Open Source for New Developers: Your Guide to Contributing to Hacktoberfest

Did you know that some of the most popular software in the world is open-source? That means it's free to use, modify, and distribute, thanks to a special license that grants users those rights. But how do you get involved in open-source software development? If you're a front-end developer looking to contribute to a project, you're in luck: the annual Hacktoberfest event is just around the corner. In this article, we'll explore what Hacktoberfest is and how you can get involved.

What is Hacktoberfest?

According to hacktoberfest about page: "Hacktoberfest is DIGITALOCEAN’S annual event that encourages people to contribute to open source throughout OCTOBER".

The initiative is open to everyone, and the goal is to encourage everyone in the global community to contribute to open source. This event runs in October every year, which means participants get to register between 26 September and 31 October and make their contributions between 1st of October, to 31st of October.

What is my reward for contributing?

Are you wondering what you'll get out of contributing to Hacktoberfest? DigitalOcean rewards participants who successfully submit at least four Pull Requests (PRs) or Merge Requests (MRs) during the month-long program. Rewards include a T-shirt, stickers, and the opportunity to have a tree planted in your name in the DigitalOcean rainforest. The T-shirt and stickers are a fun way to show off your contributions, while the tree planting is a great way to give back to the environment.

Where will I see a project to contribute to?

The majority of developers will often announce their projects on social media, while most tech communities will also announce their projects to their community members. But all open-source projects are listed on GitHub or GitLab and that's the only way Hacktoberfest tracks the projects listed, and that has hacktoberfest label.

How do I get started?

Excited and ready to contribute to your first open-source project. The first step is by going to the official Hacktoberfest website anytime between September 26 and October 31 and signup using your GitHub or GitLab username. Signup 👈

How will my contribution count?

To get the four required pull requests (PRs) or merge requests (MRs), your contribution to any project participating in the Hacktoberfest event, must be accepted. This means you have to read the project contribution guidelines, which is usually a README file and contribution.md, indicating, the structure of the codebase and what type of contributions are accepted, the format your PR/MR description should be written in, and who is the maintainer.

What should I contribute?

The purpose of open-source projects is for other developers to bring their ideas, and add features they think will make the project top-notch, or fix any bug they find in the project. So contributing to the project you think you can improve or you find a bug you can fix, this can even be fixing a typo you saw on the project homepage. That's why is essential you read the project README file and contribution.md file, which includes what is expected and what's accepted.

After my first contribution, what's next?

Congratulation, on dropping your first Hacktoberfest open-source contribution. The maintainer of the project will review your PR/MR and if they found it interesting and helpful, it will be merged and that counts as your first accepted PR in your Hacktoberfest dashboard. In the Hacktoberfest dashboard, you will see all the PR you have opened so far and the ones that have been accepted, and the ones that didn't pass the contribution rules. That's why is advised to keep contributing during the month of October till you get the complete accepted four PRs, which counts you as a winner.

The Importance of Contributing to Open Source

Contributing to open source not only benefits the community but also helps you grow as a developer. By contributing, you get the chance to work on real-world projects, learn new technologies, and collaborate with other developers. It also allows you to improve your coding skills and gain valuable experience that you can showcase on your resume. Additionally, contributing to open source can lead to networking opportunities and even job offers. So, if you're a front-end developer looking to expand your skills and give back to the community, Hacktoberfest is a great opportunity to get started.

Summary

• Hacktoberfest is a month-long event organized by DigitalOcean that encourages people to contribute to open-source projects.

• Contributors who successfully submit at least four Pull Requests (PRs) or Merge Requests (MRs) during the month-long program can receive rewards such as a T-shirt, stickers, and the opportunity to have a tree planted in their name in the DigitalOcean rainforest.

• Open-source projects are listed on GitHub or GitLab and labeled with "Hacktoberfest."

• To get started, go to the official Hacktoberfest website, sign up using your GitHub or GitLab username, and start contributing to a project.

• Contributions should be made to a project that you think you can improve or fix a bug.

• Read the project's README file and contribution.md file to understand what is expected and what's accepted.

• Contributing to open-source projects can help you grow as a developer, improve your coding skills, and gain valuable experience.

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As a front-end developer and technical writer, Prince Azubuike has a passion for making complex topics accessible and easy to understand. His goal is to inspire and help others get involved in tech.