Help new contributors - SUMO Buddy Program

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  • Creator: Yousef
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It can be tough being a new contributor. There are many different opportunities, working with people from around the world and much more. The buddy program aims to help new contributors to Mozilla get started in the fastest and most fun way possible, using a buddy to guide them. By matching a new contributor (or as we like to call them, trainees) to an experienced one, trainees can learn the in's and out's of sumo, along with the culture of the Mozilla community.

Who is the buddy program aimed at?

The program is aimed at contributors who are new to Mozilla, but Mozillians who wish to get involved with support are also welcome.

Becoming a buddy

To take part in the program as a buddy, simply contact yalam96 on IRC or through SUMO.

Note: Add mailing list info when available.

Buddies

Buddies are experienced contributors who have signed up to help trainees. This section contains information buddies may find useful.

Contacting a trainee

  1. If a trainee has posted to the buddy form and you have chosen (or been chosen) to be their buddy, then use that thread to communicate with them.
  2. Decide on the easiest method of contact with your trainee.
  3. Ask them which areas of SUMO they would like to contribute to. If they want to contribute to many areas, ask them which one they want to start with. If they are new to Mozilla, it's recommended to start with one area, and then start with another once they are comfortable.
Note: If there is no response from the trainee within a week of contacting them, mark them as "Did not reply" on the spreadsheet, and choose a new trainee.

Working with your trainee

Buddies are a point of reference for their trainees, so it is vital that they understand they can contact you with any questions they have.

When working with a trainee, give them small tasks to do (for example, answer 5 questions on the support forum) and answer any questions they may have. When they have completed the task, check their work and let them know what they did well and what they could improve on. Repeat this until you feel that your trainee is comfortable with that area of SUMO. From there they can either ask for help in a different area or graduate.


Buddy areas

For the program, we have split SUMO into four different sections. Below you can find an overview for each section which includes a buddy checklist and useful links.