5 ms·

Ask HN: What exciting open-source science projects can one contribute to?

44 points by meridion 8y ago

limpkin 8y ago
The mooltipass project actually is looking for contributors for its next gen device! If you'd like to work on hardware (low power measurements, rf design), firmware (https://mooltipass.github.io/minible/ https://mooltipass.github.io/minible/) or software (https://github.com/mooltipass/moolticute https://github.com/mooltipass/moolticute) do not hesitate to drop us a message :).
Q6T46nT668w6i3m 8y ago
I co-maintain CellProfiler. Contributions are always welcome! https://github.com/CellProfiler/CellProfiler https://github.com/CellProfiler/CellProfiler
Topgamer7 8y ago
I've always loved blender, it is open source and I'm sure they would love any contributions.
tedmiston 8y ago
Airflow is a fun one. Currently in incubator phase with Apache so there is plenty of stuff to do especially if you like working with Python, Docker, JavaScript, web apps, etc. https://github.com/apache/incubator-airflow https://github.com/apache/incubator-airflow
clark800 8y ago
I'm working on an open source pure functional programming language called Lambda Zero that aims to be a simple and elegant base language from which to derive more advanced languages and eventually a foundation of mathematics. Like Haskell, it is basically just the lambda calculus with a bunch of syntactic sugars, so it's more a process of discovering the foundations of computation than inventing an arbitrary new language. There is currently a bootstrap interpreter written in C that is under 2000 lines of code, a self-interpreter (~1200 lines), and a static type inferencer written in Lambda Zero (~400 lines). I'm currently implementing pattern matching lambdas and algebraic data types and I have a long roadmap of things to do. It would be great if someone was interested in writing an optimizing compiler for Lambda Zero in Lambda Zero. https://github.com/clark800/lambda-zero https://github.com/clark800/lambda-zero
- anonlastname 8y ago
  > and eventually a foundation of mathematics. So it will have a proof capability like Coq? Is there any new theory behind this system? What is your vision in this regard?
sova 8y ago
Great question. Anything that furthers the field and does not risk becoming irrelevant in 6 months would be an excellent bet. + Utilities for computers and disks are always useful and don't need much maintenance for long-term function/feasibility. + web frameworks that make web designing/dev easier (clojure[script], rails, python+django are all popular choices) + Look for a tool you commonly use or a service that's commonly requested.
Libbum 8y ago
Open worm is attempting to simulate C. elegans: a very simple multi-cellular organism completely. Atom by atom, cell by cell, neuron by neuron. Really cool project. http://openworm.org/ http://openworm.org/ https://github.com/openworm https://github.com/openworm
deepaksurti 8y ago
VTK - Visualization ToolKit - strongly recommended if you want to work on a widely used, probably defacto, scientific visualization library, a great 3D domain to work on IMHO. Backed by a ton of resources, documentation and excellent community; that will be fun. https://www.aosabook.org/en/vtk.html https://www.aosabook.org/en/vtk.html, is a good start.
goatherders 8y ago
WordPress may be old news but the new Gutenberg editor has the potential to disrupt the most popular CMS on earth. Helping make this a success isnt sexy but it is meaningful.
b3b0p 8y ago
I think the best and most exciting projects to contribute to are the ones you actually use and want to help make better.

44 points by meridion 8y ago

The mooltipass project actually is looking for contributors for its next gen device! If you'd like to work on hardware (low power measurements, rf design), firmware (https://mooltipass.github.io/minible/ https://mooltipass.github.io/minible/) or software (https://github.com/mooltipass/moolticute https://github.com/mooltipass/moolticute) do not hesitate to drop us a message :).

Q6T46nT668w6i3m 8y ago

I co-maintain CellProfiler. Contributions are always welcome! https://github.com/CellProfiler/CellProfiler https://github.com/CellProfiler/CellProfiler

Topgamer7 8y ago

I've always loved blender, it is open source and I'm sure they would love any contributions.

tedmiston 8y ago

Airflow is a fun one. Currently in incubator phase with Apache so there is plenty of stuff to do especially if you like working with Python, Docker, JavaScript, web apps, etc. https://github.com/apache/incubator-airflow https://github.com/apache/incubator-airflow

clark800 8y ago

I'm working on an open source pure functional programming language called Lambda Zero that aims to be a simple and elegant base language from which to derive more advanced languages and eventually a foundation of mathematics. Like Haskell, it is basically just the lambda calculus with a bunch of syntactic sugars, so it's more a process of discovering the foundations of computation than inventing an arbitrary new language. There is currently a bootstrap interpreter written in C that is under 2000 lines of code, a self-interpreter (~1200 lines), and a static type inferencer written in Lambda Zero (~400 lines). I'm currently implementing pattern matching lambdas and algebraic data types and I have a long roadmap of things to do. It would be great if someone was interested in writing an optimizing compiler for Lambda Zero in Lambda Zero. https://github.com/clark800/lambda-zero https://github.com/clark800/lambda-zero

anonlastname 8y ago
> and eventually a foundation of mathematics. So it will have a proof capability like Coq? Is there any new theory behind this system? What is your vision in this regard?

sova 8y ago

Great question. Anything that furthers the field and does not risk becoming irrelevant in 6 months would be an excellent bet. + Utilities for computers and disks are always useful and don't need much maintenance for long-term function/feasibility. + web frameworks that make web designing/dev easier (clojure[script], rails, python+django are all popular choices) + Look for a tool you commonly use or a service that's commonly requested.

Libbum 8y ago

Open worm is attempting to simulate C. elegans: a very simple multi-cellular organism completely. Atom by atom, cell by cell, neuron by neuron. Really cool project. http://openworm.org/ http://openworm.org/ https://github.com/openworm https://github.com/openworm

deepaksurti 8y ago

VTK - Visualization ToolKit - strongly recommended if you want to work on a widely used, probably defacto, scientific visualization library, a great 3D domain to work on IMHO. Backed by a ton of resources, documentation and excellent community; that will be fun. https://www.aosabook.org/en/vtk.html https://www.aosabook.org/en/vtk.html, is a good start.

goatherders 8y ago

WordPress may be old news but the new Gutenberg editor has the potential to disrupt the most popular CMS on earth. Helping make this a success isnt sexy but it is meaningful.

b3b0p 8y ago

I think the best and most exciting projects to contribute to are the ones you actually use and want to help make better.