Hacktoberfest 2024: My Journey of Open-Source Growth and Collaboration

This is a submission for the 2024 Hacktoberfest Writing challenge: Contributor Experience

Hacktoberfest 2024 was an incredible journey filled with learning, collaboration, and personal growth. This year, I embraced multiple open-source projects, strengthening my tech skills while engaging with a global community of developers passionate about contributing to open-source software..

Projects I Contributed To During Hacktoberfest 2024

I am working on various projects provided hands-on experience with different algorithms and tools, including:

• BellmanFord.js: I put together an improved version of the Bellman-Ford algorithm.
• GeneratePermutations.js: Made a tool for generating permutations from arrays of items.
• LinkedList.py: Created a Python version of a linked list that has some extra features.
• BMS_CONSOLE: Helped with a battery management system console app.
• BinarySearch.java: Worked on a binary search algorithm with better recursive calls.
• simplex.py: Built a Python module to tackle linear programming problems using the Simplex method.

"Each project challenged me in new ways, allowing me to my problem-solving abilities and collaborate with maintainers and contributors".

Achievements

While I didn't quite finish all four PRs this year, I focused on quality contributions that added genuine value to each project. This approach enriched my understanding of different technologies and ensured my contributions were impactful and appreciated by project maintainers.

Key Learnings

• Collaboration is Key: I figured out how important communication and teamwork were, especially working with contributors from all kinds of backgrounds. Open-source projects rely on collective problem-solving, and this setting really helped spark some creative and effective solutions.

• Overcoming Challenges: Facing technical hurdles pushed me to ask for help from the community. This experience reminded me that open-source communities are really supportive and help people learn together.

• Time Management: Balancing my Hacktoberfest work with other responsibilities was tough, but it made me better at managing my time. I found out that good planning is key to making the most of my contributions without burning myself out.

Why I Participated ?

I have decided to join Hacktoberfest to push myself and become a better developer. The feeling of success after I submitted my pull requests, along with the helpful feedback from maintainers, was super rewarding. Being able to give back to the open-source community while picking up new skills made this whole experience unforgettable.

In the end, Hacktoberfest 2024 has been such a fulfilling journey that’s helped me grow both technically and personally. It, let me connect with others who think like me and broaden my knowledge of open-source development. I can't wait to use the skills , as I've gained in future projects and keep contributing to the open-source community.