We are an international group of Free Software users and developers, founded in 1999 with the aim of supporting women in Linux. Founder Deb Richardson described it as an alternative to the locker room atmosphere found in some online technical forums and gave LinuxChix two core rules: be polite and be helpful. LinuxChix is now many things to many people, but it remains primarily a group for support
ing women in computing, specifically in Open Source/Free Software/Software Libre computing. LinuxChix has been continually active since 1999, and its mailing lists have attracted over one thousand members worldwide. In addition, it has over fifteen active regional chapters. One among those being indichix (LinuxChix chapter for India). Deb Richardson started LinuxChix because she was tired of seeing new users being browbeaten for asking stupid questions. She was tired of seeing people respond to perfectly valid questions with RTFM, we're not a Linux help channel, and other such not-terribly-useful things. She wanted to attempt to create a more hospitable community in which people can discuss Linux, a community that encourages participation and that doesn't allow the quieter among us to be drowned out by the vocal minority. She also wanted to run a group that was aimed at women. Deb's original directive was Be polite. You're bright people. In other words, we don't need a lengthy, detailed rule book because it's all covered by Be polite, be helpful. We're working on making Indian chapter's website up and running. If you'd like to help us in organizing any events or take word forward to more women, feel free to drop a mail on the mailing list or message here or on Twitter. We'd love to see requests for regional and campus chapters.
