devkumar2313

Posted on Nov 1

6 Merged PRs, 6 Different Projects, 583 Lines of Code: My Hacktoberfest 2025 Story

#hacktoberfest #opensource #github #learning

Hacktoberfest: Contribution Chronicles

My Hacktoberfest 2025 Journey: 6 Contributions That Shaped My Growth 🚀

Hacktoberfest 2025 has been an incredible journey of learning, collaboration, and growth! I successfully completed the challenge with 6 merged pull requests across diverse open-source projects - from fixing CI/CD pipelines to implementing user-facing features. Here's my story of contribution, debugging, and what I learned along the way.

🎯 Overview of My Contributions

#	Project	Contribution Type	Impact	Key Learning
1	FreshBooks PHP SDK	CI/CD Enhancement	✅ Merged	PHP 8.4 support & modernizing workflows
2	CanonForces	Bug Fix	✅ Merged	YAML syntax & GitHub Actions debugging
3	Easy Fix	Workflow Fix	✅ Merged	Replacing deprecated actions
4	Footballer Predictor	Feature Addition	✅ Merged	Dark theme & UI/UX enhancements
5	SalamLang	Repository Organization	✅ Merged	Project structure best practices
6	Leetcode Solutions	Algorithm Implementation	✅ Merged	Problem-solving & optimization

Total Impact: 583 lines added, 53 lines deleted across 6 repositories 📊

📖 Detailed Contribution Stories

Contribution #1: FreshBooks PHP SDK - Adding PHP 8.4 Support 🐘

🔗 PR Link: #71

🏷️ Issue: #69

📊 Changes: +2 / -2 lines

⏱️ Merged: October 1, 2025

The Challenge

The FreshBooks PHP SDK needed to support PHP 8.4 (the latest PHP release) in its CI testing matrix. The project was only testing against PHP 8.0-8.3, which meant potential compatibility issues with the newest version could go undetected.

My Approach

I upgraded the GitHub Actions workflow to include PHP 8.4 in the testing matrix:

# Before
matrix:
  php: [8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3]
  dependency-version: [prefer-lowest, prefer-stable]

# After
matrix:
  php: [8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4]
  dependency-version: [prefer-lowest, prefer-stable]

Additionally, I modernized the workflow by updating actions/cache from v2 to v4 for better performance and compatibility.

What I Learned

Version Matrix Testing: How to properly configure CI/CD pipelines to test against multiple language versions
GitHub Actions Best Practices: The importance of keeping actions up-to-date
PHP Ecosystem: Understanding PHP's release cycle and backward compatibility considerations

Impact

This ensures the SDK remains compatible with the latest PHP version, giving developers confidence to upgrade and providing early detection of any PHP 8.4 compatibility issues.

Contribution #2: CanonForces - Fixing Critical YAML Syntax Errors 🔧

🔗 PR Link: #68

🏷️ Issue: #67

📊 Changes: +58 / -47 lines

⏱️ Merged: October 1, 2025

🏆 Labels: Easy, hacktoberfest-accepted

The Challenge

The CanonForces project had broken GitHub Actions workflows with:

Incorrect YAML indentation causing syntax errors
Hardcoded usernames (@aviralsaxena16) instead of dynamic references
Missing error handling for comment creation failures
Incomplete YAML structure closures

My Approach

I completely refactored two workflow files:

# Before - Hardcoded username
- name: Comment on issue
  run: echo "Thanks @aviralsaxena16 for creating this issue!"

# After - Dynamic username extraction
- name: Comment on issue
  run: |
    username="${{ github.event.issue.user.login }}"
    echo "Thanks @${username} for creating this issue!"

Key improvements:

Fixed YAML indentation and structure
Added comprehensive error handling with try-catch blocks
Implemented dynamic username extraction using GitHub context
Added proper logging with core.setFailed()

What I Learned

YAML Syntax Mastery: Deep understanding of proper YAML formatting and common pitfalls
GitHub Actions Context: How to use github.event to access PR/issue metadata dynamically
Error Handling: Importance of robust error handling in CI/CD workflows
Code Review Process: Received valuable feedback from maintainers on my approach

Impact

This fix prevented silent workflow failures and personalized the automated commenting system, improving contributor experience for future participants.

