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riyachandra
riyachandra

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How I Merged a PR in VS Code & My Open Source Roadmap for GSoC 2026

#opensource #gsoc2026 #vscode #career

The Reality of Open Source: Beyond the Hype

Most engineering students wait for an internship to prove their worth. I decided to take a different route: Direct Impact. I recently got my first Pull Request (PR) merged into the microsoft/vscode repository. Seeing my code become part of a tool used by millions was a massive "Aha!" moment. It taught me more about software engineering than any semester ever could.

1. The Scale of Microsoft/VSCode

Contributing to a global powerhouse like VS Code isn't just about writing code; it's about Engineering Excellence.

  • The "Zero Breakage" Rule: If your code breaks, a million developers stop working.
  • The Review Masterclass: Feedback from Microsoft engineers is brutal but brilliant. It forces you to write clean, modular, and efficient code.
  • Architecture: Reading the VS Code source code is like looking at a futuristic city—everything is perfectly organized.

2. My Roadmap: GSoC 2026 & Contributions

Open Source is my playground, and GSoC 2026 is one of the milestones I'm targeting. Here is where I am focusing my energy:

  • AsyncAPI (Studio & CLI): I am deep-diving into the studio and cli repositories. Event-driven architecture is fascinating, and building tools for other developers is the best way to learn.
  • Wikimedia: Exploring their massive infrastructure to understand how global data is managed at scale.
  • OWASP: Exploring their massive infrastructure to understand how global data is managed at scale.

3. Proof of Work > Certificates

In 2026, your GitHub green squares are your real degree. My strategy is simple:

  1. Read more, write less: I spend hours understanding a codebase before typing a single line.
  2. Clear Communication: Explaining why I changed a line of code is as important as the change itself.
  3. Build in Public: Everything I learn, I document.

Let’s Build Together!

If you’re an engineering student and your GitHub is empty—change that today. Don’t wait for "perfection." Just clone the repo and start reading.

Check out my contributions here: github.com/Riya-chandra

Are you also preparing for GSoC 2026? Let's discuss your chosen Org in the comments! 👇

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