Documentation documentation documentation! One of the most often overlooked and wildly important aspects of many major projects is accurate, up-to-date, and detailed documentation. If you're not a programmer, one of the number one ways you can contribute is to help draft and produce documentation for applications you enjoy! It's still a contribution to the project!
this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2025
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And please don't just dump AI output into the docs
For real, that's actually the opposite of helpful. Documentation should be based on experience from use combined with discussions with the devs (providing they have the time).
For the applicatolions I use most I always select to send information for development and always comply when promoted for a too. $5? Fuck yeah bro go save the world!
Use opensource software, donate/contribute if you can, post about opensource software, and if you have to pay money for software, pay companies which fund opensource software (Like steam, my beloved)
Find something broken/unimplemented and fix/implement it.
If you can't code, you can help with documentation or by reproducing/expanding existing, but incomplete, bug reports.
Donating. You could also try getting your workplace to also donate as well.
I'm always happy with anyone that lets me donate via channels I already use. That's why I donate to Lemmy, I can do it via patreon. If I really believe in something I guuuueeesss I'll put in my card number but, I'm gonna complain the whole time! Yes I'm aware of exactly how I sound lol. I'm just grateful to anyone who makes it easy for me to give them money.
What's up with all these capitalisations?
Eh I'm kinda used to writing like that at this point haha. I used to do it to bring attention to certain text but now it is what I do out of a bad habit
I'll reformat it tomorrow
I woulda thought its from being too lazy to turn Off Auto correct on the phone
That would make sense but yeah nah just bad writing habits
Practice those tasks in a large, already functional open source project. Try to shadow people who already do them. Very relevant link for libreoffice contributors of all kinds
Relevant more general guide (which doesn't look too out of date) here
Lastly I'll mention joining organizations adjacent to what you are already excited about working in. I do research code and joined an organization for data scientists in academia. They do regular training and events in things like UI design and documentation.
I was thinking I'd appreciate a website/community where people talk about potential new open source software ideas and interested people can collaborate. Could be small things. And able to filter by category, language, etc.
But I don't know how the logistics would work. But at least minor things that could be fun. But it could be abused. It's just my thoughts when I'm like "I wanna make something this week". Or when I start something and I don't have the skills for all components.