Tips for Making Your First Open Source Contribution
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Author: Alla Barbalat
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Contributing to open source for the first time can feel daunting. You might experience imposter syndrome or become overwhelmed by extensive Github codebases.
Here are practical tips to help you confidently make your first contribution:
Choose a familiar project.
Contribute to a project you already use. Familiarity with the codebase makes your contribution simpler, as you understand how the software works.
Read the contributor guide.
Open source projects often have detailed guides that explain maintainers’ expectations. Review this documentation carefully to understand how to submit your contributions correctly.
Look for “good first issue” tags.
The “good first issue” tag identifies tasks suitable for new contributors. This makes finding beginner-friendly contributions easier.
Attend open source sprint events.
Events like PyCon US offer open source sprints or mentored sprints. Maintainers attend these events to provide guidance on their repositories. Collaborating with other contributors helps you learn faster. Also, find local sprint opportunities related to your language or project interests.
Always include tests for code contributions.
Include unit tests alongside your code changes. Many projects require specific test coverage standards. Prepare your contributions with these requirements in mind.
Write a tutorial.
If you’ve struggled with a particular issue or implementation, write a tutorial based on your experience. Your insights can help others avoid similar challenges.
Join the project’s social community.
Many projects have a Discord server or Slack workspace where you can connect directly with maintainers and other contributors. This is an excellent resource when finalizing your contributions.
Work with a friend.
Partner with a friend, classmate, or colleague interested in contributing. If you don’t know someone yet, attend local tech meetups to meet potential collaborators.
Remember, no contribution is too small.
Fixing a typo, updating an outdated hyperlink, or improving tutorial wording all count as valuable open source contributions.
Be bold and believe in yourself.
Even the most experienced engineers feel imposter syndrome occasionally. The surest way to overcome it is by doing. Trust yourself and make your first contribution!
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Even the most experienced engineers feel imposter syndrome occasionally. The surest way to overcome it is by doing.
Alla Barbalat is a developer advocate with a passion for bridging technology and community. She began her career as a lawyer before transitioning into tech. Alla has delivered presentations on the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and actively promotes the responsible use of AI in software development. She is also a member of the Python Software Foundation’s Diversity & Inclusion Working Group.
