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

Introduction

In our previous articles, we covered GitHub Issues, Projects, Actions, security, Pages, and Markdown. Now it's time to dive into one of the most exciting aspects of GitHub: contributing to open source software (OSS). By the end of this guide, you'll understand what open source is, how to find projects that welcome newcomers, and how to make your very first contribution. Let's get started!

What Is Open Source Software?

Open source software (OSS) refers to programs whose source code is publicly available for anyone to view, use, modify, and share. Unlike closed source software, where only the original creators can modify the code, OSS invites collaboration from developers around the world. This transparency means all aspects of the project—code, discussions, and decisions—are open for inspection.

For beginners, diving into OSS is an excellent way to gain real-world experience, work on large-scale projects used by millions, and build a portfolio. GitHub hosts millions of open source repositories, making it the ideal platform to start your journey.

Why Contribute to Open Source?

Contributing to OSS offers numerous benefits:

Skill development: Learn new technologies and best practices by working with experienced developers.
Community: Join a global network of like-minded individuals who share knowledge and support each other.
Career growth: Showcase your contributions to potential employers.
Impact: Help improve software that people rely on every day.

Even small contributions—like fixing a typo or improving documentation—can make a big difference.

Finding Your First Project

It can be overwhelming to find where to start, but GitHub provides tools to simplify the process. Below are two effective methods.

Using GitHub Copilot Chat

If you have access to GitHub Copilot Chat, you can ask it to recommend projects. Here's how:

Go to github.com and open the Copilot chat window by clicking the Copilot icon.
In the chat, select Ask from the dropdown menu.
Enter a prompt like: "I'm looking for open source projects written in [your language] that are accepting new contributors. Search GitHub and narrow down to repositories using the good first issue label with over 100 stars."

Copilot will return a list of suitable projects, all tagged with good first issue—a label that indicates beginner-friendly tasks.

Exploring Repository Labels

You can also manually search for projects. For example, to contribute to the Visual Studio Code (VS Code) repository:

Navigate to the vscode repository on GitHub.
Click on the Issues tab at the top of the page.
Click the Labels dropdown and type "good" until you see good first issue.
Select that label to filter issues.

You'll now see a list of tasks specifically designed for newcomers.

Making Your First Contribution

Once you've chosen an issue to work on, follow these steps to submit your changes.

Fork and Clone the Repository

First, fork the repository to your own GitHub account. This creates a copy you can freely modify. Then clone it to your local machine using Git.

git clone https://github.com/your-username/repository-name.git
cd repository-name

Create a Branch and Make Changes

Create a new branch for your work to keep your changes separate from the main codebase.

git checkout -b my-first-contribution

Now, open the project in your editor and make the necessary changes. For example, fix a bug, add a feature, or improve documentation. Be sure to follow the project's contribution guidelines—often found in a CONTRIBUTING.md file.

Submit a Pull Request

Once your changes are ready, commit them with a clear message, push the branch to your forked repository, and then open a pull request (PR) to the original project's repository. Provide a descriptive title and explanation of what you changed. The maintainers will review your PR, suggest improvements if needed, and eventually merge it.

Conclusion

Contributing to open source is a rewarding way to learn, collaborate, and make an impact. Start small, be patient, and don't hesitate to ask for help. The community is welcoming to newcomers. Now it's your turn—find a project that excites you and make your first contribution today!