Open source can feel like a giant clubhouse where everyone else knows the secret handshake—except you. But guess what? There’s no secret! Open source is just people like you and me collaborating to build cool things. The hardest part is making that first contribution, and I’m here to help you do just that. 😊
Before we start, if you're unsure about how to get started with Github, then check out this blog post about Getting Started with Version Control Using Git.
1. Start Small—Fix a Typo or Improve Documentation
You don’t need to write complex code to contribute! Many projects need help fixing typos, improving instructions, or making explanations clearer. In fact, maintainers love when people make documentation better because it helps new users.
Quick Win: Make Your First Open Source Contribution
Let’s do this together! We'll submit a simple fix to an open-source project.
Step 1: Find a Beginner-Friendly Issue
Go to GitHub and search for good first issue in repositories. Here's a shortcut: https://github.com/search?q=label%3A%22good+first+issue%22&type=issues
Look for documentation typos or small fixes.
Step 2: Fork the Repository
Click the Fork button at the top right of the repo. This makes your own copy to work on.
Step 3: Clone It to Your Computer
Open your terminal and run:
# Replace 'your-username' with your GitHub username
git clone https://github.com/your-username/repository-name.git
cd repository-name
Step 4: Make a Simple Edit
Open the project in a code editor (like VS Code) and find a README.md or documentation file. Fix a typo or improve clarity.
Step 5: Commit and Push Your Change
git add .
git commit -m "Fixed typo in README"
git push origin main
Step 6: Submit a Pull Request (PR)
Go back to the original repo on GitHub.
Click Compare & pull request.
Add a friendly, but informative message like: "Hi! I fixed a small typo on line [line where you fixed the typo] in your README. Hope this helps! 😊"
Click Create pull request.
🎉 Congrats! You just made your first open-source contribution!
2. Find Resources
You don’t have to do this alone! Join friendly spaces and find resources like:
GitHub Learning Pathways (Beginner-friendly open-source community)
TODO Group (Community and Resources)
Dev.to (A welcoming tech blog platform)
3. Ask Questions Without Fear
If you’re unsure about something, ask! Most maintainers appreciate curiosity. A good question is: “I’d love to help with this issue. Can you point me in the right direction?” After all, it would be in their interest to help you come up with a great solution if they have time. At this point, they are normally looking to be collaborative, and you never know what kinds of ideas you may brainstorm together or with other contributors working toward the same goal. Collaboration is one of the most helpful experiences in my journey to think more like a developer and designer. You never thought of what you've never thought of.
4. Don’t Worry About Perfection
Your first PR doesn’t have to be flawless. Maintainers often guide contributors to make improvements, so don’t stress about getting everything perfect the first time. Plus, your work will be reviewed by the maintainer. Most of them are nice and helpful. You will more than likely get constructive feedback to help you get on the right track for a successful contribution. You won't get good at this until you've done it a good number of times.
5. Keep Going!
Now that you've made your first contribution, try another one! Maybe try to find another Readme file to correct, or take a small level up and fix a small bug. If there is a project that you have already started using, then this might be a great time to push a helpful example to the instruction documentation. Before you know it, you’ll be an open-source pro. 🚀
Leave a comment below if you have questions or need help —I’d love to hear about your first open-source experience! 💛
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