Submissions/Join the technical community - an introduction for absolute beginners

Title of the submission
Join the technical community - an introduction for absolute beginners
Type of submission (discussion, hot seat, panel, presentation, tutorial, workshop)
Presentation
Author of the submission
Erik Moeller
E-mail address
erik@wikimedia.org
Username
Eloquence
Country of origin
Germany (US resident)
Affiliation, if any (organisation, company etc.)
Wikimedia Foundation
Abstract (at least 300 words to describe your proposal)

Leading into the amazing showcase of amazing things, I will give an easy to understand introduction to the many ways to make a technical contribution in Wikimedia projects -- even if the last thing you remember about programming are hazy images of turtles. Drop by if you've ever mused about questions like the following:

  • Templates, Lua, oh my - er, OK, why should I care again?
  • Why is there a "Wikimedia Labs" project and where are all the mad scientists?
  • What's an Ay Pee Eye and why do I need it?
  • "Puppet" and "Vagrant" - who comes up with these names?
  • Gadgets - do I need them if I am not a clumsy, dim-witted cyborg detective?
  • If I write a bot, um, I'm a little worried that it might try to kill me - you know?

If you don't come out of this talk at least a little bit enlightened, I'll just claim you weren't in the target demographic to begin with. I kid - drop by, it'll be fun.

Track
Technology, Interface & Infrastructure
Length of session (if other than 30 minutes, specify how long)
30 minutes
Will you attend Wikimania if your submission is not accepted?
Yes
Slides or further information (optional)
Topics, Links
Special requests