This is a submission for the 2025 Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge: Open Source Reflections
Hello everyone,
I’m Anirudhha Adak — a web developer, open source enthusiast, and active participant in Hacktoberfest. Here’s a reflection on my open source journey throughout Hacktoberfest 2025, how it all began, and my thoughts for the future.
My Hacktoberfest Projects
This month was all about meaningful contributions! My focus was on the 100 Lines of Python Code challenge — an exciting community project where developers build creative mini-tools within 100 lines. I also worked on various JavaScript and React issues, sharpening my frontend and backend development skills.
Each pull request I submitted was a unique learning experience: from debugging tricky modules to collaborating with maintainers on feature improvements.
Highs & Lows
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Highs:
- First PR merge — the joy of seeing my code accepted never fades.
- Collaborating with diverse contributors and maintainers from all over the globe.
- Discovering supportive communities on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Lows:
- Occasional bugs and CI errors slowing down merge approvals.
- Feeling overwhelmed by the volume of projects and new issues.
- Balancing time between coding, AI experiments, and content creation.
Why I Joined Hacktoberfest
Open source has always meant collaboration, learning, and sharing. I joined Hacktoberfest to gain practical experience beyond tutorials, connect with the global dev community, and contribute to projects that matter to me.
Will I Participate Again?
Absolutely! This year’s experience was rewarding, and I already look forward to Hacktoberfest 2026.
The sense of achievement from merged PRs and feedback from maintainers motivates me to keep growing.
Tips for Future Participants
- Start early: Look for “good first issue” labels to ease into new repositories.
- Engage with the community: Maintainers and fellow contributors are friendly and ready to help.
- Don’t worry if a PR gets rejected — every review is a learning opportunity.
- Document your contributions and keep sharing your progress.
What Open Source Means to Me
Open source isn’t just about code.
It’s about the people, experiences, and growth that come with sharing knowledge and pushing boundaries together.
Hacktoberfest reminded me that the world is full of collaborative spirits — and being a part of it is both fun and inspiring.
Memorable Moments
- The thrill of my first-ever PR getting merged (still unforgettable).
- Helpful DMs and comments from peers on GitHub and social media.
- Celebrating small wins with friends after a successful code deployment.
Advice for First-Time Participants
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember that everyone was a beginner once.
- Treat Hacktoberfest as a fun learning journey, not a competition.
- Stay organized — track which PRs you’ve submitted and their statuses.
Final Thoughts
Hacktoberfest 2025 has been a milestone on my open source journey. I’ll keep contributing, learning, and sharing with the community — see you all next year and happy coding!
Thank you for reading! If you participated in Hacktoberfest, let’s connect and share our stories.
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