Open-source projects are a great opportunity for many students, especially high schoolers, to get coding experience in real life, connect with developers from all around the world and create a technical portfolio. Open-source contributes to the development and refinement of programming skills fulfilling the opportunity to learn about version control and connect with other devs. You do not need to be an expert to get started, you can start as a beginner. This is one of the beauties of open-source, that people across all levels of coding, including newbies, are welcome. With practice, effort and determination you will not only be able to contribute in substantial ways, but learn as you have fun.
1. Understand What Open Source Means
Open source is a software term that refers to projects that are open to the public for distribution or modification. The source code is fully public, and people can view, use, edit or share the project—likely way into the future. Open source projects are usually housed on GitHub or GitLab, among other hosting sites. As high school students, this concept is important as it begins with exposing you to collaborative software development. Open source also means something beyond coding; rather it is about learning, sharing, and improving software together." At either project or organization level, there are rules to follow and standards of ethics one ought to espouse.
2. Learn the Basics of Git and GitHub
Before working on open-source, you first need to learn Git and GitHub. Git is a version control system that keeps track of changes in code, and GitHub is where you host your repositories online. You need to know how to fork a repository, create a branch, make commits, and create pull requests. Luckily, there are many free resources and tutorials to help you practice. Once you become familiar with collaborative coding tools, it will be easier for you to feel confident about working on collaborative projects.
3. Improve Your Programming Skills First
Open-source is accessible to beginners, but preferably the beginner will have some prior exposure to at least one programming language, such as Python, JavaScript or Java. They don't have to be expert level, but they should be able to read code and write it relatively easily. It is useful to have completed some coding problems (easy ones), some small personal projects, and have a solid understanding of some basic principles and concepts of programming. If they have these things, then they are likely going to be reasonably well-prepared for the kinds of things they will face when contributing to an open-source project.
4. Start by Contributing to Documentation
If you're feeling apprehensive about contributing code immediately, it may be better to focus on improving "some documentation." As I already mentioned, many open-source projects are weak on README files, tutorials, and guides. If you like writing and making things flow better, you could fix typos and improve explanations or add examples, etc. This is a substantial contribution and allows you to still work with the project, while feeling less urgency, because now you are focused on getting your familiarity with the project terms and not the code. You also get a good feel for the project structures, and communication style of the community.
5. Find Beginner-Friendly Open-Source Projects
Search for projects with labels such as "good first issue," "beginner friendly," or "help wanted" along with looking for labels suggesting beginner friendly projects are a clear indicator that the project maintainers will have some tasks for mainly newcomers to the project. Beginner friendly projects relieve some of the pressure, and you are better able to learn the process to contribute to an open source project. You can use the websites Up For Grabs, First Timers Only, and CodeTriage to identify appropriate beginner friendly projects that you feel comfortable with based on your previous skills and experience.
6. Join Open-Source Communities and Forums
Joining online groups such as Discord servers, Reddit groups, and GitHub Discussions are great ways to connect with project maintainers and contributors. You’ll have the opportunity to join the conversation, ask questions, get clarification, and learn best practices. You’ll also learn how to work collaboratively and communicate in a virtual environment -- a key part of software development. Additionally, you’ll often find that mentorship opportunities will arise from these interactions and you will have someone to guide you through your open-source journey.
7. Learn to Read and Understand Codebases
Open-source projects can have very large and complex codebases. Learning how to read someone else's code becomes a skill the more you do it. To practice reading the code, break the codebase down into small sections, and evaluate what those small sections are trying to accomplish. Pay attention to issues, the commit history, and documentation, as this may help you understand the context of what you are looking at. As you view your codebases, practice will over time allow you to evaluate codebases more quickly, and moving towards contributing code will be easier and less intimidating.
8. Communicate Clearly and Respectfully
Open-source is a collaborative space, and communication matters here. When you ask questions or submit pull requests you will want to be clear, polite, and to the point. Always be respectful even if your contributions are rejected or criticized, as maintainers are usually volunteers managing a large number of requests and questions. Good communication is a sign of professionalism and could be the difference in getting contributions accepted. Good communication will also help you to build a positive reputation as an open-source contributor.
9. Be Consistent and Don’t Give Up
Your first open-source contribution may be extremely difficult or somewhat frustrating. You may experience rejections (accept it as being part of the job), bugs, and/or uncertainty about what code means (e.g., underscore names). But, don’t get discouraged! Persistence is essential. Don’t stop. Continue practicing, ask for help when needed, and try again. Eventually, you will develop your confidence and ability. You will see your contributions increase from very small things to potentially addressing larger problems and maybe 1 day leading your own open-source projects.
10. Showcase Your Contributions
Now that you've started to contribute, you're going to want to show off your contributions on your GitHub profile, personal website, or LinkedIn. This gives you a technical portfolio that you can use to sell yourself to colleges, internships, or even a future employer. You'll be able to show examples of your contribution in collaboration, technical development, and problem solving. You may also want to write some blog posts about your own open-source journey to help inspire other high schoolers. By sharing your journey, you'll help build the community of young coders to assist each other in their journeys!
There are many reasons high school coders should get involved in open-source. Involvement with open-source will provide high school coders the opportunity to attain real-life programming experience, network and interact with communities from different parts of the world, and ease their way into the conventional career world. For high school coders ready to get involved with open-source projects, we recommend starting small and being possibiulously groined to connect with an open-mindedness of a learner. There is a process of evolving your skills and developing self-confidence. Contribution to open-source software is not only about the act of writing code; it is also a development process of learning, helping, and growing as a developer. The sooner you are prepared to make a contribution to open source, the more doors you can possible open.
FAQs
Q1: Do I need to be an expert in order to contribute to open-source?
A: No! Open-source accommodates beginners because there areas like documentation, small bug fixes, and asking insightful questions that are always helpful.
Q2: Where can I find projects to contribute to?
A: You can search GitHub for projects with labels like "good first issue" or use other search engines like Up For Grabs or First Timers Only.
Q3: What if I make mistakes ?
A: Mistakes are a part of open-source. Generally, open-source communities will help you fix your errors through constructive criticism on your pull requests.
Q4: Will my contributions in the open-source community help me in my college app?
A: Yes! Contributions in the open-source community will show initiative, ability to work in a team, and ability to apply technical skills; all very valuable when applying to colleges.
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