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Contributing to Open Hardware with FOSSi Foundation

Speaker Deck

Getting involved in open hardware through software, documentation, community building, and mentorship.

Tags: librecores hardware open-source community

Slides

Abstract

TL;DR: You don't have to be a hardware engineer to help build the future of Open Hardware and EDA.

Open Hardware is much more than designing chips and circuit boards, and you don't need to be a hardware engineer to contribute!

In this talk, we explore the Open Source Hardware (OSHW) ecosystem, from digital hardware designs and RISC-V to development tools, automation, documentation, and community building. We introduce the FOSSi Foundation, LibreCores, and other initiatives that make open hardware accessible to contributors of all backgrounds.

We'll also discuss how to discover projects, get involved in communities, and find opportunities through programs like Google Summer of Code. Whether you're a software developer, student, hardware enthusiast, or newcomer to open source, there is a place for you in the Open Hardware community!

Key Takeaways#

  • Anyone can contribute. Hardware engineering experience is not a prerequisite.
  • Open Hardware is more than hardware. Contributions include software development, CI/CD, simulation, documentation, design, and community outreach.
  • Start small. Find projects matching your interests, follow contributor guidelines, and ask communities for help.
  • Explore the ecosystem. FOSSi Foundation, LibreCores, OpenCores, and other communities provide opportunities to get involved.
  • Keep learning and have fun! Open Hardware offers valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration, and career development.

Note#

Note: The talk and its Google Summer of Code examples are from 2021. Links are from the original slides.

Read more about my open source mentorship and my participation in Google Summer of Code.

References

Presented at

  • Code for Cause webinar, April 2021