contributing as a beginner in open source

[Hermit210]

should i start contributing from here and explore open source?

[julien-deramond]

Welcome @Hermit210!

We recommend first reading a bit of this guide or other guides about Open Source guides to understand how Open Source works and what different kinds of contributions look like. You don’t need to start with code right away 🙂

A good way to begin is by contributing to tools you already use:
– reporting bugs you encounter
– suggesting features or improvements if something feels missing
– improving documentation
– or, when you feel ready, opening a Pull Request (PR)

Before contributing, always take some time to read the repository’s CONTRIBUTING.md and follow the project’s rules and guidelines as this helps respect maintainers’ time and makes collaboration smoother for everyone.

Take it step by step, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and enjoy the learning process. Happy contributing!

[masonearl]

Yes, absolutely start here! Open-reSource is a great place to begin your open source journey.

Quick Tips for Your First Contribution

1. Start with documentation - Look for typos, unclear explanations, or outdated info. These are easy wins that help you learn the contribution workflow.

2. Look for good first issue labels - Most repos tag beginner-friendly issues this way.

3. Read the CONTRIBUTING.md - Every good project has one. Follow it exactly.

4. Make small PRs - Your first PR should be small and focused. One fix at a time.

Tool Recommendation

If you're new to navigating codebases, try Cursor IDE. It's VS Code with built-in AI - you can highlight code and ask "what does this do?" or "where is this function defined?". Super helpful when you're learning a new codebase.

Your Path

1. Fork this repo
2. Clone it locally
3. Find an issue or improvement
4. Make the change
5. Submit a PR
6. Celebrate your first contribution! 🎉

Good luck!