Free Software Magazine has published an article about the gender gap in open source software development vs. commercial software development and some things that projects can do to be more inviting to female contributors.
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/ten_easy_ways_attract_women_your_free_software_project (found via Rwanda LUG: http://groups.google.co.uk/group/rwanda-lug/web/women-in-open-source-projects ... thanks Robert) Some of article's points: • Use forums instead of mailing lists • When possible, wikis instead of version control archives • When possible, high level languages • Replace pecking-orders with affirmation processes (thank you's) • Don't undervalue documentation, marketing, graphics • Create a formal mentoring / induction process • Make the existing women in your project visible _______________________________________________ Olpc-open mailing list [email protected] http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-open
