How to Contribute to Open Source Projects: A Beginner's Guide ๐Ÿ’ฏ

How to Contribute to Open Source Projects: A Beginner's Guide ๐Ÿ’ฏ

A step-by-step guide to making your first contribution to an open-source project

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8 min read

Open Source what is it? What are the benefits of doing it? Can I get a job offer after doing it? Open source refers to a practice in software development where the source code of a product is made available to the public, allowing anyone to use, modify, or distribute the code.

The philosophy behind open source is to promote collaboration and transparency, leading to better and more reliable software. In this blog, I will discuss this topic.

What is Open Source?

What is Open Source?

In simple terms Open source refers to a type of software whose source code is available to the public, allowing anyone to use, modify, and distribute the software without restriction (eg: Linux). The open-source model is based on the idea of collaborative development and community-based improvement of the software.

Note: All Open Source Softwares are not free

Do I have to be a pro for this?

Absolutely NO! You do not have to be a pro to contribute to Open Source projects. Anyone can contribute to Open Source projects, regardless of their skill level or experience.

However, it is more important to review the guidelines and contributing documentation of the specific project you plan to contribute to, as well as to communicate clearly and respectfully with the project's maintainers and other contributors.

Check this video about Open Source by Kunal Kushwaha I saw this video before I started my journey he mentioned all the valuable points in his video.

Where to contribute & how to find projects?

There are many places to find Open Source projects to contribute to. Here are a few popular options. Before starting Open Source make sure you know Git, GitHub and some fields such as Web Dev, Android Dev, and anything else.

You can check this video where Kunal told that how you can & where to find amazing Open Source projects.

1. GitHub

One of the largest and most popular platforms for Open Source projects. You can browse and search for projects by programming language, topic, and more.

2. Open Source Organisations

Many big companies like Facebook, Google, Microsoft, IBM, etc. have a dedicated open source program office, you can check out the open source projects of those companies and contribute.

3. Communities

Joining a community like the Python Software Foundation, the Linux Kernel community, the Apache Software Foundation, etc. can be a great way to find Open Source projects and contribute.

4. Hacktoberfest

An annual event in October where people all over the world contribute to open source projects, you can join the event and contribute to any open source projects.

Check out this detailed video about Hacktoberfest by Francesco Ciulla.

5. Project Management Tools

such as GitLab, SourceForge, and Bitbucket, host a wide range of Open Source projects.

Ultimately, the best way to find open source projects to contribute to is to follow your interests and explore the open source landscape.

Note these points if you are a complete noob:

Yes! here I discussed some points related to how to find and contribute to Open Source projects. If you miss it you will lose it.

1. Your interest

Start by finding a project that interests you and aligns with your skillset. If you have basic coding knowledge also you can contribute to Open Source projects. Just you need to find those projects.

2. "good first issue" or "beginner-friendly" labels

"Good first issue" or "beginner-friendly" labels are often used by Open Source project maintainers to indicate issues that are suitable for new contributors. These issues are typically smaller in scope and do not require a lot of prior knowledge or experience to complete. They are often used to introduce new contributors to the project and its development process.

3. Read the project's documentation and guidelines

Once you find an issue that you would like to work on, you can check the documentation, and the contributing guide and read the comments to understand what the problem is, how to approach it and how to test it. Additionally, you can contact the maintainers to ask for guidance and clarification if needed.

4. Join the project's community

By joining a project's community, you can stay up-to-date on the latest developments, get help and guidance from more experienced contributors, and collaborate with others to improve the project. You can communicate with others via Google Meet, Zoom, Discord, Forums etc.

5. Test the project and report any bugs or issues

Testing the project and reporting any bugs or issues you find is an important part of contributing to Open Source projects. By testing the project and reporting issues, you can help improve the stability and functionality of the project, and ensure that it meets the needs of its users.

Here are some steps you can take to test the project:

1. Review the project documentation:

Before testing the project, review the project documentation, including the installation and usage instructions, to ensure that you understand how to use the project and any dependencies it may have.

2. Test the project:

Run the project's tests and use the project in various scenarios to identify any bugs or issues you may encounter. Take note of any error messages, unexpected behaviour, or other issues you encounter.

3. Report the issue:

Once you have identified an issue, report it on the project's issue tracker or mailing list, or contact the project maintainers directly. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible about the issue, including steps to reproduce the problem, error messages, and any relevant log files or screenshots.

4. Provide a Solution:

If you know how to fix the issue, you can also provide a solution or a Pull Request with the fix.

5. Follow up:

If the issue you reported is being investigated or fixed, be sure to check back on the project's issue tracker or mailing list for updates and to offer additional assistance if needed.

6. Make small changes to the project:

Start by updating their docs, guidelines, etc. I started with this type of change. You can also do it if you want to contribute for the first time.

7. Submit your changes through a pull request:

A pull request is a way to submit changes to a project's codebase and request that the maintainers review and merge your changes into the main branch of the project.

Open Source Cheatsheet

Here are the steps you can take to submit your changes through a pull request:

1. Fork the project:

Create a copy of the project's repository under your account. This allows you to make changes to the code without affecting the original repository.

2. Create a new branch:

Create a new branch in your fork of the repository where you will make your changes. The branch should be named something descriptive, such as "fix-bug-123" or "add-feature-456."

3. Make your changes:

Make the changes you want to make to the codebase. Be sure to follow the project's coding conventions and guidelines.

4. Test your changes:

Run the project's tests and use the project in various scenarios to ensure that your changes do not introduce any new bugs or issues.

5. Commit your changes:

Commit your changes to your branch. Be sure to include a clear and descriptive commit message that explains what you changed and why.

6. Submit the pull request:

Submit a pull request to the original repository, requesting that the maintainers review and merge your changes. In the pull request, including a detailed description of the changes you made and why you made them.

7. Wait for review:

Wait for feedback and review from the maintainers and other contributors. They will review your changes and may provide feedback or ask for additional changes to be made.

8. Make any necessary changes:

If any changes are requested, make them and push them to your branch.

Learn from feedback and continue to contribute:

Learning from feedback and continuing to contribute to the project is an important part of the Open Source contribution process. By actively seeking feedback and learning from it, you can improve your skills and become a more effective contributor to the project. If you have any doubts you can ask the maintainers.

And last keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the project and consider taking on more complex tasks as you gain experience.

Open Source Projects to start your contributions:

1. LinkFree

This is a platform where you can add all of your social links in one place for completely FREE. Check this YouTube video about LinkFree

2. 4c.rocks

TheCool Community of Content Creators. Visit their website you will find Open source projects.

3. Kubernetes

The community behind the Kubernetes container orchestration system.

4. Docker

The community behind the Docker containerization platform.

5. Linux

The community behind the Linux operating system is widely used in servers, supercomputers, and other high-performance computing applications.

Do I need to pay any money?

No! you don't need to pay any money to contribute to Open Source projects. Just invest in yourself to learn something new.

Can I get a job by doing Open Source?

The answer is YES! Many people who have worked in Open Source directly got job/internship offers. It depends on yourself how much value you provide in the Open Source project. Companies recruiters are always active in this programme.

Conclusion

Open Source projects rely on the contributions of a community of developers to improve and maintain the software. The open source model allows for collaboration and innovation, as anyone can contribute and the best ideas can rise to the top.

Additionally, Open Source software is often freely available and can be used and modified without restriction, which can lead to wider adoption and greater impact. Overall, contributions to Open Source projects are vital for the continued development and success of the software. Don't forget to check this blog about 10 Open Source Tools Every Developer Should Know About

Last, Open Source is awesome ๐Ÿ”ฅ

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