Contribution #3: Easy Fix - Replacing Deprecated GitHub Action 🔄

🔗 PR Link: #106

🏷️ Issue: #103

📊 Changes: +5 / -2 lines

⏱️ Merged: October 1, 2025

The Challenge

The auto-labeling workflow was completely broken with the error:

Error: Unable to resolve action actions-ecosystem/action-labeler, repository not found

The project was using a deprecated action that no longer exists, causing CI/CD pipeline failures.

My Approach

I replaced the non-existent action with the official GitHub labeler:

# Before (Broken)
- name: Auto-label PR based on status and content
  uses: actions-ecosystem/action-labeler@v1  # ❌ Repository not found
  with:
    configuration-path: .github/labeler.yml

# After (Fixed)
- name: Auto-label PR based on status and content
  uses: actions/labeler@v5  # ✅ Official GitHub action
  with:
    configuration-path: .github/labeler.yml

Additional improvements:

Added required permissions: contents: read and pull-requests: write
Updated actions/checkout from v3 to v4
Maintained backward compatibility with existing config file

What I Learned

Action Deprecation: How to identify and replace deprecated GitHub Actions
Permissions Management: Understanding GitHub Actions permission requirements
Migration Strategies: Best practices for updating CI/CD dependencies

Impact

Restored the auto-labeling functionality, improving project organization and reducing manual work for maintainers.

Contribution #4: Footballer Predictor - Dark Theme & UI Enhancements 🌙⚽

🔗 PR Link: #4

🏷️ Issue: #1

📊 Changes: +446 / -1 lines (Largest contribution!)

⏱️ Merged: October 1, 2025

The Challenge

This was my most substantial contribution! The issue requested:

Adding player name captions below footballer images
Implementing a dark/light theme toggle with persistence

My Approach

Feature 1: Player Name Captions

// Before - Simple image array
const images = ["image1.jpg", "image2.jpg", "image3.jpg"];

// After - Structured footballer objects
const footballers = [
  { name: "Lionel Messi", image: "messi.jpg" },
  { name: "Cristiano Ronaldo", image: "ronaldo.jpg" },
  { name: "Neymar Jr", image: "neymar.jpg" }
];

Feature 2: Theme Toggle with Persistence

// Theme toggle functionality
function toggleTheme() {
  const currentTheme = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme');
  const newTheme = currentTheme === 'dark' ? 'light' : 'dark';

  document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', newTheme);
  localStorage.setItem('theme', newTheme);
  updateThemeIcon(newTheme);
}

// Load saved theme on page load
window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
  const savedTheme = localStorage.getItem('theme') || 'light';
  document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', savedTheme);
  updateThemeIcon(savedTheme);
});

CSS Implementation:

/* CSS Custom Properties for theming */
:root {
  --bg-primary: #ffffff;
  --text-primary: #000000;
  --card-bg: #f5f5f5;
}

[data-theme='dark'] {
  --bg-primary: #1a1a1a;
  --text-primary: #ffffff;
  --card-bg: #2d2d2d;
}

What I Learned

CSS Custom Properties: How to implement maintainable theme systems using CSS variables
LocalStorage API: Persisting user preferences across sessions
Responsive Design: Making UI elements work across different screen sizes
Animation Techniques: Adding smooth transitions and hover effects
Data Structures: Converting simple arrays to more structured objects for better maintainability

Impact

Enhanced user experience significantly with:

Better visual identification of players
Reduced eye strain with dark mode option
Personalized experience with saved preferences
Improved mobile responsiveness

Contribution #5: SalamLang - Repository Structure Organization 📁

🔗 PR Link: #17

🏷️ Issue: #16

📊 Changes: +2 / -1 lines (7 commits)

⏱️ Merged: October 2, 2025

🏆 Labels: good first issue, hacktoberfest, hacktoberfest-accepted, tests

The Challenge

The repository had linter configuration files scattered in the root directory, making it cluttered and harder to maintain. The goal was to move these configs to a dedicated .github/linters/ directory.

