Introduction

Ready to embark on your open-source journey? Let's dive in!

1. Choose a Project

Before you begin, select an open-source project that aligns with your interests. There are numerous repositories that welcome new contributors, and you can find them on websites like opensourcefriday.com, goodfirstissues.com, and goodfirstissue.dev.

Don't forget to review the project's contribution guidelines, typically found in a file named "Contributing.md." These guidelines provide essential information to make meaningful contributions to the project.

2. Fork the Repository

Once you've chosen a project, fork the repository to create a copy in your GitHub account. This copy will be your playground for making contributions.

3. Clone the Repository

To work on the project locally, you'll need to clone the forked repository to your computer. Visit the repository on GitHub, copy the URL, and use the following command in your terminal:

git clone [repository URL you copied]

4. Opening the Local Repository

With the repository cloned, navigate to the local repository in your terminal using the following command.

5. Creating a New Branch

Now, it's time to create a new branch for your work. Use the following command to switch between branches in the repository:

git checkout [your-branch-name]

6. Make Changes

Keywords: Code Edits, Branch, Changes

Open your preferred code editor (e.g., VS Code, Notepad++) and start making the necessary changes to the code. If you created a branch like "fix-typo," you might be fixing typos, adding features, or resolving issues.

7. Add the Changes to the Repository

To save your changes, add them to the staging area using the following command:

git add .

8. Commit the Changes

Keywords: Git Commit

Now, commit your changes to make them visible with the following command:

git commit -m "Your commit message here"

9. Push the Changes to GitHub

Keywords: GitHub, Push

As your work is currently stored locally, you'll need to push your changes to GitHub using the following command:

git push origin [your-branch-name]

10. Make a Pull Request

Keywords: Pull Request, Collaboration, Review

Congratulations! You've successfully committed your changes to your forked GitHub repository. The final step is to open a pull request and describe your contributions. This notifies the project owner about the changes you've made. Be patient while your submission undergoes review.

Tips for Beginner-Friendly Open-Source Contributions

Keywords: Open Issues, Beginner-Friendly, Documentation, Pull Requests

• Look for open issues in your favorite open-source projects.

• Focus on issues labeled as beginner-friendly and first-timers-only.

• Pay attention to documentation; ensure your edits follow the correct format.

• Avoid committing commented-out code.

• Keep your commits small; avoid making extensive changes in a single commit.

• Study previous issues and discussions to gauge the maintainers' openness to new features.

• Don't hesitate to open pull requests on your repositories for practice.

Final Thoughts

Contributing to open source is a valuable learning experience for any beginner developer. Open source isn't just for "PROs"; even the experts were beginners once. So, don't wait—start your open-source journey now.