One idea is: build a platform where people can submit what projects they would like to see realized, and where they can specify a rudimentary requirements-analysis and/or design. It may include a mechanism where people can upvote projects, and perhaps a way for people to collaborate on designs.
Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
11–20 of 62 posts
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#12I don't think you should restrict yourself to NGOs
Even commercial organizations help people and community
You should identify what kind of work interests you
and use that to drive your decision.
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#13Check out https://www.project501.com/
It's platform for skill based voluntary work
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#14I have volunteered for the UN Online Volunteer [1] program about a decade ago, but (sadly) I won't recommend it.
Most people volunteering there have no experience in the field, they are mostly students or retirees who "want to try". I joked at the time saying that I would not have accepted that work if it was paid for. Worst part is, you can't really tell people they won't do, because they're doing this for free and with good intentions. Actually, scratch that: worst part is that survey at the end of the mission where you had to rate people you worked with on tons of criteria ; that was horrible.
I would say, if you want to be helpful but not have the worst "work" experience you can have, you should probably find yourself a problem and fix it with a side project. Either host the service and allow people to find it, or just open source it with easy install steps (but there are more chances here that it won't be actually used).
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#15(Disclaimer: not trolling.)
Consider specializing in making money and donating the money to people who specialize in $PICK_A_CAUSE_DEAR_TO_YOU, if your primary concern is about impact and not about personal fulfillment. NGOs are often not well set up to metabolize the labor of developers, and at some things which you think are helpful will be perceived by the organization as a threat (e.g. at many organizations, anything which decreases the required headcount to operate attacks a primary reason for the organization to exist).
You're also unlikely to be an expert at $PICK_A_CAUSE_WHICH_IS_DEAR_TO_YOU for the same reason you're unlikely to be an expert at heart surgery or filing business taxes. Those strike me as important enough to be done by someone who knows what they're doing; your mileage may vary with respect to causes dear to you.
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#16This is as impossible to answer as:
What charity should I give money to?
I would love to have a talented teacher, so I would say mentorship, ect.
The EFF although they have more technical resources than most.
Depends on 100% what you are passionate about. Without that info the target is any non-profit
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#17If you're into functional programming (Haskell + PureScript), I know that UnionizeMe [1] is looking for volunteers.
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#18(Disclaimer: not trolling.) Consider specializing in making money and donating the money to people who specialize in $PICK_A_CAUSE_DEAR_TO_YOU, if your primary concern is about impact and not about personal fulfillment. NGOs are often not well set up to metabolize the labor of developers, and at some things which you think are helpful will be perceived by the organization as a threat (e.g. at many organizations, anyt…
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#19Find a project on github you like, fork it and submit pull requests.
Re: Ask HN: How can I volunteer my software skills online?
#20Contribute to https://freecodecamp.com
Contributors' gitter chat: https://gitter.im/FreeCodeCamp/Contributors