MY EXPERIENCE AS AN ECLIPSE CONTRIBUTOR
How I started networking and contributing code
Patrik Suzzi, 4th Nov. 2015
About.me/psuzzi
• R&D Engineer• Eclipse4 RCP, CBI, …
• Privately contributing• Scout, E4, Platform
• MSc Eng• Eclipse RCP, GEF
My bits here:https://twitter.com/psuzzihttps://www.asegno.com
1. HOW I STARTED
• Reasons to contribute
• “it-is-not-a-job”, but is the top!
Playing with Eclipse
• EclipseCon Slides
• Attach Java Source
• Online tutorials
I built vLab, for learning by doing
• MEng, UniBo• vLabs
• V1 Java2D
• V2 Eclipse
• Achievements• E-learning application
• Publication “Learning by doing”..
Examining success factors
• Reusable, High quality, Component Based
• Open Source, Business friendly
I discovered the ecosystem
• Good documentation
• Vibrant community
• Widely supported
I wanted to join to:
• Advance my experience
• Learn from the best
• Improve my business
• Be part of a community
But, I started working!
If you want to work in an open source project,
you have to like it and you have to expect nothing
2. NET-WORKING
• How I started contributing
• What was important to learn
I started networking
• Eclipse Days are free:
• Banking Day, Copenhagen
• SOA Day, Rome
• MDD Day, Zurich
• Eclipse Day Florence
This lead me to my first contribution
• Eclipse Day > Meet a Project Lead• Common interests > communicate > contribute
Then, an Eclipse Job found me
• Eclipse E4 RCP
• R&D Engineer
• Relocated abroad
Later, I wanted to contribute code
• work + colleague’s experience + wiki + forums> skills to contribute code
I started learning git (to contribute)
• Version control evolved• basics
• Eclipse Git Workflow• CLA, Push to Gerrit
I wanted to get to the next level
• Eclipse Conference Europe• Three days, European top event
So I made my first code contribution
• Eclipse Con Hackaton > Meet an Evangelist > Interactive session on Git workflow > Solve bug > push to Gerrit
3. CONTRIBUTING CODE
Code > sacrifice > repeat
I started contributing
How To Contribute
Help Wanted Bugs Forums
I like working on Platform UI
That makes me feel good!
• List of my contributions
It requires constant commitment
• C/c Bugzilla
• Read Wiki
• Ask Forums
I am a contributor
• I signed the CLA
• I send my contributions for a Committer to review and commit
Review System
I follow the Gerrit workflow
I (contributor) ? (the committer)
Git Master (world)
Demo: fix < 10 min
• Given • IDE setup ok
• In <10 min• Get source
• Fix the bug
• Push Gerrit
Some work
Automagic
TAKEAWAYS
• How to join the community?• Passion > Networking
• How to contribute ?• Learn > improve > share (*)
• How to get new contributors?• Opennes > learning by doing
Questions?
Be Courageous
Ask!
References
Web references:• Platform UI Wiki > How to Contribute : https://wiki.eclipse.org/Platform_UI/How_to_Contribute
• Platform UI > Developer resources : https://projects.eclipse.org/projects/eclipse.platform.ui
Presentations, Publications and Books:• A gentle introduction to GEF (K. Aers)• “Learning by doing: vLab, a virtual laboratory for Computer Engineering education” (R.Laschi, A.Riccioni, P.Suzzi)• Contributing to Eclipse Principles, Patterns and Plug-ins (E.Gamma, K.Beck)• Eclipse plug-ins (E.Clayberg, D.Rubel)
Photo Credits• Solstice Eclipse Starscape, Luis Argerich [link]
• Lake Erie Sunrise, Jen Goellnitz [link]• DSC01134 , Media Mike Hazard [link]• Network, Ivan Emelianov [link]• Eclipse logo [link]• The Eclipse IP process in cartoons [link]• Cat, K-neko TR [link]• The House of the Eclipse, György Soponyai [link]
Contributing to the Eclipse IDE, Second Edition
http://www.vogella.com/books/eclipsecontribution.html
As of today, available as free
download and paper book
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