Perhaps the greatest benefit of contributing to FOSS projects: you have the opportunity prove, to yourself and to others, that you can usefully contribute to real software projects. You will meet and interact with other developers, some of whom work on FOSS projects for a living. If you can help them solve their problems, they are inclined to help you solve yours -- with advice, contacts, recommendation letters, and maybe even job offers.

One of the big differences between working in FOSS and working on proprietary software is that your work is visible to anyone who cares to look. Every mailing list post you write, every blog entry you post, every bug you file, every wiki page you edit, and every line of code you write, are available for anyone's inspection.

This a huge potential advantage, if you know how to use it. In the coming chapters, as you begin to engage with your chosen FOSS project, we point out portfolio building opportunities.

Really, though, the portfolio should be a side effect. If you choose a project that matters to you, and if you work hard to help that project achieve its goals, then your portfolio builds itself.