Re: joining Debian

[Paul Wise <pabs@debian.org>]

On Fri, May 22, 2015 at 2:05 AM, Rosselli, Diego Garcia wrote:

> I would like to join Debian, and help do whatever need to be done.

Excellent, there are a lot of things to be done :)

http://www.debian.org/intro/help
https://wiki.debian.org/how-can-i-help

> I see there’s a lot of work waiting, and a lot of offers to choose, so I’d
> better let you decide on what you need me to join.

QA-wise probably the biggest thing is migration of features from the
old packages.qa.debian.org site to the new tracker.debian.org site.
The old site uses bits of shell, perl, python and XSLT while the new
site is Python + Django.

https://tracker.debian.org/
https://packages.qa.debian.org/
https://bugs.debian.org/tracker.debian.org
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/pkgreport.cgi?pkg=qa.debian.org;dist=unstable#_0_9_4

> I’m a IT Splst on pharmaceutical issues. Actually trying to validate Linux
> as a server, regarding the FDA requirements.

If you would like to enhance Debian for use in your workplace, getting
involved in the DebianMed subproject would be a great place to start.
The DebianMed folks have a specific mentoring program you might be
interested in too.

https://www.debian.org/devel/debian-med/
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianMed
http://blends.debian.org/med/
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianMed/MoM

> I can help translate documents, I am fluent in English, and Spanish is my
> mother tongue.

Check out this page for info about translations to Spanish:

https://www.debian.org/international/Spanish

> I have been some time without making a decent “C” program, but can dig in my
> memory, and it will eventually come back.
>
> I can help you test apps or pack’em. Or whatever you might need.

If there are packages you use that aren't yet in Debian, you could
package those, info here:

http://mentors.debian.net/intro-maintainers

If you want to help review incoming packages, that would be great, info here:

http://mentors.debian.net/intro-reviewers

> I don’t quite understand, I.E. if I would like to help with orphaned
> packages, do I have to BE a DM before..??? or do I get to be a DM after long
> working with whatever is waiting to be done..???

You don't have to have any special status to contribute, checkout this
page for how packaging works:

http://mentors.debian.net/intro-maintainers

Basically, check if there is something orphaned that you use by
running these commands:

sudo apt-get install devscripts
wnpp-alert

If you find a package that you use and would like to adopt, add your
name to the maintainer field, make some other changes to the package,
upload it to mentors.debian.net and file a request for sponsor (RFS).
Then respond to any questions you get and make any changes people
might request. It might take a while but eventually the upload will
probably happen. After maintaining a package for a while your sponsor
will tell you that you're doing a good job and that they would like
you to apply for DM status, which would let you upload that one
package without review by the sponsor.

If you can't find one you use and would like to adopt, you can do QA
uploads, which are one-shot uploads of orphaned packages to fix
things. Basically do the same thing except don't add your name as
maintainer. Of course if you introduce any regressions, you should
take care to fix those but after that you aren't expected to do any
more on the package. The procedure for getting those into Debian is
the same as for if you want to be the maintainer.

-- 
bye,
pabs

https://wiki.debian.org/PaulWise