Mozilla Community: Joining Forces

Join the Mozilla community and contribute to a healthier internet! Here's how you can get involved:

Get Started: Create a Mozilla account to engage in forums, chat on Matrix or IRC, report bugs, and contribute code.
Say Hello: Introduce yourself in Mozilla's forum. Share your interests and why you're excited about Mozilla.
Chat and Connect: Use Matrix and IRC for real-time conversations with the Mozilla community.
Contribute: Whether you're a coder, tester, translator, event organizer, or marketer, there's a place for you.
Participate in Events: Attend MozFest, check Mozilla's event calendar, and join the annual Mozilla All Hands to meet others in the community.
Engage Online: Join discussions on Mozilla Discourse Forums, chat on Matrix, and follow Mozilla on social media.

Everyone's effort helps keep the internet open and accessible. Whether you're a tech expert or just passionate about an open internet, there's a role for you in the Mozilla community.

Creating a Mozilla Account

To be part of Mozilla's group, you first need to make an account. This lets you into Mozilla's chat rooms, forums, and bug tracker.

Go to accounts.firefox.com to sign up. You'll need an email and a password. Once you're in, you can pick how your profile looks, choose what emails you get, and link your social media.

Having an account means you can:

Chat and post in Mozilla forums
Talk in real time on Matrix or IRC
Report and follow bugs in Mozilla stuff
Maybe even get to add your own code

Spend a little time checking out your account and profile settings. It'll help you get used to how things work in Mozilla's world before you start talking to others.

Introductory Forum Post

A good first step is to say hi on Mozilla's forum. Tell people about yourself, what you like, and why you're interested in Mozilla.

Here's how to make a good intro post:

Be friendly and easygoing. People like real talk more than fancy words.
Talk about how you've used Mozilla products or what you think about them.
It's okay to say you're new to all this. Mozilla's all about welcoming new folks.
Mention what you're curious about or want to learn. This helps others point you to cool discussions.
You might want to add links to stuff you've done online, like your GitHub or LinkedIn.
After you post, keep an eye out for any replies or questions.

Once you've got your account and made an intro post, you're ready to dive into Mozilla's community. Feel free to ask questions or join in on conversations that catch your eye. It's all about getting involved!

Joining Mozilla's Chat Platforms

Mozilla also has chat rooms for quick talks with people from all over. You can use Matrix and IRC for this.

To get on Matrix, sign up at chat.mozilla.org. You can look around and join chats that interest you. There are chats for all sorts of topics like coding, making websites, and more.

For IRC, you'll need a program like Hexchat. Here are some Mozilla IRC rooms to check out:

#introduction - Say hi and ask anything
#developers - Talk about coding for Mozilla
#addons - Make add-ons for Firefox
#websites - Help with Mozilla websites
#marketing - Join in on Mozilla's marketing efforts

Chatting in real-time is a great way to meet people in the Mozilla community. Don't hesitate to jump in and introduce yourself!

Exploring Ways to Contribute

There are lots of different ways you can be a part of the Mozilla community, not just by using their products. Here are a few main things you can do:

Becoming a Mozilla Rep

Mozilla Reps is a program for volunteers who love Mozilla and want to help spread the word. To be a Rep, you need to:

Fill out a form about yourself and what you're into
Share links to your work online to show what you can do
Have 2 people who are already involved with Mozilla say good things about you

If you become a Rep, you'll:

Spend at least 5 hours a week on Mozilla stuff
Plan events and teach people about Mozilla
Write about Mozilla on social media and blogs
Get more people to join in

It's a cool way to take charge and help Mozilla grow.

Coding for Firefox and Toolkit

Mozilla has a lot of info for people who want to help with coding on projects like:

Firefox for computers and phones
Gecko, which helps web pages look right
NSS, a security tool
Making new features for Firefox

You should know how to:

Code in languages like C/C++, JavaScript, Python, Rust
Find and fix code problems
Code for different types of computers and devices
Write code that's safe and easy to keep up

There's a big guide that helps new people get started.

Volunteering in the Mozilla Community

Even if you're not a coder, you can still help out. Here are some ways:

User Support

Help find and fix problems in new versions of Firefox
Answer people's questions online

Testing

Try out new versions of Firefox and tell Mozilla about any bugs
Help test Mozilla websites

Localization

Help translate Mozilla's stuff into different languages

Event Organizing

Host parties for new Firefox releases
Teach people about Mozilla at schools or local meetups

Documentation and Marketing

Make guides and docs better
Spread the word about Mozilla on blogs and social media

There are many ways to help, so you can pick what fits you best.

Going to Events and Meetings

MozFest 2024

MozFest is a big yearly event by Mozilla where people talk about how to make the internet better using art, tech, and more. The next one is from October 11-13 in London, UK. It's about working together online.

