Task Discussion

v4lent1na said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

Operating Systems: Mac OS X, iOs.

Programming experience: HTML, CSS, very little Python and Ruby.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I dont' know if I'll really be able to help. For now I just wanna learn how things work.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Open source is something everybody can work on/with and share with others, with flexible licenses to distribute content. Strength: collaboration. Weakness: maybe the problem with licenced content and copyright.

on Aug. 7, 2013, 3:07 p.m.
Joe said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

OS: Windows, some Mac, tried out many linux distributions(familiar with the terminal), and played with other operating systems.

Languages: C++, Java, JSP, some JS, C#, CSS, HTML;

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I'm willing to do anything to help as long as it's within my abilities.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Open source software allows anyone to contribute to it and for anyone to use its source code for their own projects.

Strengths: a potentially large workforce to work on the project; provides free software to people;

Weaknesses: not all projects get enough people to work on them, software tends to need polishing;

on May 14, 2013, 12:30 a.m.
pathouse said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

I studied computer science in college for 3 years but ended up majoring in English because the program where I went to school was extremely small (1 full time prof). I've decided that I want to code for life so I've been brushing up on what I learned, basically reteaching myself the basics. I was taught in Java but since coming back to programming I've been mainly working in Python. Recently completed the Codecadamy tracks for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Python. I've dabbled in Lisp, C++, Android, and PHP.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I've decided I want to fully embrace my dual passion for programming and writing so in addition to working on the code I'd like to assist with making the documentation as complete as possible and to become an active and vocal member of the community.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Open source is FUBU - for us, by us.

on April 3, 2013, 2:28 p.m.
Dennis Daniels said:

I've been around computers most of my life. I'm 45. I used computers extensively while teaching. With the help of a friend, we built a fully networked classroom wherein all of my students had their own work stations. I've danced around code and coding forever but never mastered it. I've used a few education management systems in my day, namely Moodle and quite a few others that I don't now remember.

on March 17, 2013, 8:31 a.m.
Tim Gaudette said:

I'm not great at expressing my ideas in writing so hopefully this doesn't sound like rambling...

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

Used to run Fedora back in college but I've since switched to Ubuntu at home. I am forced to use Windows at work and use it a bit at home for gaming.

Programming:

More experience with VB than I care to remember. Mostly, used for macros in MS Office. Two years of statistics/reports using SAS and JCL (on a mainframe and positional database, ahhhhH! Talk about a nightmare) and SQL (much more pleasant experience).

More recently (last 2 years or so) I've moved to more web based languages. I use Javascript, HTML, and CSS everyday at work to develop basic web pages and wiki applications using the Foswiki platform. I also have some experience with Python (no Django though) and PHP. I've been unwillingly thrown into SharePoint so a little bit of C# and have some experience with C++ from college.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I would really like to contribute to the code. I've been really wanting to get involved in an open source project for a while now and I think I've finally found one.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

To me open source doesn't just apply to software, it is a philosophy. It's the idea that quality tools and information should be available to everyone.

Keeping things closed and proprietary just creates problems and extra hassle. Having open standards allow people to work together to make the best product(s).

A strength of open source is most people aren't in it for the money. They are involved because they truly care about what they are doing and there is nothing better than an intrinsically motivated person.

So many people can be involved in project; this can be both a weakness and a strength. Sometimes it can be difficult to coordinate/work with so many people from varying backgrounds but at the same time you can get a wide variety of skills that make the project stronger. Another strength that comes from working with so many people is that standards are higher. If you're working in a 'closed shop', run into an issue and come up with a quick and dirty / improper fix it might be accepted and kept in the project. Things like that don't fly in the open source world. Someone will come along and point it out.

I'm hoping to get some time this weekend to get a dev environment setup, look through the community call notes, start digging!

on Jan. 4, 2013, 9:44 p.m.
Tyler Gillies said:

My name is Tyler. I'm a ruby guy who develops on a mac. I have pretty decent knowledge in javascript and clojure. I know linux based systems pretty well. I do web development professionally at getlittlebird.com

I've been hacking on open badge stuff. Interested in badge ecosystem and open learning as a whole. I know some python and might be able to contribute some stuff after I get to know the codebase a little better

on Nov. 19, 2012, 7:14 p.m.
Ryan B Harvey said:
What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

Operating systems: MacOS (classic and X), Windows (since 3.0), *nix in various flavors including AIX, zOS and several Linux flavors (favorite is Ubuntu, currently)

