The latest articles on DEV Community by shivain gupta (@shivain_gupta_e9052a6a259). https://dev.to/shivain_gupta_e9052a6a259 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4162125%2F49d3c36f-fbd4-4cab-a529-9f56e81f0c18.jpg https://dev.to/shivain_gupta_e9052a6a259 en shivain gupta Sun, 11 Oct 2026 19:31:14 +0000 https://dev.to/shivain_gupta_e9052a6a259/my-hacktoberfest-2026-plan-how-im-picking-issues-without-burning-out-53ki https://dev.to/shivain_gupta_e9052a6a259/my-hacktoberfest-2026-plan-how-im-picking-issues-without-burning-out-53ki <p>Hacktoberfest is here again, and this year I'm trying to be more intentional instead of grabbing the first "good first issue" I see.</p> <h2> My rules for picking issues </h2> <ol> <li> <strong>Pick projects I actually use.</strong> I understand the context faster and care more about the result.</li> <li> <strong>Check maintainer activity.</strong> If the last merged PR is months old, I skip it.</li> <li> <strong>Start small.</strong> Docs fixes, tests, and small bug fixes build trust before bigger changes.</li> <li> <strong>Comment before coding.</strong> A quick "Can I take this?" saves everyone from duplicate work.</li> </ol> <h2> My workflow </h2> <ul> <li>Fork, then clone</li> <li>Create a branch named after the issue</li> <li>Make the smallest change that solves the problem</li> <li>Run the tests locally</li> <li>Write a clear PR description: what changed, why, and how to verify it</li> </ul> <h2> What I'm hoping to learn </h2> <ul> <li>Reading unfamiliar codebases faster</li> <li>Writing better commit messages and PR descriptions</li> <li>Handling review feedback gracefully</li> </ul> <h2> Tips if you're just starting </h2> <ul> <li>Don't wait until you feel "ready." Nobody does.</li> <li>A merged typo fix still counts as a real contribution.</li> <li>Be patient with maintainers. Most are volunteers.</li> </ul> <p>What's your strategy for finding issues this month? Drop your favorite repos or tips in the comments, and I'll check them out.</p> <p>Happy hacking! 🎃</p> hf26challenge