How exactly can I become involved and contribute?
The software developed by the community will be released free of charge on the Bentokit Project website, along with the source code. You can then either be a user of the software, a contributor, or become a developer.
The Bentokit Project is somewhat similar to the Mozilla Project, where people around the world create addons for programs like the Firefox web browser. We're hoping that stations and individuals will make modifications and contribute them back to the community.
Contribute feedback
You or anyone else can download and use the software just like any other software package out there, for free.
While using the software during everyday operation, you may find issues or problems (affectionately known as 'bugs') or think of smarter ways for the software to work. This feedback can be contributed back to the community for discussion and inclusion in later releases. Feedback can be provided
- via the Forums (easiest for normal users).
- via the Mailing Lists
- or within Launchpad (preferred method for intermediate computer users and developers)
Contribute changes
Alternatively, you or someone you know may have a bit of computer programming experience, and may decide to create that desired functionality, or fix those bugs, and then contribute the changes back to the code repository, allowing others who want it to use it.
Those organisations with an IT staff or volunteer base may choose to modify the software for their own purposes, or develop entirely new functionality through addon modules. They can then use these modifications internally, and - keeping within the spirit of the project and the sector - they can contribute it back to the community for everyone to use.
Check out the For Developers page for more info.
Contribute documentation
In the same way that everyday users aren't usually good programmers, programmers often aren't great at writing clear documentation. Even if you can't write code, you can write prose; clear and concise documentation is needed so that others know what's going on. We need both
- User documentation, for people who want to know how to operate each piece of software and associated module addons; and
- Technical documentation, for developers who want to know how to develop new functionality within the technical specifications of the system
To read, review, write or edit the documentation, head to the docs section of the site.
Contribute financially
While the Bentokit software has arisen largely from a volunteer base, it has considerable overheads in order to maintain development and upkeep. To date we have sourced funding through grant and philanthropic bodies to keep servers and development equipment functioning. Contributions to the Bentokit Project of any amount would be most welcome.
The Bentokit Project is a project of the Student Youth Network Inc. (SYN Media), a Deductable Gift Receipient (DGR) status charitable organisation, and monetary contributions may tax deductable under Australian taxation law.
To make a donation to the project, please visit the SYN Media donation page here. To make sure the money is attributed to the Bentokit Project, please remember to add the following information to the donation form under Optional Information:
- I would like to give this gift in memory of: Bentokit Project
- Please email the following individual/s notifying them of my donation: info@bentokit.org
