elements need more fine-tuning.

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2. Participate in Linux testing

If you're feeling adventurous or have a spare machine, you can also test upcoming Linux releases on your device. Even using a virtual machine is possible.

If you use Debian, you may want to switch from Debian Stable to Debian Testing. As shown below:

Using an up-to-date distribution like Arch Linux will allow you to catch problems faster without them making their way into the production distribution. This way you will be able to report bugs.

Related: How to switch from Debian stable version to Debian testing version https://www.linuxmi.com/debian-stable-testing.html

3. Report any bugs you find

If you encounter a problem with a Linux distribution or open source program, don't just complain on forums or social media. Take action. Use the error reporting mechanism provided by the developer to tell them what happened.

Most large open source projects, including Linux distributions, have some kind of bug tracking tool for tracking the progress of bugs. This is a refreshing thing about Linux compared to proprietary systems: they don't hide their flaws.

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4. Help other Linux users

Maybe you remember when you started using Linux. Things may seem confusing. Where should you go for help? How to accomplish this task in Linux? How to install Linux?

One of the great things about Linux is that it is a community, more so than other operating systems. This is why techies love Linux. There has always been grassroots support among users, from people using Linux helping each other. This includes face-to-face user groups, forums, and IRC channels.

If you have a problem, there's usually someone who knows how to fix it.

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5. Donate to Linux distribution

Even though Linux is free in price, its development still requires time and money. Funding for Linux and open source software comes from a variety of sources.

Some software is the result of research projects, the development of which is funded by universities. Other companies sponsor open source development. A good example is Red Hat, who develop Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu.

However, many Linux distributions and other open source projects are like PBS shows: they are funded by viewers, or rather, by users like you. That means if you really care about them, you need to pay for them.

Many projects have donation pages where you can donate directly. Some of them also have product pages where you can purchase items to show your love for a particular item. You can use a coffee mug in the office or wear a t-shirt on the street.

6. Contribute to the Linux distribution

Even though it seems more professional these days, Linux still relies heavily on the contributions of volunteers. The Linux kernel, distributions, and other open source projects are the shining jewels of the free and open source software movement.

If you know how to code, you should seriously consider donating some of your efforts to your favorite distribution or other projects. If you have other skills, those may be in demand as well.

If you're good with words, software projects always require good documentation. You can try to improve the manual or wiki page. If you have a talent for art, you might consider contributing to the project's graphic design or volunteering to beautify its website.

Depending on your skills, you can contribute something of lasting value to Linux.

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Improving Linux depends on everyone

Linux won’t improve on its own. You need to put in some effort, like writing code or testing a beta version of the distribution. There are many things you can contribute to Linux.

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