Contributing to WordPress: Moving From User to Contributor – WordCamp Grand Rapids 2019 Lightening

1. Introduction

WordPress History

• 2005 – First Blog
• 2006 – First Podcast
• 2008 – First Custom Theme/Plugin
• 2013 – First WordCamp
• 2014 – First Time WordCamp Volunteer
• 2018 – First WooCommerce Site
• 2018 – First Time WordCamp Speaker
• 2018 – Full Co-Maintainer to WordPress.org Plugin

2. What Does It Mean To Be A Contributor

All you need is a desire to help.

• Give Your Time
• Share Your Knowledge & Experience
• Use Your Talents

3. Give Your Time

• Help Organize A Local Meetup
• Volunteer at a WordCamp

4. Share Your Knowledge & Experience

• Share your favorite Themes & Plugins on your blog, social media, at a local meetup
• Help others in the WordPress.org Support Forums

5. Use Your Talents

Non-Developers

• Help maintain the website content for a local non-profit, school, or community service organization.
  • Type and/or write copy.
  • Take photos and prepare them for their website.
  • Organize a website marketing/content calendar.
• Help to translate WordPress and/or your favorite plugins – Translator’s Handbook
• Help update the WordPress documentation – Documentation Contributor Handbook

Developers

• Assist with WordPress.org plugin fixes and enhancements.
  • Look at the WordPress.org Support forums and submit a patch/fix or new feature.
  • Look at the plugin’s own Issues Tracker(GitHub?) and submit a patch/fix or new feature.
• Contribute to WordPress Core – Developer Hub