To the class of 2006

It's almost graduation time, and a lot of new developers are probably out there wondering, "How can I get a job?"

Not just any job, of course. We're talking a good job. We're talking a fulfilling job. We're talking about a job doing what you like, where you want, where you're the boss.

So here's your answer.

Get involved in an open source project.

Troll around, find something that looks interesting. Get involved in its comment threads. Download the code and play around with it. Find out what needs to be done.

Then do it.

Offer up your code, as part of the project. Get to be friends with the other people on the project. Gain their trust, and power within the group.

You won't just get a job this way. What will happen is that jobs will come after you. People will ask you to keep at what you're doing, only under their banner.

Then you can name your own terms. You can take an employment contract, or you can work with several customers on retainer and be your own boss. Maybe a university will offer you a position. Who knows?

Just give. It's the key to success. It's an open source world.