My Contributions for Hacktoberfest 2024 [PART 1]

#hacktoberfestchallenge #opensource #devchallenge #hacktoberfest

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!