Getting Started with Open Source Contributions
Open source contributions show real-world skills, help you learn from great developers, and boost your resume. Here's how to start.
Key Takeaways
- Start with documentation, typos, or "good first issue" labels
- Read contribution guidelines before submitting
- Small, focused PRs get merged faster than large ones
- Be patient—maintainers are often volunteers
1. Why Contribute to Open Source
- Resume boost: Shows real-world collaboration skills
- Learn from the best: See how top developers write code
- Network: Connect with the community
- Give back: Help tools you use every day
- Job opportunities: Some companies hire active contributors
2. Finding Projects
Where to Look
- GitHub Explore: github.com/explore
- Good First Issues: goodfirstissue.dev
- First Contributions: firstcontributions.github.io
- Up For Grabs: up-for-grabs.net
How to Choose
- Pick something you use or are interested in
- Check if it's actively maintained (recent commits/issues)
- Read the CONTRIBUTING.md file
- Start with smaller projects before major frameworks
3. Types of Contributions
Beginner-Friendly
- • Fix typos in docs
- • Improve README
- • Add tests
- • Translation
Code Contributions
- • Bug fixes
- • New features
- • Performance improvements
- • Refactoring
4. Contribution Workflow
- Fork the repository
- Clone your fork locally
- Create a branch for your changes
- Make changes and commit
- Push to your fork
- Open a Pull Request to the original repo
- Respond to feedback and update if needed
5. First Contribution Tips
- Start small: Your first PR doesn't need to be groundbreaking
- Read guidelines: Follow the project's contribution rules
- Be respectful: Maintainers are volunteers
- Test your changes: Make sure nothing breaks
- Write clear PR descriptions: Explain what and why
6. FAQs
Do I need to be an expert to contribute?
Not at all. Many projects welcome documentation fixes, typo corrections, and beginner-friendly issues.
What if my PR gets rejected?
It happens! Ask for feedback, learn from it, and try again. Every contributor faces rejections.
Popular Open Source Programs
Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
12-week program where students work on open source projects. Stipend: $1,500-$6,600 depending on project size and location. Applications open February-April.
LFX Mentorship (Linux Foundation)
3-month mentorship program with stipends. Multiple cohorts per year. Focus on cloud-native and Linux ecosystem projects.
Outreachy
3-month internships for underrepresented groups in tech. Stipend: $7,000. Two cohorts per year.
Hacktoberfest
October event encouraging open source contributions. Complete 4 PRs to earn rewards. Great for beginners.
MLH Fellowship
12-week program contributing to real open source projects. Paid fellowship with mentorship and community.
Writing Great Pull Requests
- Descriptive title: Summarize the change in one line
- Problem statement: Explain what issue you're fixing
- Solution description: Briefly explain your approach
- Testing: Describe how you tested your changes
- Screenshots: Include for UI changes
- Link to issue: Reference the related issue number
Common Open Source Mistakes
Starting with huge PRs
Begin with documentation, typos, or "good first issue" labels. Build trust before tackling major features.
Not reading CONTRIBUTING.md
Each project has its own rules. Ignoring them = instant rejection.
Being impatient with maintainers
Maintainers are often volunteers. Don't ping them daily. Wait at least a week before gentle follow-up.
Not understanding the codebase
Spend time reading the code. Understand the architecture before making changes. Ask questions in discussions first.
Only contributing for swag
Hacktoberfest spam gives a bad reputation. Contribute meaningfully to projects you care about.
Success Stories
"Open source got me hired at a FAANG..."
"Started contributing to a React library in 2nd year. After 50+ PRs, the company behind it reached out. Now I work there as a full-time engineer." — Karthik, Bangalore
"GSoC changed my career trajectory..."
"Got into GSoC in 3rd year with Mozilla. The mentorship and stipend were great, but the network I built was priceless. Multiple job offers followed." — Priya, Chennai
"Documentation contributions led to core maintainer role..."
"Started by fixing typos in docs. Gradually moved to code. 18 months later, I'm a core maintainer with commit access." — Rahul, Pune
More Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get selected for GSoC?
Start contributing to your target org 2-3 months before applications. Build relationships with mentors. Write a solid proposal based on their priorities. Past contributions matter most.
Do open source contributions help in placements?
Absolutely. They show initiative, collaboration skills, and real coding ability. Many companies specifically look for GitHub activity.
How many hours per week should I dedicate?
5-10 hours per week is a good start. Quality matters more than quantity. One meaningful contribution per week builds momentum.
Should I contribute to big projects or small ones?
Start with medium-sized projects. Very large projects (React, Kubernetes) can be overwhelming. Very small projects may have inactive maintainers.
How do I find issues to work on?
Search for labels like "good first issue," "help wanted," or "beginner-friendly." Many projects have dedicated labels for newcomers.
What if I don't know the tech stack?
That's fine! Pick projects in languages you want to learn. Reading good codebases is one of the best ways to learn. Start with documentation while you learn.
First Contribution Checklist
Beginner-Friendly Projects to Start
| Project | Language | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| First Contributions | Any | Learning Git workflow |
| freeCodeCamp | JavaScript | Web development |
| EddieHub | Various | Community-first projects |
| Zulip | Python | Great mentorship |
| Mozilla Firefox | C++/Rust | Large-scale projects |
Start Contributing Today
Your first open source contribution is the hardest. After that, it gets easier and more rewarding.
Remember: every major open source project was built by people who started exactly where you are now. Your contributions matter, no matter how small they seem.
Find a project you care about and make your first PR. 🚀
📚 Related Resources
Written by Sproutern Career Team
We contribute to open source too!
Last updated: December 21, 2025