The Natural Path to Open Source Contribution
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From my experience managing Maakaf, an Israeli open-source community, I believe there’s a better, more natural way to get started.
Instead of focusing on contributing from the outset, I’d suggest you connect with open source for the purpose of learning or using. This is a fundamental shift in mindset that makes the entire process more enjoyable and effective.
The Recommended Path
Here’s the path I recommend:
1. Find a Project You’re Passionate About
The most important step is to choose a project that genuinely interests you. Do you love a particular command-line tool, a specific Python library, or a desktop application? The key is to find something you already use or something that’s built with a technology you’re eager to learn.
Pro Tip
Choose projects that solve problems you actually face or use technologies you want to master. Your genuine interest will fuel your motivation through the learning process.2. Run It and “Play with It”
Get the project running on your local machine. Don’t worry about contributing yet. Instead, use it, explore its features, and try to understand how it works. This is where the real learning happens. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the project’s architecture, its limitations, and its potential.
3. Find a Community to Join
Open source is not a solo endeavor; it’s a community effort. Once you’ve found a project you’re interested in, seek out its community. Look for a Discord server, a Slack workspace, or a Gitter channel. Join and simply listen and learn. See what people are talking about, what issues they’re facing, and how the maintainers communicate.
4. The Contribution Will Follow Naturally
When you’re immersed in a project and its community, you’ll inevitably encounter something you can improve. Maybe you find a bug while using a new feature, or you notice a typo in the documentation. Perhaps you see a common question being asked in the chat, and you realize you can add an example to the README file to prevent future confusion. At this point, you’re not searching for a “good first issue”—you’ve found one organically.
Let Me Help You Connect
This journey can be challenging to do alone. I manage Maakaf, an Israeli open-source community dedicated to helping people get started in open source. We believe in the power of community, and we work to make the first steps less intimidating.
If you’re looking for a community to connect with and learn alongside, I would be glad to help. Feel free to reach out to us at [maakaf.org]({{ .Site.BaseURL }}). We can guide you, answer your questions, and introduce you to a network of like-minded individuals. You don’t have to do this alone.
Want to share your own open source journey or have questions about getting started? Join the conversation in our community channels or reach out to us directly.