Getting Started With Open Source Contributions - A Beginners Guide

Getting Started with Open Source Contributions: A Beginner's Guide

*Originally presented at a developer conference by James, a member of the hackerspace community*

Open source software powers much of our digital world, yet many people feel intimidated about contributing to these projects. The truth is, you don't need to be a coding expert to make meaningful contributions to open source projects. This guide will walk you through practical steps to get started, based on real experiences from the open source community.

 The Scale of Open Source

The numbers are staggering: GitHub alone hosts over 100 million repositories with more than a billion contributions. These aren't just statistics—they represent a vast ecosystem of projects developed openly across the internet, where anyone can participate and contribute.

Whether you're interested in cloud storage solutions like Nextcloud, synchronization tools like Syncthing, or countless other projects, there's likely something that aligns with your interests and needs.

 Step 1: Become a User First

Before you can effectively contribute to open source projects, you need to understand them from a user's perspective. This means:

**Use the software in your daily life.** Install Nextcloud, try Syncthing, experiment with different tools and services. The more you use these applications, the better you'll understand their strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements.

**Test extensively.** Don't just use software for its primary purpose—push its boundaries, try edge cases, and see how it behaves in different scenarios.

**Join the community.** Engage with forums, chat channels, and community spaces where users and developers discuss the software.

Step 2: Start with Testing and Documentation

You don't need to write code to make valuable contributions. Some of the most appreciated contributions come from testing and documentation:

**Bug Testing and Reproduction**

- Find software to test and actively look for bugs

- When others report bugs, try to recreate them on your system

- Document your testing process thoroughly

- Always include logs and detailed steps in your reports

**Documentation Improvements**

- Read through project documentation and identify gaps or unclear sections

- Submit improvements to help other users

- Share your learning process—often, a beginner's perspective is invaluable

 Step 3: Engage Positively and Patiently

Remember that behind every open source project are real people volunteering their time and expertise. When engaging with the community:

- **Be positive and respectful** in all interactions

- **Stay humble**—approach every interaction as a learning opportunity rather than positioning yourself as an authority

- **Be patient**—open source development happens on longer timelines than commercial software

- **Subscribe to issues and pull requests** to observe how the community works together

 Step 4: Understand the Ecosystem

Most open source projects don't exist in isolation. For example, if you're interested in Nextcloud's calendar functionality, you should also familiarize yourself with:

- SabreDAV (the underlying WebDAV server)

- CalDAV libraries

- iCal.js

- FullCalendar

Understanding these upstream dependencies will make you a more effective contributor and help you see the bigger picture of how different projects interconnect.

Step 5: Follow Project Guidelines

When you're ready to submit your first contribution:

- **Read the contribution guidelines** carefully—most projects have specific requirements for code style, testing procedures, and submission processes

- **Start small**—look for issues tagged with "contributions welcome," "help wanted," or "good first issue"

- **Follow the established patterns** in the codebase

- **Be prepared to iterate**—your first submission likely won't be perfect, and that's okay

 A Real Success Story: The Nextcloud Pi Case

Sometimes the most impactful contributions come from unexpected places. In 2017, I noticed that the Nextcloud Pi project—a DIY device for running Nextcloud on a Raspberry Pi—had no visual representation. The project existed, but potential users couldn't see what they were building toward.

Using just a smartphone camera, I photographed a simple Raspberry Pi case that I had built. This wasn't a professional product shot—just a clear image showing what the finished project could look like. That simple photo, taken with basic equipment, eventually became the featured image on Nextcloud's official devices page.

The process involved:

- Finding an existing Raspberry Pi case design on GitHub

- Forking the project and modifying it using Inkscape

- Learning new skills (laser cutting and soldering) along the way

- Building the device myself

- Documenting the entire process

- Submitting everything back to the community

This contribution required no advanced programming skills, yet it helped countless users visualize and understand the project. Other community members have since forked and improved upon this work, creating their own variations.

 Getting Started in Your Local Community

Consider joining local hackerspaces or maker communities—spaces like Motion Lab Berlin exist worldwide and provide excellent environments for learning about open source development. These communities offer mentorship, shared resources, and collaborative learning opportunities that can accelerate your open source journey.

 Your Contribution Matters

The open source community thrives on diverse contributions from people with different backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. You don't need to be a senior developer to make a meaningful impact. Whether it's testing software, improving documentation, creating visual assets, or writing code, your unique perspective and skills have value.

The key is to start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can. Believe in yourself—you likely have more to contribute than you realize. The open source community is waiting for your unique perspective and contributions.

 Next Steps

1. Choose an open source project you use regularly

2. Start by using it more extensively and joining its community

3. Look for ways to help through testing, documentation, or other non-code contributions

4. Gradually work toward more technical contributions as you build confidence and skills

5. Remember that every expert was once a beginner

Open source development is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, learn continuously, and enjoy the journey of contributing to projects that millions of people around the world depend on.