Your First Open Source Contribution: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why Your First Contribution Matters

Making your first open source contribution is a milestone that opens doors to collaboration, learning, and community building. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, contributing to open source projects helps you build your portfolio, improve your coding skills, and connect with developers worldwide.

The journey from curious observer to active contributor can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide breaks down the entire process into manageable steps, providing you with the confidence and knowledge you need to make your first meaningful contribution.

Understanding Open Source Basics

Before diving into contributions, it’s essential to understand what open source means. Open source software is code that’s publicly accessible, allowing anyone to view, modify, and distribute it. Projects operate under specific licenses that define how the code can be used and shared.

The Open Source Ecosystem

Open source projects exist on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. These platforms provide version control through Git, issue tracking, code review processes, and collaboration tools. Understanding how these platforms work is crucial for successful contributions.

Types of Contributions

Contributions aren’t limited to code. You can contribute through:

• Code: Bug fixes, new features, performance improvements
• Documentation: README improvements, tutorials, API documentation
• Testing: Writing tests, reporting bugs, validating fixes
• Design: UI/UX improvements, graphics, branding
• Community: Answering questions, moderating discussions, organizing events
• Translation: Localizing projects for different languages

Starting with non-code contributions can be an excellent way to familiarize yourself with a project’s workflow and community.

Step 1: Choose the Right Project

Selecting the right project for your first contribution is critical. Look for projects that align with your interests and skill level.

Criteria for Beginner-Friendly Projects

• Active maintenance: Recent commits and responsive maintainers
• Good documentation: Clear README, contributing guidelines, code of conduct
• Beginner-friendly labels: Issues tagged as “good first issue” or “beginner-friendly”
• Welcoming community: Friendly responses in issues and pull requests
• Clear contribution process: Well-defined guidelines for contributing

Where to Find Projects

• GitHub Explore: Browse trending repositories and topics
• Good First Issue: Websites like goodfirstissue.dev aggregate beginner-friendly issues
• First Timers Only: Issues specifically created for first-time contributors
• Your own dependencies: Projects you already use in your work
• Hackoberfest: Annual event encouraging open source contributions

Pro tip: Start with projects written in languages you’re comfortable with and that solve problems you understand.

Step 2: Set Up Your Development Environment

Before making changes, you need to set up your local development environment.

Fork and Clone the Repository

# Fork the repository on GitHub using the web interface
# Then clone your fork locally
git clone https://github.com/your-username/project-name.git
cd project-name

# Add the original repository as upstream
git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-owner/project-name.git

Install Dependencies

Follow the project’s setup instructions, typically found in the README or CONTRIBUTING file:

# Example for a Node.js project
npm install

# Example for a Python project
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Example for a Go project
go mod download

Verify Your Setup

Run the project’s test suite to ensure everything works:

# Common test commands
npm test
python -m pytest
go test ./...

If tests fail on a fresh clone, check the project’s documentation or ask for help in the project’s communication channels.

Step 3: Find an Issue to Work On

Browse the project’s issue tracker to find something you can tackle.

Understanding Issue Labels

• good first issue: Perfect for beginners
• help wanted: Maintainers need assistance
• bug: Something isn’t working correctly
• enhancement: New feature or improvement
• documentation: Improvements to docs

Claiming an Issue

Before starting work:

1. Read the issue thoroughly: Understand the problem and proposed solution
2. Check for existing work: Look for linked pull requests or comments indicating someone is working on it
3. Comment your intention: Let maintainers know you want to work on it
4. Wait for confirmation: Some projects prefer to assign issues before work begins

Example comment:

Hi! I'd like to work on this issue. I plan to approach it by [brief description].
Does this sound good? Let me know if you'd prefer a different approach.

When to Ask Questions

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification:

• The issue description is unclear
• You need help understanding the codebase
• You’re unsure about the best approach
• You need access to resources or documentation

Step 4: Create Your Changes

Now it’s time to write code.

Create a Feature Branch

# Create and switch to a new branch
git checkout -b fix-issue-123

# Use descriptive branch names
git checkout -b add-user-authentication
git checkout -b fix-memory-leak-in-parser

Follow the Project’s Style Guide

Consistency matters:

• Use the project’s formatting conventions
• Follow naming patterns
• Match the existing code structure
• Run linters and formatters

# Common formatting tools
npm run lint
black .
gofmt -w .

Write Clean, Focused Code

• Keep changes minimal: Only modify what’s necessary
• One concern per commit: Separate logical changes
• Add tests: Verify your changes work and don’t break existing functionality
• Update documentation: Reflect any changes in docs

Test Your Changes Thoroughly

# Run all tests
npm test

# Run specific tests
npm test -- --grep "user authentication"

# Check code coverage
npm run coverage

Step 5: Commit Your Changes

Good commit messages help maintainers understand your work.

Writing Effective Commit Messages

Follow the conventional commits format:

# Format: <type>(<scope>): <subject>
git commit -m "fix(auth): resolve token expiration bug"
git commit -m "docs(readme): add installation instructions"
git commit -m "feat(api): add user profile endpoint"

Common types:

• feat: New feature
• fix: Bug fix
• docs: Documentation changes
• style: Code style changes (formatting)
• refactor: Code refactoring
• test: Adding or updating tests
• chore: Maintenance tasks

Commit Message Best Practices

# Good commit message
git commit -m "fix(parser): handle empty strings in JSON parser

Resolves #123

Previously, the parser would crash when encountering empty strings.
This commit adds a check for empty strings before parsing."

