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Atharv Shinde
Atharv Shinde

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πŸš€ How to Contribute in Open Source (Beginner Friendly Guide)

Open Source contribution is one of the best ways to build real-world programming experience, connect with global developers, and strengthen your portfolio. Whether you are a student, beginner, or professional developer, learning how to contribute to open source can open doors to endless opportunities.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to find projects, choose issues, make a Pull Request, and follow a complete 30-day roadmap for your journey.

Here’s a complete step-by-step video guide:


πŸŽ₯ Watch Full Tutorial

πŸ“Ί YouTube Video:


πŸ” What is Open Source?

Open Source means any software or project whose source code is publicly available. Anyone can read, use, modify, and contribute to it. You can help improve the project by fixing bugs, adding features, writing documentation, and much more.

Popular Open Source Platforms:

  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Bitbucket

🌟 Why Open Source Matters

Open Source helps you:

  • πŸ’» Gain real-world coding experience
  • 🧠 Improve problem-solving skills
  • 🌍 Work with global developers
  • πŸ† Boost your portfolio & credibility
  • πŸš€ Prepare for jobs, internships & GSoC

Today, companies value real contributions more than certificates.


🧠 How Open Source Works

Before contributing, understand these key terms:

Term Meaning
Maintainers Project managers who review contributions
Contributors Developers helping the project
Issues Bugs or tasks to work on
Pull Request (PR) Suggesting your code changes to add in the project
Documentation Writing guides, installation, and usage instructions

🎯 How to Choose the Right Project

Avoid high-complexity projects initially. Instead:

πŸ”Ž Choose tech you already know

πŸ”– Look for tags such as:


md
good-first-issue
help-wanted
beginner-friendly
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