Place Your Software In The Public Domain

The easiest way to help is to place your software in the public domain. Public domain software is a vast code library that anyone can use for any purpose. The best way to help people understand the benefit of this great resource is to place some high quality code in the public domain for others to benefit from.

Use Public Domain Software: Report Bugs and Request Features

Improving the quality of public domain source code will helps to reduce the amount of time others have to spend writing code. Rigorous testing and troubleshooting early in the development cycle will help reduce the amount of time others must spend dealing with errors. It may also reduce the amount of effort needed from developers and distributers to correct errors.

Submit a Public Domain Patch To A Public Domain Project

Improving the functionality and amount of quality public domain source code included in existing projects is another way to reduce the amount of time others must spend writing source code. To get an understanding of how to submit a patch to an existing project, please read this patch submission HOWTO.

Write Public Domain Documentation

Even with the best software in the world, it will difficult to increase efficiency if there is a steep learning curve for new users. Documentation helps reduce the learning curve. It helps users gain productivity from software with a minimal amount of investment. For this reason, high quality documention for public domain software is absolutely essential. Possibly, one of the most significant contributions that can be made is high quality documentation of well written and useful source code and software.

Tell Others About The Benefits of the Public Domain

Tell your friends and college who've benefited from the Free Software and Open Source movements about our new ideas. Explain to them the benefits they can expect from contributing to the public domain repository, and point them at our web site for more information.

Help The Public Domain Software Foundation Directly

You can contribute volunteer time to help the foundation spread the word about the benefits of placing software in the public domain. The PDSF is looking for people to do everything from web site work, to basic presentations to local Linux Users Groups.