My Approach

Reorganized the project structure:

# Before
.
├── .markdownlint.json
├── .yamllint.yaml
└── .pre-commit-config.yaml

# After
.
├── .github/
│   └── linters/
│       ├── .markdownlint.json
│       └── .yamllint.yaml
└── .pre-commit-config.yaml

Updated .pre-commit-config.yaml to reference new locations:

# Markdownlint
- repo: https://github.com/igorshubovych/markdownlint-cli
  rev: v0.41.0
  hooks:
    - id: markdownlint
      args: [--config, .github/linters/.markdownlint.json]

# Yamllint
- repo: https://github.com/adrienverge/yamllint
  rev: v1.35.1
  hooks:
    - id: yamllint
      args: [--config-file=.github/linters/.yamllint.yaml]

What I Learned

Project Organization: Best practices for structuring configuration files
Pre-commit Hooks: How to configure and update pre-commit hook paths
Git Operations: Moving files while preserving history
Testing Methodology: Verifying configuration changes don't break functionality

Impact

Cleaner repository root directory
Better organization following GitHub conventions
Easier maintenance and discovery of configuration files
Consistent with patterns used in main Salam repository

Contribution #6: Leetcode Solutions - Zigzag Conversion Algorithm 🧩

🔗 PR Link: #39

🏷️ Issue: #38

📊 Changes: +70 / -0 lines

⏱️ Merged: October 2, 2025

🏆 Labels: hacktoberest-accepted

The Challenge

Implement LeetCode Problem #6 - Zigzag Conversion in C++:

Problem: Convert a string to a zigzag pattern across a specified number of rows and read it line by line.

Example:

Input: s = "PAYPALISHIRING", numRows = 3
Output: "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR"

Explanation:
P   A   H   N
A P L S I I G
Y   I   R

My Approach & Intuition

The key insight was to simulate the zigzag writing process:

class Solution {
public:
    string convert(string s, int numRows) {
        // Edge cases
        if (numRows == 1 || numRows >= s.length()) return s;

        // Create a row for each line in the zigzag
        vector<string> rows(numRows);
        int currRow = 0, direction = -1;

        // Fill rows with characters
        for (char c : s) {
            rows[currRow] += c;

            // Change direction at top and bottom
            if (currRow == 0 || currRow == numRows - 1) 
                direction *= -1;

            currRow += direction;
        }

        // Concatenate all rows
        string result;
        for (string& row : rows) result += row;
        return result;
    }
};

Algorithm Breakdown:

Edge Case Handling: If only 1 row or rows >= string length, return original string
Row Simulation: Use vector of strings to represent each row
Direction Tracking: Use multiplier (-1 or +1) to track up/down movement
Character Placement: Place each character in current row and update direction at boundaries
Result Construction: Concatenate all rows to form final string

What I Learned

Algorithm Design: Breaking down complex patterns into simple state machines
Space Complexity: Trading memory for cleaner code (O(n) space for O(n) time)
C++ STL: Effective use of vector<string> for dynamic data structures
Problem-Solving Process: Visualizing the problem helps identify the solution pattern

Impact

Contributed a well-documented, efficient solution to help other learners understand the zigzag pattern problem, complete with approach explanation and intuition.

