Where does a beginner contribute to open source?

[Jack Moore Iii]

I hate to keep qualifying my Java skills as "beginner", but there's really no other category that fits. And that being the case, I want to up my familiarity with the language moreso than random assignments and tests can get me. Which is why I'm looking to try and get in on some open source stuff. Also I hear having code samples from contributions is good to have to show perspective employers. So, yeah, any suggestions on how someone with a basic understanding of Java 7 could get in on actually helping with open source projects? Or maybe which sites might welcome someone eager to help but low on experience/skill?...

[Mansukhdeep Thind]

Hi Jack. Just to confirm, you know Java language end-to-end and are looking for some place to add to your open source development repertoire. Is that correct?

[Jack Moore Iii]

Well, I'm not sure I know it end-to-end, or what that means. But I am in the cattle drive program here at the Java Ranch, and I'm not having any significant problems. I have also read the K&B SCJP6 certification book front to back, and have retained at least a little of it. I find as I hit on actual coding practices that I recall quite a few things from the book. I hate to say it, but I believe I know Java now better than I ever knew C++ or C, which I've basically used for over a decade since high school. And yes, I'm looking to add to my over-all experience as a coder by helping out with some open source projects, though I'm not sure at what level I can be of assistance or where to look for my current Java skills...

[Mansukhdeep Thind]

There is this upcoming concept of BIG DATA management in the industry. Google " big data projects" or may be even Hadoop by apache foundation.

[Steve Myers]

Here is a website with specifically what you are looking for: openhatch

[Mansukhdeep Thind]

Thank you Steve. That portal has quite a bit of learner's stuff in it. Any other such starting point for beginners? Any other portals?

[Joel Christophel]

There are huge java gamer communities dedicated toward developing "bots" that perform repetitive tasks in-game.

[Mansukhdeep Thind]

What are "bots" Joel?

[Joel Christophel]

I'm talking about mouse and keyboard macros. One good example is the powerbot community which develops scripts that automate repetitive tasks in the game RuneScape.

[Jack Moore Iii]

Cool, I'll check those out. I still get a little apprehensive when they start talking about applets/graphics and such since I've not delt with that, but there's probably no way to really ease into it. Better to just try it out...