The October That Changed My Coding Journey — Hacktoberfest 2025 Story

Shiwans Kumar Yadav — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:38:11 +0000

October 2025 will always hold a special place in my coding journey.
It wasn’t just another month of typing lines of code — it was the month I truly became an open-source contributor.

Before Hacktoberfest, I had heard about open source countless times. It always fascinated me — the idea of thousands of developers collaborating from around the world. But deep down, I wondered, “Can I really do it? Will my code ever be good enough?”

This Hacktoberfest, I decided to stop doubting and start doing.

MY FIRST PULL REQUEST
I still remember that mix of excitement when I submitted my first pull request.
I carefully read every guideline, checked the code multiple times, and finally clicked “Create Pull Request.”
When the notification came — “Your PR has been merged!” — I couldn’t stop smiling.
That moment made me realize something powerful:
Open source isn’t just about writing perfect code — it’s about learning, collaborating, and growing together.

SIX PRs, INFINITE LESSONS
By the end of Hacktoberfest 2025, I had six successfully merged pull requests — each one teaching me something new.

Here’s what I learned:

How to understand and navigate someone else’s codebase
How to write cleaner, more maintainable code
How to communicate effectively with maintainers
How small contributions can make a big difference Every merge wasn’t just a contribution — it was a confidence boost.

WHAT'S NEXT
Hacktoberfest 2025 might be over, but my journey definitely isn’t.
I’m planning to continue contributing — improving documentation, solving issues, and maybe even starting my own open-source project one day.

If you’re reading this and wondering whether to participate next year — do it.
That first PR might just change your career, your mindset, and maybe even plant a tree 🌳.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Hacktoberfest 2025 didn’t just give me a T-shirt, badges, or a tree — it gave me confidence, community, and purpose.

It showed me that every line of code can grow into something meaningful — just like that little tree planted somewhere in the world because of a simple pull request.

And that’s the beauty of open source — when you give, you grow. 🌿

DEV Community: Shiwans Kumar Yadav

The October That Changed My Coding Journey — Hacktoberfest 2025 Story