From: Jeremy Bopp <jeremy@...>
Date: 2010-10-14T05:41:47+09:00
Subject: Re: Helping with Ruby, where to start?

On 10/13/2010 3:29 PM, Rajinder Yadav wrote:
> thanks for your assistance. I got the source off the trunk and built
> Ruby, I guess I'll start off by getting familiar with the source code
> and layout of the project. I did a quick browse of the bug database
> and have a better idea where to look.

No problem.  This is how you get started with pretty much any open
source project.

> I guess my first step is to read the README and compile a C module I
> can call from Ruby to get use to the build tool. I don't have a Linux
> background, but at home I use it exclusively from Ruby and Rails.

Compiling a C module is not a bad idea, but there should be great deal
to do within the Ruby interpreter itself.  Since you say you don't have
a Linux background, is it safe to assume you primarily use Windows?  If
so, you could help the RubyInstaller project:

http://www.rubyinstaller.org/

There is a big Contribute link on the upper right of that page with
great details for helping out the project that makes it easy to install
Ruby on Windows.

There are also defects in the Ruby interpreter that primarily affect
Windows builds, so you could focus on those as well.

> I'll push myself to find a easy bug to reproduce and fix just to get
> use to the process of going through the motions.

That's the best way.  Find an itch and scratch it. ;-)

-Jeremy