💡 Overall Lessons Learned

Technical Skills Acquired

1. GitHub Actions & CI/CD Mastery 🔄

Configuring multi-version test matrices
Understanding action versioning and deprecation
Working with GitHub context variables (github.event)
Implementing proper error handling in workflows
Setting appropriate permissions for actions

2. YAML Proficiency 📝

Mastering YAML syntax and indentation rules
Debugging complex YAML parsing errors
Structuring workflow files for maintainability
Using YAML validators effectively

3. Frontend Development 🎨

Implementing CSS custom properties for theming
Using LocalStorage API for state persistence
Creating responsive designs with modern CSS
Building smooth animations and transitions
Understanding accessibility considerations (color contrast, focus states)

4. Algorithm Implementation 🧠

Simulating physical patterns in code
Optimizing space-time complexity trade-offs
Writing clean, documented algorithmic solutions
Using appropriate data structures (vectors, strings)

5. Project Organization 📁

Following repository structure best practices
Organizing configuration files logically
Maintaining consistency across projects

🚧 Challenges I Overcame

Challenge 1: Understanding Large Codebases Quickly ⏱️

The Problem: Each project had different structures, conventions, and tooling. I had limited time to understand context before contributing.

How I Solved It:

Started with README.md and CONTRIBUTING.md files
Examined existing PRs to understand coding style
Used GitHub's code search to find similar patterns
Asked clarifying questions in issue comments
Focused on well-scoped, beginner-friendly issues first

Challenge 2: Debugging CI/CD Without Local Environment 🔧

The Problem: GitHub Actions workflows can't be easily tested locally, making debugging iterative and time-consuming.

How I Solved It:

Used online YAML validators before pushing
Studied GitHub Actions documentation thoroughly
Looked at similar workflows in other repositories
Made small, incremental changes with clear commit messages
Learned from workflow run logs and error messages

Challenge 3: Handling Different Tech Stacks 🔄

The Problem: Projects used various languages and frameworks: PHP, JavaScript, C++, YAML, Python workflows.

How I Solved It:

Focused on transferable concepts (logic, patterns, best practices)
Read official documentation for unfamiliar technologies
Used language-agnostic problem-solving approaches
Embraced learning opportunities in new domains
Applied knowledge from one project to others

Challenge 4: Balancing Quality and Speed ⚖️

The Problem: Hacktoberfest has deadlines, but maintainers expect quality contributions.

How I Solved It:

Prioritized smaller, well-defined issues first
Wrote comprehensive PR descriptions to reduce back-and-forth
Self-reviewed code before submitting
Added tests or verification steps where possible
Valued quality over quantity (6 meaningful PRs vs. rushing for more)

🙏 Thank You

I want to express my gratitude to:

Maintainers 👨‍💻👩‍💻

@amcintosh - For maintaining FreshBooks PHP SDK and quick merge
@aviralsaxena16 - For reviewing CanonForces fixes
@vatsalsinghkv - For the Easy Fix project and welcoming environment
@Rishi713144 - For the opportunity to add major features to Footballer Predictor
@jbampton - For leading SalamLang and the warm community
@SjxSubham - For maintaining the Leetcode solutions repository

Special Thanks 🌟

The Hacktoberfest Team - For organizing this incredible event year after year
GitHub - For providing the platform that makes open source collaboration possible
DigitalOcean - For sponsoring and supporting Hacktoberfest
The Open Source Community - For building amazing projects and welcoming newcomers

💬 Let's Connect!

I'd love to hear about your Hacktoberfest experience or answer questions about mine!

GitHub: @devkumar2313
DEV.to: [https://dev.to/devkumar2313]
LinkedIn: [www.linkedin.com/in/devkumarpal74]

🎉 Final Thoughts

Hacktoberfest 2025 taught me that open source is not just about code—it's about community, learning, and making an impact. Every merged PR represents hours of learning, debugging, and collaboration. It represents someone taking the time to review my work and trust me to improve their project.

To anyone considering participating in future Hacktoberfests: Do it!

You don't need to be an expert. You don't need years of experience. You just need:

Curiosity 🔍
Willingness to learn 📚
Patience with yourself and others 🤝
Respect for maintainers' time ⏰

The worst that can happen? Your PR doesn't get merged. The best? You learn something new, make connections, and contribute to tools used by thousands of developers worldwide.

**My 6 PRs are now part of: