DEV Community: Alla Yasheela

My Contributions for Hacktoberfest 2024 [PART 1]

Alla Yasheela — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:39:32 +0000

I'm super excited to share my contributions during Hacktoberfest 2024! I had two pull requests (PRs) accepted, and it has been an amazing experience. Here’s a quick overview of what I accomplished:

🚀 Accepted Pull Requests

Hey everyone! 🎊 This post is about my journey, the challenges I faced, and some tips for fellow beginners who want to dive into open-source contributions.

1. Updated Explore.jsx

PR Link: github

Issue: Blank Page on Invalid Username Search

Description: While using the Explore tab, I encountered an issue when searching for usernames with incorrect formatting.
Searching a username with spaces (e.g., "yasheela alla") led to a blank white page instead of showing a user-friendly message.
A correctly formatted username (e.g., "yasheela-alla") worked fine.

Proposed Solution: I suggested adding error handling for invalid or incorrectly formatted usernames.
Instead of showing a blank page, the user should see an error message like:

"User not found. Please check the username."

Code changes -

Updated page output -

This improvement prevents the blank page scenario and enhances the user experience.

This is my very first PR that got merged, and was officially accepted by Hacktoberfest.

2. Implement Role-Based Access Control for Backend API

PR Link: GITHUB

Rehabify is a platform aimed at helping people with rehabilitation exercises and home remedies. I contributed by working on the backend setup and modifying some middleware for authentication and role-based access control (RBAC). It was a great learning experience to work with technologies like Golang, Gin framework, and MongoDB.

Here’s a quick summary of what I did:

**Implemented Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)*: Modified the middleware to include authorization checks based on user roles.

**Configured MongoDB integration*: I had to set up a MongoDB connection and manage database operations for users, doctors, and remedies.

[Challenges I Faced] 😅

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though! Here are some challenges I encountered:

Image Source: Linkedin :)

Setting up MongoDB: I struggled with configuring MongoDB on my local machine, especially ensuring the service was running correctly. I had to go through several troubleshooting steps.

Understanding Middleware in Go: As a beginner in Golang, it took some time to wrap my head around middleware patterns and how they work in the Gin framework.
Dealing with Access Issues in Git Bash: While testing the project, I encountered several deploy issues. Overcoming them required a lot of research and trial-and-error.

How I Overcame These Challenges ?

1) Reading Documentation: The official MongoDB documentation were lifesavers. They provided clear instructions for setup and usage.

2) Seeking help: I reached out to mentor/Owner of the repo, He was really supportive and helped me clear my doubts.

NOTE It's totally fine, if you face issues when you're contributing to open source, don't hesitate to reach out to the mentor's, they will help you.

After so much struggles, my PR got merged (yayyy!)

My Hacktoberfest Checklist ✅

[x] Register for GSSoC ext
[x] Find beginner-friendly issues
[x] Make pull requests
[x] Get my pull requests accepted

Final Thoughts 💭

Hacktoberfest is a fantastic initiative for anyone looking to start their journey in open-source contributions. It doesn’t matter if you're a beginner—every contribution counts! 🚀

If you’re just getting started, here are a few tips:

Start Small: Look for issues labeled "good first issue" or "beginner-friendly."
Read the Project's Contribution Guidelines: Each project has its own rules; make sure you follow them.
Don't Hesitate to Ask Questions: The community is there to help you!

Happy coding and contributing! 🧑‍💻

Thanks for reading!

In open source, we rise by lifting each other’s code 🌟

– Yasheela

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

Week 1 of Hactoberfest 2024 : Contributor

Alla Yasheela — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 05:18:47 +0000

Hacktoberfest 2024: My Journey So Far 🚀

Hey Devs!

It’s my first time diving into Hacktoberfest, and I’ve got to admit — I'm late to the writing challenge. 😅 But guess what? I've already submitted 5 PRs, and 4 are still awaiting review! Fingers crossed they get accepted soon 🤞

For those who don’t know, Hacktoberfest is an annual open-source fiesta that runs from Oct 1 to Oct 31, organized by DigitalOcean, GitHub, and some seriously cool partners. It’s all about diving into open source, leveling up your dev skills, and collaborating with a global squad of coders.

Final review and PR count: The PR counts and review are done on the go and hacktoberfest analyzes the PR every 15 minutes on their official website.

Week 1 of Hacktoberfest: Contributor Mode ON! 🔥

Week one is officially over, and I’m loving every bit of this ride! I’ve soaked up a ton of knowledge, made some solid contributions, and even got 1 PR accepted so far (yes!). The experience has been so rewarding and, honestly, a bit addicting. I’m ready to keep grinding it out for the rest of the month!

Haven’t joined Hacktoberfest yet? What are you waiting for? It’s not too late to dive in—make an impact, flex those coding muscles, and be part of something awesome! 🙌

Why Am I Doing Hacktoberfest?

Honestly? Because open source is where the magic happens. I’m all about learning through real-world projects, and Hacktoberfest is pushing me out of my comfort zone. It’s not just about writing code—it’s about understanding how to collaborate, reading someone else’s code (which is a skill in itself!), and making contributions that matter.

NOTE Open source isn’t just about Hacktoberfest — it’s a year-round opportunity! You can jump in and contribute to any project that aligns with your interests whenever you like.

My Experience So Far: PR accepted 🎉

I kicked off the month with one thought: Let’s just do this! I dove into projects tagged with “good first issue,” and before I knew it, I had 5 PRs in the wild!

But here’s the thing—submitting PRs is just the start. You have to patiently wait for maintainers to review your work, and yes, that takes some serious patience. But honestly, every step of the process has been such a blast! 🚀

What I’ve Learned Along the Way:

Collaboration is Key: Code is only part of the journey. Contributing to open source teaches you how to communicate with maintainers and fellow contributors.
Git & GitHub Mastery: It’s more than just committing and pushing. I’ve learned to resolve merge conflicts, write meaningful commit messages, and handle feedback like a pro.
No Contribution is Too Small: Whether you’re fixing a typo or building out a new feature, it all counts if it helps the project grow!

What’s Next?

I’m on the hunt for more issues to tackle! My goal is to keep submitting PRs and to get those 4 PRs accepted soon. Why stop at 4 when I can aim for more, right? 😎

If you’re still thinking about joining Hacktoberfest, stop thinking and start coding! There are tons of projects out there that could use your help, no matter your skill level. Plus, there’s some cool swag's waiting at the end of it all. 🎁

Join the Hacktoberfest Challenge! 💻

If you haven’t registered yet, do it now! There’s still plenty of time to get in on the action. Sign up, contribute, and be part of this open-source adventure!

Thanks for reading!

In open source, we rise by lifting each other’s code 🌟

– Yasheela

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