Programming experience: started some 25 or so years ago with GWBASIC and Logo. Since have done everything from FORTRAN, PASCAL and C to C++, Java, Python and Ruby. Also have done several mathematical/scientific languages including Matlab, SAS, R, Maple, and Mathematica.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I'd love to contribute to the codebase.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Open source is about providing visibility into your codebase and being accountable for what you write. It's great because it allows several things:

educated decision-making about whether or not to use a package or piece of software

modification of a codebase for a specific purpose or use

bootstrapping for developing a big project by allowing a starting point far along the plan

new developers to learn from more experienced ones by digging into their code

The one weakness is that developers need to support themselves and their families, and it's often difficult to raise funds to support open source projects.

I don't currently have much open source code out there, so I'm currently looking at various open source projects (this one included) to which I can contribute.
on Sept. 16, 2012, 11:11 p.m.
Dirk said:

Hi Ryan!

Great to hear that someone with your experience is interested in helping out!

At the moment most of the development activity is on the css-framework branch on https://github.com/p2pu/lernanta and the course branch on https://github.com/dirkcuys/lernanta.

Be sure to also subscribe to the mailing list at http://lists.p2pu.org/mailman/listinfo/p2pu-dev

Feel free to ask any questions either here or on the mailing list.

Cheers

d

on Sept. 17, 2012, 4:42 a.m. in reply to Ryan B Harvey
Judka99 said:

Hi everyone. I don't have a lot of programming experience, just a bit in HTML, CSS, Java and Javascript. I started learning PHP but didn't get too far with it.

I would like to contribute to front end development and translate, if needed.

To me, open source is the future. It is a democratic contribution that can be manipulated to give the most benefit to the most people.

on July 12, 2012, 8:15 p.m.

Dirk said:

Hi Judka That's great! I hope that we can help you learn a bit more! With what languages would you be able to help? Cheers d

on July 13, 2012, 6:40 a.m. in reply to Judka99
Inkbug said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

I use windows and have experience in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I think I'll mainly help with translation, although I might contribute to front-end code.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

I define open source as sharing - I think it is very good for everyone.

on July 12, 2012, 5:35 a.m.
jeroenrijckaert said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

I run Slackware Linux for years on my own computers, dual booting with Windows 7. I've build a Slackware server profesionally as fileserver, MySQL database, webserver. I've written some scripts in Perl to automate parts of the design process of a series of dredgepumps. I write BASH scripts to automate boring administrator tasks. I've written a little bit of PHP to generate dashboard-like management webpages. I've done some python programming and on school I now have to program a little bit with VBA. Way back I started doing BASIC on the Commodore 64.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I'm just getting to know Lernanta, so I don't have a clear purpose yet. But contributing to learning and developing my coding skills at the same time sounds good to me.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Open source means freedom of (digital) information. I would like to see it in a broader sense, including creative commons. Knowledge should be more free on this world than it is now. I think competition and secrecy (together with bad form of patents and copyright) does a very good job in holding back human progress.

on June 20, 2012, 1:44 p.m.

Rohit.Vashisht said:

I use Windows and Scientific linux. I have worked as a Technical Support troubleshooting Windows XP.

About Programming I have experience in C, C++, Visual C++ and am a Oracle Certified Professional in Forms and Reports 6i (in 2000).

I am planning on taking some opencourseware courses to review my Computer Architecture and Programming before attempting to make the OS.

on June 20, 2012, 2:10 p.m. in reply to jeroenrijckaert
Jessy Kate Schingler said:

hello, i'm jessy and a regular around p2pu. i'm a pretty die hard linux user with mac os x experience and less on windozzz. i have a lot of experience with python and web development.

i helped out with lernanta back when we were first starting the project. i'm looking to get my local lernanta environment up and running again. i hope to be contributing some code back!

on June 10, 2012, 9:47 p.m.
dany javier said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

i used ubuntu before unity for several years ago, now i use Debian and i have worked as front-end developer junior for several months ago.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

now i have a local instance of lernanta running in my laptop, and i wanna contribute with the front-end layer while I learn python and django.

And translate the lernanta wiki into spanish.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

the open source for me, is a great way to share your ideas and understand thoughts from amazing people from all the world. with this philosophy you can obtain a fast,smart, social grow in any project.

Well, this would be my first contribution to the code of an open source project, and is great contributing to p2pu in this way.

on May 27, 2012, 12:47 a.m.
Philipp said:

What operating systems or programming experience do you have?

