I do the same thing -- I give new developers some repository credentials and give them a small task.
One thing to watch out for though, is competent developers who are unreliable over time. They have the skills, but they spend their time surfing.
One thing to watch out for though, is competent developers who are unreliable over time. They have the skills, but they spend their time surfing.
I think this is more a problem of motivation. I think if you throw enough interesting projects into the pipe (with the boring, necessary ones, of course) it helps keep them on task. Says the guy who's replying to a HN thread at work...
(says someone who sticks around)