Hacktoberfest2024

Introduction to Hacktoberfest

Hacktoberfest is a month-long event in October that promotes Open Source contributions worldwide, organized by DigitalOcean in partnership with GitHub and other sponsors. It encourages developers to contribute to Open Source projects through meaningful pull requests (PRs). The event's goal is to engage more people in Open Source, making it a great opportunity for beginners and experienced contributors alike to give back to the community.

Why Participate

Skill Development : Working on real-world projects hones technical skills and exposes you to different codebases.

Networking : Connect with the global Open Source community, meet mentors, and collaborate with fellow contributors.

Swag and Recognition : Upon completing the challenge, participants earn exclusive swags like stickers.

Boost GitHub Profile : Contributing to Open Source projects shows up on your GitHub profile, enhancing its visibility.

How to Join

Get the complete Information On their Official Website :

Hacktoberfest

Best Practices

• Read Documentation: Understand the project’s guidelines, code of conduct, and contribution instructions.

• Follow Coding Standards: Adhere to the repository’s coding and formatting guidelines.

• Write Clear Commits: Use descriptive commit messages and concise PR descriptions to explain your changes.

Personal Experience

I joined a bit late, around October 16, and found a repository named Kestra where I began contributing on the frontend. I started looking for issues to tackle, and by October 25, I had already completed two PRs. Then, I found another issue, worked on it, and submitted my third PR on October 27. Soon after, I found yet another issue, completed it, and made a fourth PR on October 28. However, the maintainer requested changes, which I quickly made, and then waited for the review.

As the deadline approached, I reached out to the maintainer on October 29, explaining that time was running short. They replied on October 30, assuring me they’d review it that day. Finally, on October 31—Deepawali, the biggest festival in India—one of my PRs got merged! But the other PR, being frontend-related, was held up for a designer review, as it didn’t fully match the UI theme. With only hours left and no easy way to fix it, I felt like my Hacktoberfest journey might end incomplete.

Then, at 4 p.m., a new issue was raised on the repository. It was simple enough, so I resolved it within two hours, submitted the PR, and messaged the maintainer once more, hoping they’d review it that day. Amazingly, within an hour, the PR was merged, marking my Hacktoberfest completion just in time! Completing my fourth PR on Deepawali felt like the best tech gift for the festival, making this Hacktoberfest a memorable experience.

These are my badges :

2 PR are still in review process , So 2 badges I will receive later after review process will complete

My Badges

Conclusion

Participating in Hacktoberfest 2024 was an exhilarating experience that taught me the importance of perseverance and adaptability. From navigating tight deadlines to collaborating with maintainers, I learned invaluable lessons about contributing to Open Source. The thrill of merging my final PR on Deepawali added a special touch to the achievement, turning it into a memorable celebration. I encourage everyone, whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, to dive into Hacktoberfest next year. It’s not just about the PRs; it’s about connecting with the community, enhancing your skills, and contributing to projects that make a difference. Happy coding, and see you next year!