There are several ways that you can participate in the OpenNTF open source community as a developer or as an end-user of IBM Collaboration Solutions software. They include:

• Download and use projects and snippets that have been developed by other community members.
• Assist other developers with their projects.
• Create your own project that others can download and use.
• Share your experiences using a project by posting feature requests and defects.

You will first need to create an OpenNTF user account which is free and easy. Create your OpenNTF user account here.

Sharing a project or snippet that you have developed as an open source project is a great way for you to shine a spotlight on your skills and abilities. Developers contributing code to OpenNTF can determine how the application code should be made available to other OpenNTF users.

Currently there are two ways applications can be distributed on OpenNTF - A "Project Release" and a "Catalog Release". All of the software made available as a "Catalog Release" has gone through an intellectual property review for compliance with one of two open source license types supported by OpenNTF. Currently OpenNTF releases applications under the Apache v2 License (ALv2) or the GPL V3 License (GPL v3).

Project Release

A Project Release can be submitted by any registered OpenNTF user. To contribute a project to OpenNTF you will need to:

• Register as an OpenNTF user.
• Become an official “OpenNTF Contributor”. This can be done by being listed on your employer's Corporate Contributor License Agreement or executing  Individual Contributor License Agreement. Send either of these signed documents to IP-Manager at openntf dot org.
• Create a new project
• Select an open source license for your new project. OpenNTF accepts Apache ALv2 licensed code and GPL licensed code. For more information regarding how to apply the Apache ALv2 license to your OpenNTF project, please see our Applying Apache License instructions. For more information regarding licensing please see our IP/License FAQ.
• Upload your application as a “release” to your newly created project.

Catalog Release

A Catalog Release is for projects that are production ready and that are end-user "install friendly". If you already have an existing project and feel that it is ready to be included in the OpenNTF Apache or GPL Catalogs you will need to:

• Select which Project Release you would like to have added to the Catalog. The project release will stay in the Projects area and will, on approval, be listed in the appropriate Catalog. Project Releases that go into the Catalogs must include documentation and be install ready.
• Send an email to IP-Manager at OpenNTF dot org asking to add the project release to the Catalogs. The IP Manager will then scan your code for IP issues, and once any issues have been resolved, an OpenNTF "Committer" will then be assigned to you and help you with this process.
• Once your project has been approved, your application will be published to the respective Catalog.

Please read the detailed description of the Contribution Process.

More information about OpenNTF.org can be found on our About page. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page where you will find more information about OpenNTF.

If you can't find the answer you are looking for please contact us and somebody from OpenNTF will get back to you.