Here's what you can do if you're new:

Look at the 2024 sessions and spaces to see what's happening
Make a MozFest profile to meet others going
Go to talks about things you care about like online safety, open-source work, or making stuff
Check out the welcome event and meet people
Talk about what you know and join in on conversations
You can also lead a talk, help out, or volunteer

Checking Mozilla's Event Calendar

Mozilla has a calendar online where you can see all their planned events. You can:

Look for events about coding, community, Mozilla VPN, and more
Find out if events are happening near you or online
Check if there's help like captions or sign language

Click on an event to get more details like how to sign up, who to contact, and more. You can follow the whole calendar or just parts that interest you.

Mozilla All Hands

Mozilla All Hands is a big meet-up that happens every year or so where Mozilla folks get together. They aim to:

Make stronger bonds between Mozilla teams from all over
Share what they're working on and future plans
Give awards for great work
Work together in workshops and sessions

The next All Hands is in Whistler, Canada from June 3-7, 2024. Sign-ups start early in 2024, and you can ask for help with travel costs to get there.

Engaging in Community Conversations

Mozilla Discourse Forums

The Mozilla Discourse forums are a great spot to talk about everything related to Mozilla. Here, you can dive into topics like:

How Firefox works and its extra features
Making sure websites work well in all browsers
Keeping your online info safe
Learning about Pocket and other Mozilla tools
Getting into Rust, a programming language by Mozilla
Helping out with MDN web docs
Understanding the rules for chatting and working together

First, sign up and say hello in the New Members category. Then, look around for topics you like, reply to conversations, or start a new one. The forums make it easy to talk back and forth thanks to features like replying, liking, saving posts, and using tags.

Matrix Chat Channels by Topic

Besides forums, Mozilla uses Matrix for chat rooms where you can talk about specific topics in real time. You can join chat rooms about:

#rust - Chat about Rust, a programming language from Mozilla
#security - Talk about keeping the web safe and private
#mdn - Help out with MDN web docs
#compatibility - Discuss how to make websites work well in Firefox and other browsers

Matrix is good for when you want to have quick chats. Remember to check the community participation guidelines before you start chatting.

Mozilla also talks and shares news on social media. Follow these accounts to keep up:

Twitter

@mozilla - For official news from Mozilla
@firefox - For updates on the Firefox browser
@MozDevNet - For developer resources

LinkedIn

Mozilla - Mozilla's main page
Firefox Browser - For stories and updates on Firefox

YouTube

Mozilla - Watch videos about what Mozilla is up to

Social media lets Mozilla share news and connect with people. Follow the accounts that match your interests and join in the conversation!

Conclusion: Joining the Open Internet Movement

Mozilla wants to make sure the internet is open and fair for everyone. By joining the Mozilla community, you can really make a difference.

Here's what you need to know:

Mozilla has lots of ways for you to help out, no matter how much you know about tech. You can work on coding, testing, translating, planning events, and talking about Mozilla to others.
Projects like the Common Voice and MDN Web Docs are big parts of what Mozilla does. They're all about making the internet better.
When you help with Mozilla's projects, like Firefox, you're part of a big team. The Mozilla Manifesto guides this teamwork.
If you become a Mozilla Rep or help organize Mozilla events, you can spread the word about Mozilla and bring in more people to help.
Mozilla uses forums, chat rooms, and social media to talk about ideas. This helps everyone share what they know.

By being part of Mozilla, you're helping to keep the internet a good place for talking, learning, and privacy. You can start by making an account and saying hello on the forums. Share a bit about yourself, what you like, and why Mozilla interests you. This is the first step to making new friends and finding ways to help.

Everyone's effort counts - Mozilla has special roles for you no matter your skills. As a developer, you can use your knowledge to make the internet better for everyone. So come join us and help make a difference.

Is Mozilla Foundation legit?

Yes, the Mozilla Foundation is a real non-profit group working to make the internet better for everyone. It started in 2003 and is known for making the Firefox web browser. The Foundation fights for an internet that respects your privacy and gives everyone a fair chance.

Does Mozilla track you?

No, Mozilla respects your privacy. It doesn't collect your browsing data unless you choose to share it to help improve Firefox. Mozilla puts your privacy first.

Is Mozilla still nonprofit?

Yes, Mozilla is still a non-profit. The Mozilla Foundation, set up in 2003, supports the Mozilla open source projects, looking after policies, trademarks, and copyrights. There's also the Mozilla Corporation, a company owned by the Foundation that works on Firefox and other projects.

Is Mozilla owned by Google?

No, Mozilla and Firefox aren't part of Google. Mozilla started at Netscape in 1998 and now operates independently under the Mozilla Foundation, which owns the Mozilla Corporation. This means they work on Firefox and other projects on their own, separate from big tech companies like Google.