Your First Open Source Contribution: A Beginner's Guide to GitHub

By ✦ min read

What is Open Source Software?

Open source software (OSS) refers to programs whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute. Unlike proprietary or closed-source software, OSS fosters transparency and collaboration on a global scale. Whether you're a new developer or a seasoned professional, exploring open source projects is an excellent way to learn best practices, work on large-scale applications, and contribute to tools relied upon by millions of users worldwide.

Why Contribute to Open Source?

Contributing to open source offers numerous benefits:

• Gain real-world experience – Work on production-level codebases and improve your coding skills.
• Build your portfolio – Showcase your contributions to potential employers.
• Join a community – Connect with other developers, learn from mentors, and give back to projects you use.
• Develop soft skills – Practice communication, code review, and project management.

If you're just starting out, making that first pull request can feel intimidating – but with the right approach, it's entirely achievable.

How to Find Open Source Projects to Work On

The first step is to locate projects that match your skill set and are open to new contributors. GitHub, the world's largest host of open source code, provides several ways to discover such projects.

Using GitHub Copilot Chat to Discover Projects

GitHub Copilot Chat can help you find suitable repositories quickly. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to github.com and click the Copilot icon to open the chat panel.
2. In the bottom-left corner of the chat window, use the combo box to select Ask.
3. Enter a prompt like the one below, adjusting the programming language to one you know:
   I'm looking for a list of open source projects written in TypeScript that are accepting new contributors. Search GitHub and narrow down the list to repositories that use the "good first issue" label and have over 100 stars.

Copilot will search and return a list of repositories that fit your criteria. Look for those labeled good first issue – these are beginner-friendly tasks perfect for newcomers.

Manually Browsing Repositories for Good First Issues

If you prefer a manual approach, you can explore individual repositories. For example, let's see how to find good first issues in the vscode repository:

1. Go to the vscode repository.
2. Click the Issues tab at the top of the page.
3. Click the Labels box to open the dropdown menu.
4. Type “good” until you see the good first issue label appear.
5. Select that label – the issue list will update to show only beginner-friendly tasks.

Take time to read the issue description, check if anyone has already claimed it, and follow the repository's contribution guidelines before diving in.

Understanding an Open Source Repository

Before making your first contribution, it's important to know how to navigate a typical OSS repository:

• README file – Explains what the project does, how to set it up, and how to contribute.
• CONTRIBUTING.md – Contains specific guidelines for contributors (e.g., coding style, pull request process).
• LICENSE – Defines how the code can be used and redistributed.
• Issues & Discussions – Where bugs, feature requests, and community conversations happen.
• Pull Requests – Shows ongoing and past contributions for reference.

Spending a few minutes reading these documents will save time and help you integrate smoothly with the project's workflow.

Making Your First Contribution

Once you've identified a good first issue, follow these general steps:

1. Fork the repository to create a copy under your GitHub account.
2. Clone your fork locally using git clone.
3. Create a new branch for your changes (e.g., git checkout -b fix-typo).
4. Make the changes required by the issue.
5. Commit and push: git add ., git commit -m "Fix typo in README", git push origin fix-typo.
6. Open a pull request from your branch to the original repository's main branch. Include a clear description referencing the issue number.

Don't worry if your first PR is small – every contribution counts! Maintainers appreciate thoughtful, well-documented changes.

Conclusion

Contributing to open source on GitHub is an incredibly rewarding journey. By understanding what OSS is, using tools like Copilot Chat and good first issue labels, and following a structured workflow, you can confidently make your first contribution. Remember that the community is welcoming, and every developer started exactly where you are now.

Happy contributing!