Procedure for non-tech contributions

> Hey, folks. Sorry if this is documented somewhere -- if so, just point me at it. I couldn't find it, though.
>
> I'm a (non-developer) writer with experience in open-source communities, and I'd like to contribute with writing/editing/marketing. What's the procedure? Is there someone in charge of that area?
>
> Two examples:
>
> 1) Gavin recently asked for proofreading of 0.9.0rc2, but it was unclear how to send the changes. (There are many possibilities, some better than others. Git? Google Docs with revisioning? Microsoft Word with Track Changes? The Bitcoin wiki?)

> 2) The page at https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/BitcoinPayment says that "the wiki receiving wallet (for the wiki itself) is also MtGox". Umm, I rather doubt that. :-P But I'm not sure what the current info is, or whom to alert.

> I proof-read rc1 and simply submitted my changes via pull-req:
>
>     https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/3642
>
> I'd say to encourage that method. If someone doesn't know how to use
> git, yet still wants to proof-read, just send us a text-file with all
> your corrections applied. We've got the tools to diff those changes
> ourselves; no fancy software is required.

>> I proof-read rc1 and simply submitted my changes via pull-req:
>>
>>     https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/3642

> Actually, this is unnecessary since github allows editing of files directly on the site and the it will submit as a pull request. You can even update by visiting your fork (it creates this automatically and a topic branch) and make more edits and it will add to your PR. There is basically no barrier for non techy people to contribute.

> MtGox does host the bitcoin wiki, so yes, the funds probably do go to a wallet held by MtGox in some fashion.

> Peter writes:
> > MtGox does host the bitcoin wiki, so yes, the funds probably do go to a
> > wallet held by MtGox in some fashion.
>
> The foolishness of sending a payment to a Mt. Gox-held wallet -- which is
> required to edit the wiki -- strikes me as a pressing issue. If I
> understand it correctly, this is a hard blocker that'll stop *all* new
> contributors. Further, I registered for the wiki and never got my
> confirmation email. Methinks the whole thing is broken. :(

> Anyway, this particular solution doesn't appear to be possible in this
> case, as the file isn't at
> https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/0.9.0/doc/release-notes , and I
> don't believe I could copy it to the repository without going the whole git
> route. Suggestions welcome, here or privately.
>

> Hey, folks. Sorry if this is documented somewhere -- if so, just point me
> at it. I couldn't find it, though.
>
> I'm a (non-developer) writer with experience in open-source communities,
> and I'd like to contribute with writing/editing/marketing. What's the
> procedure? Is there someone in charge of that area?
>
> Two examples:
>
> 1) Gavin recently asked for proofreading of 0.9.0rc2, but it was unclear
> how to send the changes. (There are many possibilities, some better than
> others. Git? Google Docs with revisioning? Microsoft Word with Track
> Changes? The Bitcoin wiki?)
>
> 2) The page at https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/BitcoinPayment says that "the
> wiki receiving wallet (for the wiki itself) is also MtGox". Umm, I rather
> doubt that. :-P But I'm not sure what the current info is, or whom to
> alert.
>
> Off-list replies welcome. Thanks,
>
> ---
>           Tom Geller  *  Oberlin, Ohio  *  415-317-1805
>            Writer/Presenter * http://www.tomgeller.com
>          articles, marketing, videos, user guides, books
>
>
>
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> - Go to https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/0.9.0/doc/release-notes.md
> - Click "edit"
> - Make your changes and add a commit message describing the change, usually something like 'doc: Add missing foowidget to release notes'.

> FYI, I made my edits to the release notes of 0.9.0rc2; the pull request is at https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/3787. I gladly welcome corrections as needed.

> On Mar 3, 2014, at 2:13 PM, Tom Geller wrote:
>
> > FYI, I made my edits to the release notes of 0.9.0rc2; the pull request
> is at https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/3787. I gladly welcome
> corrections as needed.
>
> It failed testing. I assume I'll get emails as others add comments; please
> contact me privately if it doesn't, and you're willing to help this n00b.
> Thanks,
>
> ---
>           Tom Geller  *  Oberlin, Ohio  *  415-317-1805
>            Writer/Presenter * http://www.tomgeller.com
>          articles, marketing, videos, user guides, books
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>

> Hey Tom,
>
> Thanks for getting involved! It's great to see someone who would like to focus on docs.
>
> One project I've been thinking about recently is a "Bitcoin Developer Network" subsection of our website. Right now bitcoin.org is entirely consumer focused. And as you noted, the wiki is undergoing some kind of heart attack - it's not an ideal medium for professional docs anyway.
>
> So it's too hard to learn how to work with Bitcoin as a developer, and we could really benefit from professionally curated web content. We have a great web dev in the form of Saivann, who recently got some sponsorship from the Foundation to spend time on the website, so I'm hoping that if we find people to produce the content then he can with the visual design and we could create something really special.
>
> If you're interested in this let me know.