Philipp > I have been a Mac/OSX user for many years, but tried a bunch of Linux flavors on the desktop/laptop before then. I have some (mostly outdated) experience with Linux based servers as well. I run Ubuntu in Virtualbox for the Lernanta installation.

How do you wish to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

Philipp > I want to fix a few small things that annoy me ;-)

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Philipp > Open source means anyone can participate. One of the challenges to building an open source project is that people need a reason why they would spend their time contributing. In some cases (Apache, Linux ...) it's mostly a personal itch that the developers are scratching. In the case of Lernanta, I could see a number of reasons (incl. the ability to "learn to code", the ability to build a social learning environment that you want to use to offer courses, etc.) but as part of our strategic planning process we should make sure that we better understand this open source community and how we can support/ foster/ grow it.

on May 16, 2012, 4:56 a.m.
Anonym said:

I currently run a mix of Ubuntu and Windows computer. I have over 3 years of programming experience.

I wish to contribute through code and translation.

I define open-source as projects that aim for a higher goal. They aim to be the best of their kind by making it possible to include many different perspectives in their development.

on May 2, 2012, 5:40 a.m.
queerpedagogue said:

What operating systems and experiences you have, if you haven't already listed it in your introductory message on the sign-up task.

I mostly use Linux, although have done some work with Windows and Mac OS in the past. I have experience programming in C and Java and a bit of C++.

How do you want to contribute to Lernanta? Contribute to the code? Run your own instance? Help with translation?

I'm interested in learning how to run my own instance.

Also, how do you define open source? If you have good links, that's great. If you have experience, please share it. What are its strengths and weaknesses? Especially from the viewpoint of someone new?

Software where there's a community of people collaborating on it, both paid and unpaid, as opposed to just a small group of paid, insular staff.

on April 24, 2012, 9:32 a.m.
Prasanth said:

I can write programs in Python, but I don't have any professional programming experience. I use the Ubuntu system, but don't know anything other than using the shell, and installing programs using synaptic. I have also taught myself elementary SQL, JavaScript and HTML/CSS. I have also used the Git version control system, mostly in a single user setup.

I am hoping to learn some practical knowledge by working with the Lernanta code, since it is used in a production environment.

I am also hoping to work with one or more mentors, since I don't have access to any.

on April 20, 2012, 5:25 a.m.
Osledy Bazo said:

Hi, Im Osledy Bazo, I have 4 years of programming experience, I wan to learn to use learnata to contribute to it and run my own instance, also help with translation.

on April 18, 2012, 2:52 p.m.
Dirk said:

I work mostly on Linux. I've worked on Redhat before I understood anything, LFS before I wanted to install X, Mandrake before they went bust, Gentoo before my CPU turned 5 and Ubuntu before they switched to Unity. Just kidding about the last one, I'm currently trying out Ubuntu again. And the second to last one, my desktop's CPU is closer to 9 and it's still running Gentoo.

Open source as an ideology is simply practical. People figured out that it works better if you share your code. And you can even make money while doing so (go ask Red Hat, they have a billion Benjamins to back up the argument).

Free software on the other hand is an ideology. Technology is there to help people - all people, not only the people with the source. Thus users should have rights to use software in any way they want, not be tied down by licenses, EULAs, binary obfuscation or other devilry.

In practical terms open source benefits free software. Just look at what happened to that office productivity suite now called LIbre Office!

Some companies does open source differently, look at Nokia and what they have done with Qt. Big thumbs up in my book. Now they just need to give up trademarks claims for Qt.

on April 3, 2012, 7:35 a.m.
Corbin Tarrant said:

I do all my work using a linux operating system and have for about 5 years now. I currently use Ubuntu 10.04.

To me open source is about sharing and cooperation, amazing things can be achieved when we work together towards exciting goals.

http://www.IAmCorbin.net
I have a blog that has been setup for a while with the joomla CMS. I just started posting on it for the Webmaking 101 course that allows you to earn mozilla open badges. I plan on starting to make use of this space to document my learning progress

https://github.com/IAmCorbin
I have a github account setup with some code from assorted independent projects I've worked on.

My strengths are being able to put a lot of passion into tasks I care about. My weakness lies in understanding other people's code and larger software projects. I hope to improve my abilities to work with others and contribute to projects.

on Feb. 21, 2012, 7:02 p.m.