We Need Students!

Are you  a middle school or high school student that is at least 13 years old?  If so, did you know there are a growing number of open source projects like AptitudeCMS that are looking to expose you to the world of technology?  Generating interest in technology is something AptitudeCMS strives for regardless of age, locale, gender and ethnicitiy but we are especially interested in middle school and high school students because we know the sooner we can get you hooked on technology and open source software the more likely you are to make computers and technology a part of your life.  In fact, we'd love to see this spill over into your university studies and even into your career.

Don't Know Much About Computers?

Are you a student will little exposure to computers outside of games and mobile devices?  Are you someone that doesn't know the first thing with regards to how computers and software work?  Rest assured we will not turn you away!  All the AptitudeCMS contributors were in that exact place at one point and our interest in computers and technology was a seed planted by a few key people we've met at young ages.  Just as those people helped us, we would like to help out students who would like to learn more about computers and technology.

What Would I Do, Exactly?

Ah, so to the meat of all this, what would we have you doing?  The answer to that should actually be turned up on it's head: What do you want to do?  Whare are you interested in?  As a fairly big and complex project, AptitudeCMS is touches on many facets of software development, computers and technology.  As a start, here are some thing related to AptitudeCMS you could learn about:

1. Documentation - We not only need to write up documentaton about AptitudeCMS in our wiki, but we need to translate that documentation.
2. Translations - In addition to translating the documentation, we need to provide as many translations as possible for AptitudeCMS itself. 
3. Testing - We can't find enough people willing to test AptitudeCMS and it's is something we have to get better at.  There are two ways you can help in testing. First you can build Selenium IDE Tests.  Selenium IDE comes with a plugin for your web browser that allows you to record mouse and keyboard movements and then submit test conditions.  This is a cool way to add a ton of value without having to learn how to program.  If you would like to learn how to program, Once you have mastered that, and assuming you want to learn how to program, can go a step further by writing PHPUnit tests.  PHPUnit tests are simply PHP files you create that test very specific parts of AptitudeCMS.
4. Community Management - Each and every AptitudeCMS release needs input from the community.  Eliciting feedback from the community but purusing our support section and participating on the AptitudeCMS Users Mailing List.  Obviously this is something done in conjustion with the rest of the AptitiudeCMS team.
5. Detailed release notes -  Right now this is done when we get time. A student in this role would be watching for code updates and then working with the developer(s) to come up with the right non-technical explaination of the change.
6. Security Audits - From time-to-time we expect to get notices about security vulnerabilities in our software.  Having a student monitor the AptitudeCMS Security Mailing List and then ensuring our security process is followed to a "T" is crtiical. 
7. Programming - It isn't always feasible to expect a student to obtain the skills needed to reach this level, however, it is definitely possible and strongly encouraged.  You can start by checking all our active bug reports and finding one you think you can handle and giving it a go.

It should be noted that by taking on any of the above project specific tasks you will very likely end up picking up a whole bunch of additional knowledge such as:

1. Learning the language -  Computers and technology can seem like a complicated recipe for alphabet soup.  By contributing to AptitudeCMS you will learn some of those common terms and learn to speak geek.
2. Understand Open Source Software - Most people haven't really hard of it and even those that have don't know what it really is, how it works and why it so popular.
3. Linux Operating System - While you can run AptitudeCMS on a Mac or Microsoft Windows-based operating system, it hides many things from the user and Linux is a great alternative that will teach you a lot about how computers work on a fundamental level. Linux is also a great way to get exposed to some of the best open source projects in the world and the perferred platform for AptitudeCMS developers.
4. Building Web Sites - Web sites come in many forms and can use many different technologies.  From creating simple HTML pages to using a web-based language like PHP or Python, you will begin understanding the technologies on the market.
5. Databases - Under the hood of most web sites is a database, a place to store the information shown on a web site or to store information collected form users.
6. Security - This is a big topic and can inlcude anything from setting up a secure WiFi router to operating system security, web application security, database security, etc.  In fact, when it comes to technology security has a hand in all of it.

So think you can help?  Great, getting started is really easy!

How To Get Started

Getting started is easy.  Join the AptitudeCMS Students group.  Once you join simply post a message introducing youself and what you'd like to begin learning about.  Though we may not be available, you may want to try chatting us up right now via IRC.  If you have any trouble joining that group or chatting us up then send an email to contact@apteno.net and we can assist you.  We hope to hear from you soon!