What is CNCF?

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) is a non-profit organization that was established in 2015 with the goal of advancing the cause of cloud-native computing. The foundation was created to provide a neutral platform for organizations and individuals to collaborate on open-source projects and to promote the use of cloud-native technologies.

Cloud-native computing is a new approach to building and running applications that are designed to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing. Cloud-native applications are designed to be scalable, flexible, and highly available, making them well-suited for deployment in large-scale, highly dynamic cloud environments.

CNCF provides a supportive environment for the development and adoption of cloud-native technologies, with a focus on open-source projects and community involvement. The foundation provides a platform for organizations and individuals to collaborate on open-source projects and share their experiences and knowledge.

CNCF also provides educational resources and support for organizations and individuals who are interested in adopting cloud-native technologies. The foundation offers training, certification programs, and other resources to help individuals and organizations gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful with cloud-native computing. The foundation is supported by a wide range of sponsors, including many of the world's leading technology companies. Through its support of open-source projects, community involvement, and educational resources, CNCF provides a platform for organizations and individuals to collaborate, learn, and grow in the field of cloud-native computing.

Sounds advanced? 8 steps and voila!

Contributing to Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) projects can be a great way for beginners to get involved in the cloud-native computing community and make an impact. Here are some tips for getting started:

1. Familiarize yourself with CNCF projects: Start by exploring the projects hosted by CNCF and get a feel for what they do and what their goals are. You can find a list of projects on the CNCF website.

2. Get involved in the community: Participating in community discussions, attending events and meetups, and connecting with other contributors is a great way to get to know the community and learn about new developments in the field.

3. Choose a project: Once you have a better understanding of the projects hosted by CNCF, choose one that you are interested in and that you feel you could contribute to.

4. Start small: Don't be intimidated by the size of a project. Contributing to open-source projects is a great way to build your skills and experience, and you can start by making small contributions and gradually taking on more responsibility.

5. Read the documentation: Most open-source projects have extensive documentation that will help you understand how the project works and how you can contribute. Take the time to read through the documentation and get a good understanding of the project.

6. Get in touch with the project maintainers: If you have any questions or would like to get involved in a project, reach out to the project maintainers. They will be happy to help and will be able to provide guidance on how you can contribute.

7. Make a contribution: Once you are ready, make your first contribution. This could be fixing a bug, adding a new feature, writing documentation, or anything else that you feel you can contribute.

8. Get feedback: After you have made a contribution, get feedback from the project maintainers and other contributors. This will help you understand what you did well and what you need to improve on.

Types of contributions

There are many different types of contributions that individuals and organizations can make to CNCF projects. Here are some of the most common types of contributions:

1. Code contributions: Contributing to the development of a CNCF project by fixing bugs, adding new features, or improving the existing code.

2. Documentation contributions: Helping to improve the documentation of a project by writing new documentation, updating existing documentation, or fixing inaccuracies. CNCF has its own glossary too, so if a big documentation contribution overwhelms you, you can start small.

3. Testing contributions: Testing CNCF projects to ensure they are working as expected and reporting any bugs or issues that are found.

4. User feedback: Providing feedback on the usability and functionality of CNCF projects, including suggestions for new features or improvements.

5. Community building: Participating in community events, such as meetups and conferences, and engaging with other community members to help build a supportive and inclusive community. You can also step ahead and become an ambassador for CNCF if you are looking to help the community grow.

6. Marketing and outreach: Helping to promote CNCF projects by writing blog posts, creating presentations, or participating in marketing and outreach efforts.

7. Project governance: Participating in the project's governance process by voting on project direction and contributing to project decision-making. You can join Technical Oversight Committee if this is your forte!

8. Financial contributions: Supporting CNCF projects through financial donations, sponsorships, or other funding mechanisms.

These are just a few examples of the many different types of contributions that can be made to CNCF projects. Whether you are a developer, a designer, a marketer, or simply passionate about cloud-native computing, there is a way for you to get involved and make a difference.