Open Source Starter: Your First Contribution on GitHub

Introduction

Welcome to your journey into open source! This guide will walk you through everything you need to make your first contribution to an open source project on GitHub. By the end, you’ll understand what open source software is, how to discover beginner-friendly projects, and how to take that exciting first step—submitting a pull request. Let’s dive in!

What You Need

• A GitHub account (free accounts work fine).
• Basic familiarity with Git (commit, push, pull).
• Knowledge of at least one programming language (like JavaScript, Python, or TypeScript).
• Optional but helpful: GitHub Copilot access (free tier available).
• An open mind and a willingness to learn.

Step 1: Understand Open Source Software

Open source software (OSS) is code whose source is publicly available for anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute. Unlike closed source software, OSS encourages community collaboration. Getting involved in OSS is a fantastic way to gain real-world experience, build your portfolio, and contribute to tools used by millions. Remember, every expert started with a single pull request!

Step 2: Find Projects Actively Seeking Contributors

Searching for the right project can feel overwhelming. Start by looking for repositories written in a language you know. A great trick is to filter by labels like good first issue—this tag indicates the maintainers consider the task beginner-friendly. Many popular projects use this label to welcome newcomers.

Step 3: Use GitHub Copilot Chat to Discover Projects (Optional)

If you have Copilot access, you can let the AI help you find opportunities.

• Go to github.com and click the Copilot icon (bottom-right) to open the chat panel.
• In the chat, select Ask from the combo box at the bottom-left.
• Type a prompt like: “I’m looking for open source projects written in TypeScript that accept new contributors. Search GitHub and show me repos with the good first issue label and over 100 stars.” Adjust the language to your skill set.
• Copilot will return a list of repositories that meet your criteria.

Even without Copilot, you can manually search GitHub using the good first issue label.

Step 4: Navigate to a Repository and Explore “Good First Issues”

Let’s use the VS Code project as an example (a well-known TypeScript project).

• Go to the vscode repository.
• Click the Issues tab near the top of the page.
• On the Issues page, click the Labels button to open the dropdown.
• Type “good” in the search box until good first issue appears.
• Select that label. The page updates to show only issues tagged as good for beginners.

Pick one that interests you and that you understand. Before jumping in, though, you need to read the project’s contribution guidelines.

Step 5: Read the Contribution Guidelines

Every open source project has rules for contributors. Look for a file named CONTRIBUTING.md or a section in the README. This file explains how to set up the project locally, coding standards, and how to submit changes. Skipping this step often leads to rejected pull requests.

Step 6: Make Your First Contribution

Follow these typical steps (exact details vary by project):

• Fork the repository (click the Fork button at the top-right).
• Clone your fork to your local machine using git clone <your-fork-url>.
• Create a new branch for your work: git checkout -b my-first-contribution.
• Make your changes according to the issue description. Keep changes small and focused.
• Commit your changes with a clear message: git commit -m "Fix typo in documentation".
• Push the branch to your fork: git push origin my-first-contribution.
• Create a Pull Request on the original repository. Provide a descriptive title and reference the issue number (e.g., “Closes #123”).

Step 7: Wait for Review and Be Patient

After submitting your PR, maintainers may ask for changes. This is normal! Respond politely, push fixes if needed, and celebrate when your PR is merged. Even if it takes time, each iteration makes you a better contributor.

Tips for Success

• Start with documentation – fixing typos or clarifying instructions is valuable and low-risk.
• Join the community – many projects have Slack/Discord channels or discussion forums.
• Read existing pull requests to see how others structure their changes.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions – most maintainers are happy to help newcomers.
• Keep it small – a tiny fix is better than a massive overhaul for your first time.

Happy contributing! Your first open source pull request is just a few steps away.