# Contributing to the MariaDB Project

#### How to Contribute to MariaDB

*The success of MariaDB relies heavily on community involvement. You can contribute in various ways, even if you are not a developer:*

* ***Bug Reporting**: Create an account to report bugs.*
* ***Knowledge Sharing**: Answer questions in the documentation or on IRC and Zulip.*
* ***Testing**: Upload bug tests to the FTP server for private testing.*
* ***Documentation**: Write or translate articles and documentation for MariaDB.*
* ***Advocacy**: Promote MariaDB and participate in open source events.*
* ***Support**: Donate time or resources, or engage your company in supporting MariaDB.*

*Explore more ways to get involved on the* [*MariaDB Foundation page*](https://mariadb.org/get-involved/)*.*

The success of MariaDB depends on the participation of the community. MariaDB would not be as good as it is today without the participation of the entire MariaDB community.

## Getting Started

There are several ways to contribute besides [Contributing Code](https://mariadb.com/docs/general-resources/community/contributing-participating/contributing-code), and not all of them require\
strong C/C++ skills. Areas for non-developers include:

* [Reporting Bugs](https://mariadb.com/docs/general-resources/community/community/bug-tracking/reporting-bugs)
  * To report a bug you'll need to sign up for an account by clicking on the Create an account link below the login fields
* [Suggesting Features](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/reference/product-development/server-development/tools/jira)
* Helping other people answering problems or even fixing their bugs on IRC in the #maria channel on Libera.Chat or on MariaDB's Zulip instance at [mariadb.zulipchat.com](https://mariadb.zulipchat.com).
* Testing and Benchmarking
  * Bug tests can be uploaded to the 'private' directory of our [FTP](https://mariadb.com/docs/general-resources/community/contributing-participating/mariadb-public-ftp-server) server.
* Creating documentation for MariaDB.
* Advocating MariaDB in your area.
* Participate in [open source events](https://mariadb.org/events/) and talk about MariaDB.
* Running a [Buildbot](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/reference/product-development/server-development/tools/buildbot) on a platform which is not currently [builders](https://buildbot.mariadb.org/#/builders).
* [Donate](https://mariadb.org/donate/) time or money to the MariaDB project.
* Ask your company to [sponsor a feature](https://mariadb.com/docs/general-resources/community/contributing-participating/sponsoring-the-mariadb-project).
* [MariaDB Foundation page on getting involved](https://mariadb.org/get-involved/)

### MariaDB Email Lists

A great way to get started in MariaDB is to participate in e-mail discussions\
via our mailing lists (whichever list best matches your interests):

* [developers](https://lists.mariadb.org/postorius/lists/developers.lists.mariadb.org/)
* [discuss](https://lists.mariadb.org/postorius/lists/discuss.lists.mariadb.org)
* [docs](https://lists.mariadb.org/postorius/lists/docs.lists.mariadb.org)

Sensitive security issues can be sent directly to the persons responsible for MariaDB security: security \[AT] mariadb (dot) org.

You can find additional email address, email archives and ways to connect with MariaDB people here.

All MariaDB contributors are expected to follow the [Ubuntu Code Of Conduct](https://www.ubuntu.com/community/conduct).

## Getting Started for Developers

* [Contributing Code](https://mariadb.com/docs/general-resources/community/contributing-participating/contributing-code)

See also the pages for new developers on the MariaDB Foundation website:

* [Getting Started For Developers](https://mariadb.org/get-involved/getting-started-for-developers/)
* [Get the Code, Build It, Test It](https://mariadb.org/get-involved/getting-started-for-developers/get-code-build-test/)
* [Writing Good Test Cases for MariaDB Server](https://mariadb.org/get-involved/getting-started-for-developers/writing-good-test-cases-mariadb-server/)
* [Submitting a Pull Request](https://mariadb.org/get-involved/getting-started-for-developers/submitting-pull-request/)

<sub>*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*</sub>

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