From the opensource.org web-site:

"The basic idea behind open source is very simple. When programmers on the Internet can read, redistribute, and modify the source for a piece of software, it evolves. People improve it, people adapt it, people fix bugs. This can happen at a speed that, if one is used to the slow pace of conventional software development, seems astonishing."

There are a wide variety of Open Source projects, in various stages of development, all with their own unique cultures. Find a project that interests you and join in. I promise it will be a valuable experience.

Open Source projects which interest me

Zope - Z Object Publishing Environment is a very flexible application server. Zope is a highly object-oriented Web development platform and it provides clean separation of data, logic and presentation. Zope maps HTTP request into an object hierarchy. This makes Zope an excellent environment for building dynamic web sites. Zope's flexible object oriented design makes it useful in other situations as well.

Zope is written in a wonderful language called Python. Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming language. For more on Python check out my Study of the Python Language.

By now everybody has heard of Apache, the most popular web server. Well, the Apache group has evolved beyond just the web server. Apace is now an umbrella for many Open Source projects. The Apache Software Foundation has developed a nice balance between commercial and Open Source developers. If you are interested in joining a project that involves Java and/or XML apache.org is a good place to start.

One of the Apache projects that I find particularly interesting is Cocoon.

Almost everyday I come across another innovative project sprouting forth from the Open Source community. Keep an eye on Infolets for more projects that intrigue me and might fascinate you.