4.2.3. Working with Free Software

• don't underestimate the social component

• learn to live with changing environments

• get used to look under the hood ("Read the source Luke") but use appropriate tools to help you!:
  • Source code navigation:
    • grep -R
    • ctags
    • cscope
    • snavigator
    • linux cross reference
  • take the time to learn a decent editor
  • others: git, diff -u & patch

• work with communities (and respect their rules)
  • Read the FAQ before posting
  • do research before asking questions

• Things to avoid on mailing lists
  • HTML mails (especially on u-boot ml)
  • attachments
  • legal disclaimers (yeah, it can be hard)
  • whitespace
  • bikeshed painting