Open Source Benching

[Funkywood]

Does anyone here contribute to open source projects or think that it would be worth doing while on the bench to keep your skills up?

Wondering what clients would make of large chunks of time filled with just open source work (done in evenings after spending the day on a beach, naturally).

Anyone used this to fill gaps?

[Sockpuppet]

I can't say it would make a difference wither way unless the work you did was ground breaking or the freeware app became really successful.

[BlasterBates]

Yes it will do you good, I was reading an internal c++ chat, and some senior permies were in agreement that programming as a hobby is something that would impress them, in fact one of them is an open source developer.

[NickNick]

I've a friend who swears by the fact that having "programming" as a hobby makes you more employable as a "programmer". However, the last thing I want to do when i get home is carry on doing the same sort of thing I've been doing all day.

[NotAllThere]

If you can get paid to do your hobby, then why do it outside of work?

If I was recruiting someone with benchtime on their CV, that had been filled with opensource, I would consider this to be very positive.

If they did opensource work during evenings and weekends, while in contract, I'd just ring for security...

[t0bytoo]

I've been working for the last year or so with open source tools and have found that most people looking to hire me aren't impressed that I don't contribute anything...

Some days I think I should put up a blog, etc, but truth is I can't be a*sed... So long as there's work coming in.

[Cowboy Bob]

I've got a few projects up on SourceForge that I mention on my CV and without fail they end up getting brought up at interview - always in a very positive way.

[portseven]

Have been involved in Open Source community for a number of years and even had a few articles published, looks good on the CV's and is always talked about in interviews.

Also if you use Open Source tools it's always good to give back to the community, it doesn't have to be coding, documentation, sysadmin, helping out newbies, etc.

[BrilloPad]

Have been involved in Open Source community for a number of years and even had a few articles published, looks good on the CV's and is always talked about in interviews.

Also if you use Open Source tools it's always good to give back to the community, it doesn't have to be coding, documentation, sysadmin, helping out newbies, etc.

Are there any particular ones you would recommend getting involved in?

[dude69]

Open sores software is for hippies/communists.

I would not hire such a person.