How to contribute to the OpenBSD project

Author: Solène

Date: 03 May 2022

Tags: openbsd

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Intro

You like OpenBSD? Then, I'm quite sure you can contribute to it! Let me explain the many ways your skills can be used to improve the project and contribute back.

Official FAQ section about how to support the Project

Contributing to OpenBSD

I proposed to update the official FAQ with this content, but it has been dismissed, so I'm posting it here as I'm convinced it's valuable.

Writing and reviewing code

Programmers who enjoy writing operating systems are naturally always welcome. The team would appreciate your skills on the base system, kernel, userland.

How create a diff to share a change with other

There is also place for volunteers willing to help at packaging and maintaing software up to date in our ports tree.

The porter guide

Use the development version

Switch your systems to the branch -current and report system or packages regressions. With more users testing the development version, the releases are more likely to be bug free. Why not join the

What is -current, how to use it

It's also important to use the packages regularly on the development branch to report any issue.

FAQ guide to testing packages

Try OpenBSD on as many hardware as you can, send a bug report if you find incompatibility or regressions.

How to write an useful bug report

Supported hardware platform

Documentation

Help maintain documentation by submitting new FAQ material to the misc@openbsd.org mailing list.

Challenging the documentation accuracy and relevance on a regular basis is a good way to contribute for everyone.

Community

Follow the mailing lists, you may be able to help answer questions from other users. This is also a good opportunity to proofread submitted changes proposed by others or to try those and report how it works for you.

The OpenBSD mailing lists

Form or join a local group and get your friends hooked on OpenBSD.

List of OpenBSD user groups

Spread the word on social networks, show the project under a good light, share your experiences and your use cases. OpenBSD is definitely not a niche operating system anymore.

Make a case to your employer for using OpenBSD at work. If you're a student, talk to your professors about using OpenBSD as a learning tool for Computer Science or Engineering courses.

Donate money or hardware

The project has a constant need for cash to pay for equipment, network connectivity, etc. Even small donations make a profound difference, donating money or hardware is important.

Donating money

Donate equipment and parts (wishlist)