# Not so good
git commit -m "fixed stuff"

Step 6: Submit Your Pull Request

Time to share your work with the project.

Push Your Branch

# Push your branch to your fork
git push origin fix-issue-123

Create the Pull Request

On GitHub:

1. Navigate to the original repository
2. Click “New Pull Request”
3. Select your fork and branch
4. Fill out the PR template

Writing a Great PR Description

Include:

• What: Describe the changes
• Why: Explain the motivation
• How: Summarize the approach
• Testing: Describe how you tested
• Screenshots: For UI changes
• Related issues: Link to the issue being fixed

Example PR description:

## Description
Fixes the token expiration bug in the authentication system.

## Motivation
Users were being logged out unexpectedly due to incorrect token
expiration time calculation. Closes #123.

## Changes
- Updated token expiration logic to use UTC time
- Added tests for timezone edge cases
- Updated documentation to clarify token lifetime

## Testing
- All existing tests pass
- Added 3 new test cases for timezone handling
- Manually tested with tokens created in different timezones

## Screenshots
[If applicable]

PR Submission Checklist

Before submitting:

• Code follows project style guidelines
• All tests pass
• New tests added for new functionality
• Documentation updated
• Commit messages are clear
• Branch is up to date with main
• PR description is complete

Step 7: Respond to Feedback

Code review is a learning opportunity, not a criticism.

Understanding Code Review

Maintainers and other contributors will review your code and may request changes. This is normal and expected.

Responding to Review Comments

• Be open-minded: Consider feedback objectively
• Ask questions: If you don’t understand, ask for clarification
• Make requested changes: Address feedback promptly
• Explain your reasoning: If you disagree, explain why respectfully
• Thank reviewers: Acknowledge their time and effort

Making Changes

# Make the requested changes
# Commit them to your branch
git add .
git commit -m "refactor(auth): address review feedback"

# Push to update the PR
git push origin fix-issue-123

Dealing with Merge Conflicts

If the main branch has changed:

# Update your local main branch
git checkout main
git pull upstream main

# Rebase your feature branch
git checkout fix-issue-123
git rebase main

# Resolve any conflicts
# Then push (may need force push)
git push origin fix-issue-123 --force-with-lease

Step 8: Celebrate Your Contribution

Once your PR is merged, congratulations! You’re now an open source contributor.

What Happens Next

• Your contribution is part of the project’s history
• You’re listed as a contributor
• Your changes help users worldwide
• You’ve started building your open source portfolio

Building on Your Success

• Contribute again: Look for more issues in the same project
• Branch out: Try contributing to other projects
• Help others: Answer questions and review other PRs
• Share your experience: Write about your journey
• Stay engaged: Join the project’s community channels

Common First-Timer Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1: Not Reading the Contributing Guidelines

Solution: Always read CONTRIBUTING.md before starting work.

Mistake 2: Making Changes Without Discussion

Solution: Comment on the issue before starting work to ensure your approach is correct.

Mistake 3: Submitting Massive PRs

Solution: Keep changes focused and minimal. Large PRs are harder to review.

Mistake 4: Taking Feedback Personally

Solution: Remember that code review is about improving the code, not judging you.

Mistake 5: Giving Up After the First Try

Solution: Persistence is key. Not every PR will be accepted, and that’s okay.

Resources for First-Time Contributors

Educational Resources

• First Timers Only: Movement to help new contributors
• GitHub Learning Lab: Interactive tutorials
• Open Source Guides: Comprehensive guides from GitHub
• FreeCodeCamp: Open source contribution articles

Finding Projects

• goodfirstissue.dev: Curated list of beginner-friendly issues
• up-for-grabs.net: Projects with tasks for new contributors
• codetriage.com: Get issues delivered to your inbox
• contributor.ninja: Find projects needing help

Community Support

• dev.to: Community of helpful developers
• Reddit r/opensource: Open source discussions
• Discord/Slack communities: Many projects have chat channels
• Local meetups: Connect with open source contributors in person

Your Open Source Journey Starts Now

Making your first open source contribution is just the beginning. Each contribution teaches you something new, connects you with talented developers, and helps improve software used by people around the world.

Remember:

• Start small: Small contributions are valuable
• Be patient: Learning takes time
• Stay curious: Explore different projects and technologies
• Give back: As you gain experience, help other newcomers
• Have fun: Enjoy the learning process

The open source community welcomes you. Your unique perspective and skills have value, regardless of your experience level. Take that first step, submit that first PR, and join the global community of open source contributors.

Your journey begins with a single commit. Make it today.

Next Steps

Ready to start contributing? Here’s your action plan:

1. This week: Find and bookmark 3-5 projects that interest you
2. Next week: Set up your development environment for one project
3. This month: Submit your first pull request
4. This quarter: Become a regular contributor to 1-2 projects

Welcome to open source. We can’t wait to see what you’ll build.