Why I Joined Hacktoberfest
I joined Hacktoberfest 2024 because I wanted to dive into open source. Contributing has always seemed daunting, but Hacktoberfest presented the perfect opportunity to jump in, learn, and become a part of the community. My goal was to complete all four pull requests, but more importantly, I wanted to gain confidence navigating open-source projects and collaborating on real-world codebases.
Projects I Contributed To
I worked on three different repositories this Hacktoberfest:
Open Weather API Wrapper: This repository provides a wrapper for OpenWeather's API. I contributed by improving the documentation and fixing a small bug related to city data parsing.
Dev Community Blog Template: I helped add new themes to a blog template project used by developers on Dev.to. Working on this introduced me to design elements in a real project.
JavaScript Algorithm Library: In this repository, I added a new algorithm for calculating prime numbers and optimized an existing sorting algorithm. This was challenging yet incredibly rewarding, as I had to make sure everything was efficient and easy for new users to understand.
Each contribution taught me something new, from improving my JavaScript skills to understanding the importance of clear documentation.
Key Learnings
Hacktoberfest turned out to be much more than I expected. Here are a few takeaways from my experience:
Documentation Matters: I learned how crucial good documentation is. Not only does it make projects easier to use, but it also helps new contributors like me understand where we can contribute.
Collaboration Tools: Git and GitHub can be intimidating, but after making a few PRs, I felt more comfortable. I learned how to fork repositories, create branches, and even resolve merge conflicts.
Open Source Etiquette: Reading and respecting contribution guidelines taught me open-source etiquette. Each project has its own workflow, and following these guidelines is essential for smooth collaboration.
Did I Complete All Four Pull Requests?
Yes! I completed four pull requests and earned my Hacktoberfest T-shirt, which felt like a great accomplishment. Beyond the shirt, though, I connected with other developers and discovered some open-source projects I plan to keep contributing to even after Hacktoberfest.
Advice for Future Contributors
If you’re thinking about joining Hacktoberfest or making your first open-source contribution, here’s what I recommend:
Start Small: Choose beginner-friendly repositories. Look for issues labeled with “good first issue” or “beginner-friendly” to ease into the workflow.
Focus on Documentation and Minor Fixes First: This can be a great way to start and will help you familiarize yourself with the codebase.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions: The community is there to help, and most maintainers are open to questions and suggestions from newcomers.
Final Thoughts.
Hacktoberfest 2024 was an empowering experience, and I'm grateful to have had the chance to contribute. Not only did I improve my skills, but I also became a part of a community that shares my passion for technology and collaboration. I can’t wait to continue contributing to open-source projects in the future.
Top comments (1)
Great post! It's inspiring to see your journey from newbie to open-source contributor. Your advice about starting small and seeking help is invaluable for anyone starting out.