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Hasini Punsala
Hasini Punsala

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Hacktoberfest 2023: Growing As A Contributor

Diving into Open Source: Hacktoberfest 2023

I'm thrilled to share my experience as a contributor to Hacktoberfest 2023. While I've dabbled in open-source projects in the past, this was my first dedicated participation in Hacktoberfest. You can check out my GitHub account here.

My Hacktoberfest Experience

One of my most significant accomplishments during Hacktoberfest was successfully contributing to four different open-source projects. It was immensely satisfying to see my pull requests accepted and merged into these projects. Each acceptance felt like a small victory and encouraged me to continue contributing.

Despite the highs, I faced several challenges during Hacktoberfest. One of the projects I attempted to contribute to had a steep learning curve. The codebase was complex, and I initially found it daunting to understand. It seemed impossible to fix the issue I was assigned. However, I adapted by breaking down the problem into smaller parts and reaching out to the project maintainers for guidance. This experience taught me the importance of seeking help and not being afraid to admit when something is beyond my current skill level.

Skill Boost: Hacktoberfest's Impact

Before Hacktoberfest 2023, my skillset was primarily centered around web development and a basic understanding of Git. However, during this event, I expanded my expertise in diverse programming languages and technologies, enhancing my coding and problem-solving abilities.
Collaborating with contributors and receiving feedback improved my coding style. I'm now inspired to continue open source contributions, focusing on projects aligned with my values. My goals have evolved, and I aim to contribute to projects that make a positive difference.

Hacktoberfest 2023 was really a transformative journey for me, and I look forward to ongoing contributions and learning in the open-source community 🚀💻.

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Dilantha Wijesinghe •

Good Job Punsala!

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