Open-source projects that do something good for the world?

Question

Hey all. I'm currently unemployed (like many in the current market), and am looking to spend some of my newly found free-time contributing to OSS.I'm particularly interested in projects that have a net positive impact on the world. Be it environmental, social, or otherwise.I'm hoping the community here could provide some recommendations. My background is primarily web dev, but don't limit your suggestions to that domain, I'm always happy for an excuse to learn a new language/domain.Thanks in advance!

mtmail · Accepted Answer

https://www.hotosm.org/tools-and-data runs software that's used for example after an earthquake. The tasking manager specifically is a reactjs app plus postgresql with plenty of open issues. HOTOSM has full-time staff, I'm not sure if the developers are full-time, but it's more organized than a volunteer project.
https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/ is Ruby on Rails (easy installable with a docker setup). The maintainers have trouble even reviewing incoming PRs so an experienced person who can triage, test, review is currently needed.
If you're in the US then https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_for_America might be worth having a look at.
https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/ will soon annouce vetted organizations who do open source. (last year https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/programs/2023/organizati...). Project are paid, the process is long though, all summer. https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/timeline

tshirttime · Answer

Someone who needs handholding from the rip isn't cut out for decentralized public domain. I'd work on your leetcode to hasten borg reabsorption.