In my previous post I wrote about how, despite the fact geeks are known for hiding away on their own, Linux and Open Source software has a huge community surrounding it. Here I hope to give some more practical advice and links to help newer users get involved.
Forums
There are hundreds of Open Source related forums all over the internet, some for a specific program or Linux distribution, others aimed at new users and yet more dealing with anything and everything. If there is something relating to Linux you want to discuss, there will be a forum out there where you can talk about it.
The best part is, all you need to do is sign up and immediately you can read through a whole lot of useful information, get help, and talk with other Linux users.
Some Popular Forums:
Mailing Lists
Mailing lists tend to be more specific than forums, dealing with only a particular geographical area or an application. Users communicate through email, with every one you send being shared with every other person in the group. Writing to one can be a great way to meet people and get support.
Some Mailing Lists:
Linux User Groups
User groups can be a good way to meet other Linux users in person, or talk to people near you through a mailing list. Meeting other new users can really help you see that you are not alone with your problems, and get some tips from more experienced users.
Some User Group Sites
- A List of User Groups by Country
- UK User Groups
- Dundee and Tayside Linux User Group and Abertay Linux Society.
I hope that this post will help some newer users become part of the vast and active Open Source community. If you’ve joined a group and are now looking for technical help, I’ll be following this up with a guide to finding solutions and asking questions in the next couple of days.
If you have any other tips and links you’d like to share, please share them in the comments.