5 Cool Ways to Support the W3C

Published on Jan 21, 2009 (updated Sep 15, 2024), filed under development (feed). (Share this on Mastodon or Bluesky?)

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I recently received a mail from someone interested in supporting the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), similar to how I do it. While replying, I noticed that the information I was about to share would not be obvious to everyone, but still important, as the W3C fulfills a crucial role and can always use contributors.

1. Become a W3C Supporter

If you like to pass on money to the W3C, that’s the way to go. Either become a sponsor or donate. I’ve been doing both.

2. Contribute on W3C Mailing Lists

Most of the W3C lists are public, and you won’t only have the pleasure to learn on a fairly high level (although there are impolite, off-topic, or useless mails, too, just like on other lists), but also find a great place to share your expertise. Pick and subscribe to lists of your choice. (We may meet on a few of them!)

3. Become a W3C Translator

You don’t have to go for official or authorized translations in order to become a W3C translator and make technical documentation accessible to non-English speakers. Translating W3C documents is great pro bono work, and it would be terrific if more people volunteered (and subscribed to the W3C translators list). I love this kind of contribution and will most likely continue providing translations until the end of time.

4. Become a Working Group Member

Maybe becoming a W3C WG member is a bit too easy, as you only have to get a public account and apply for becoming an Invited Expert. For the HTML Working Group, that intentionally simple process has resulted in quite a few “pseudo-standardistas,” yet it’s the way to contribute to W3C activities. Personally, I’ve been a more or less active member of the WCAG and HTML Working Groups.

5. Implement W3C Specifications

I’m out of the game here but maybe it’s something for you: Since the W3C process may require implementations to make a specification a Proposed Recommendation or official Recommendation, these are important to accelerate adoption and use on the Web. Hence it’s another option you have to be proactive, about the W3C and the Web.

❧ There are likely more ways to contribute, but I hope both you as well as my friends at the W3C can help fill those gaps!

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a web developer, manager, and author. I’ve been working as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies you’ve never heard of and companies you use every day, I’m an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)