How to Make Your First Contribution to Open Source Projects

Open Source 101: The Importance of Contributions

Open source software is publicly accessible, allowing anyone to use, modify, and distribute the source code. Linux, WordPress, and React are some of the most popular open source projects in the world. Contributors play an essential role in open source, whether it be maintaining projects, fixing bugs, adding new features, writing or improving documentation, or even supporting other community members. Contributions to open source are the primary method of achieving community-driven development. For new contributors, the open source world is a place where they can learn, improve skills, build networks, gain exposure, and earn a name for themselves in the professional world.

Identify Your Skill Set and Interests

Before you start looking for the right project to contribute to, it’s essential to evaluate your skills, interests, and experience level. What programming languages are you proficient in? Do you have any experience with data science, web development, mobile development, or any other technology stack? Additionally, you may also want to consider other areas of interest such as software testing, project management, design, documentation, or community engagement. Remember, there’s a place for every contributor in open source projects, regardless of your coding skills, design skills, or experience. With your skills and areas of interest in mind, let’s explore some of the best strategies to identify suitable open source projects for your first contribution.

Finding the Right Open Source Project

Searching for the right project can be a critical step for first time contributors to open source projects. Here are some proven tips and tricks to help you make informed decisions on what project to choose:

Look for beginner-friendly projects 

Search for projects labeled with tags like good first issue, beginner-friendly, or help wanted. These tags indicate tasks that are suitable for newcomers. Explore communities and organizations dedicated to helping beginners find projects, such as First Contributions or Up For Grabs.

Explore GitHub and GitLab 

GitHub and GitLab are two of the most popular platforms where open source projects are hosted. Browsing through repositories and finding ones that align with your interests is a great way to find a project to work on. Pay attention to factors like the activity of the project, how issues and pull requests are managed, and how responsive the maintainers are.

Consider your interests and passions 

Choose a project related to your personal interests or areas of expertise. Contributing to a project you are passionate about will make the experience more enjoyable and motivating.

Start small 

As a beginner, it’s important to start with small, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Look for projects with clear documentation and a low code complexity level.

Check project documentation 

A well-documented project usually has a clear README file, contributing guidelines, and a code of conduct. This can help you get started quickly and make your first contribution with less anxiety.

Setting Up Your Environment

Once you have identified a suitable project, the next step is to set up your local development environment to start contributing effectively. This typically involves installing required software and tools like git, an IDE, and configuring your system. Follow the project’s README and CONTRIBUTING files for instructions. After setting up your environment, it is recommended to download a copy of the source code to your local machine using git clone. Familiarize yourself with the codebase and make sure to run the project locally. This step will help you understand how the project works, and any changes you make can be tested locally.

Find and Understand the Task

Issues are an important part of most open source projects and serve as a way to track bugs, enhancements, and tasks. To contribute, first find an issue or create one if necessary. Read the project’s issues, discussions, and other resources to fully understand the problem. For new contributors, simple tasks or documentation improvements are recommended. Before you start working on a chosen issue, leave a comment to express your interest, preventing others from working on the same task and wasting efforts.

Branching for Your Changes

Git branching is a critical part of collaborative open source development. It involves creating a separate copy of the source code, where changes are made without affecting the main codebase. To contribute, always work on a new branch with a descriptive name for your task. Branches allow for concurrent feature development without conflicts and ensure the main codebase remains stable. They also make code reviews and collaboration easier for project maintainers.

Making Your Contribution

Make your changes or contributions to the project, keeping in mind the guidelines and best practices outlined by the project maintainers. If it’s a code change, ensure your code follows the project’s style guidelines and is thoroughly tested. If it’s a documentation change, make sure your writing is clear, concise, and accurate. Remember, a thoughtful and well-executed contribution is more likely to be accepted and appreciated.

Testing Your Contribution

Before submitting your changes, it’s important to thoroughly test your contribution. Run the project with your changes locally to ensure it works as expected. This might involve running automated tests, if available, or manually testing the functionality you changed or added. Testing is crucial to ensure that your contribution doesn’t introduce any new bugs and that it integrates well with the existing project.

Submitting a Pull Request (PR)

Once you are confident that your contribution is ready and working as expected, you can submit a pull request (PR) to the main project repository. A PR is a request to merge your changes into the official project. Provide a clear description of your changes, referencing the issue it addresses if applicable. Be responsive to feedback from project maintainers, as they may request changes or improvements to your contribution. Participating in a code review is also part of the learning process, and it helps you build a reputation as a reliable contributor in the open source community.

Responding to Feedback

It is important to be open to feedback, carefully read through the suggestions, and implement changes promptly. If you have a different opinion or belief, it is encouraged to respectfully discuss and reason with maintainers. Feedback can be constructive, improving your skills and knowledge, and deepening your understanding of the project. Additionally, a respectful conversation will strengthen the collaborative bond between you and the project maintainers.

Stay Engaged and Continue Contributing

Contributing to open source should not stop after your first contribution. Continue to engage with the community by responding to issues, reviewing pull requests, or taking on more responsibilities. By contributing consistently, you gain valuable experience, build a network, and may even gain recognition, which could open up career opportunities in the future. You may even become a key contributor or maintainer for a project and influence its direction and impact.

Conclusion

Contributing to open source projects is a valuable learning experience that can help you grow and make a positive impact. As a beginner, the process can be overwhelming, but by following these simple, yet powerful steps, you can gain the confidence to make your first open source contribution. From choosing the right project to submitting a well-crafted pull request, each step is designed to enhance your skills, build your reputation, and make a difference in the open source community. So, don’t be afraid to take that first step, the open source community is waiting for you!