this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023

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If you don't have coding skills, why don't you help foss software by making it more user friendly instead? (lemmy.giftedmc.com)

submitted 9 months ago by haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Disclaimer

Not trying to blame anyone here. I‘m just taking an idea I‘ve read and spinning it further:

Intro

A lot of people use free open source software (foss), Linux being one of them. But a lot less actually help make this software. If I ask them why, they always say „I don’t have the coding skills!“.

Maybe its worth pointing out that you don‘t need them. In a lot of cases it’s better to not have any so you can see stuff with a „consumer view“.

In that situation you can file issues on github and similar places. You can write descriptions that non technical people can understand. You can help translate and so on, all depending on your skills.

Other reasons?

I‘d really like to know so the foss community can talk about making it worthwile for non coders to participate.

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[–] AzureInfinity@leminal.space 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I have to write userscripts to make websites bearable, software UI is not as customizable( bright white background at night, tiny 9pixel fonts, huge empty margins and content crammed into 200x200 boxes,lots of tiny cryptic icons crammed into toolbars that suppose to be menus,etc )

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[–] Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Because FOSS devs think the "consumer view" is wrong and the software should correct it, not the other way around.

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 2 points 9 months ago

I can see where you‘re coming from. That definitely needs to change.

[–] mnglw@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

because a lot of foss devs, contributers and even users are so extremely hostile when suggesting ux improvement/report bugs/etcetc for end users not like them that frankly I dont wanna bother. Same reason I don't report bugs

maybe first tackle that situation before you ask people to throw themselves into what effectively is a lion's den to mauled by fossbros who can't get over themselves

[–] haui_lemmy@lemmy.giftedmc.com 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

No. First I ask people for feedback and the feedback you‘re giving now is important and valuable. Thank you for that.

I‘m not asking peeps to do anything. I ask why not. Then I take that feedback and try to implement it. :)

Have a good one.

[–] mnglw@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

you're right, I kinda let past experiences cloud my judgment for a bit there, and missed that you were doing the right thing,my apologies for that

sadly the fact that I did does point to the very problem I described.

that said I hope you can get somewhere and improve things, my apologies for the mix up

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[–] bear_delune@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I have a background in Games, UX, Service and Product design and I would really like to contribute to FOSS projects but have no idea how to

I’m unfamiliar in the etiquette of GitHub and how I could contribute my skills

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