Open-source is all about collaboration—people from around the world working together to build and improve software. But jumping into a project without understanding how things work can be overwhelming.
This guide will walk you through how to fork a repository, contribute effectively, submit pull requests, and follow best practices—whether you’re a first-time contributor or a project maintainer.
Before Getting Started:
✅ Understand the project – Read the documentation (README.md, CONTRIBUTING.md).
✅ Join the community – Engage in discussions (issues, forums, Discord, Slack).
✅ Follow contribution guidelines – Each project has rules for coding, testing, and submitting changes.
Step 1️⃣: Forking a Repository
You don’t edit an open-source project directly. Instead, you fork it—creating a copy in your GitHub account where you can work freely.
- Open the project on GitHub.
- Click the Fork button (top right).
- This creates a copy under your GitHub profile.
🔗 GitHub Guide: Forking a Repository
Step 2️⃣: Cloning and Creating a New Branch
Now that you have your own copy, you need to clone (download) it to your computer and create a new branch for your changes. Run the following in your terminal:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/project-name.gitcd project-namegit checkout -b my-new-feature- Cloning downloads the project to your local machine.
- Branching keeps changes separate from
main, ensuring safe collaboration.
🔗 GitHub Guide: Cloning a repository and creating a new Branch
💡 Think of branches like feature test runs—you don’t edit the main playbook until you’re sure your strategy works.
Step 3️⃣: Making and Committing Changes
Once you’ve made improvements, you need to stage and commit them. How to save your changes:
git add .git commit -m "Add feature X to improve performance"- “
git add ."stages all modified files. "git commit -m“ saves your changes with a short, meaningful message.
📌 Best Practice: Write commit messages that explain why a change was made, not just what was changed.
Step 4️⃣: Submitting a Pull Request (PR)
A Pull Request (PR) is how you propose your changes to the original project. To create and push a PR:
- Push your changes to your forked repo:
git push origin my-new-feature2. Go to the original repository on GitHub.
3. Click “New Pull Request” and select your branch.
4. Write a clear description of your changes and submit the PR.
🔗 GitHub Guide: Creating a Pull Request
💡 A PR is like raising your hand in a team meeting—you’re proposing an idea and asking for feedback.
Step 5️⃣: Engaging with Maintainers and the Community
Your PR might not get accepted immediately. Be patient and open to feedback.
✅ Follow up on comments – Maintainers may request changes before merging.
✅ Stay respectful – Open-source is built on collaboration and constructive criticism.
✅ Follow the coding style – Each project has guidelines; stick to them.
💡 Think of it as a learning opportunity—experienced developers will guide you to improve your contribution.
For Project Maintainers: Best Practices for a Welcoming Community
Maintainers play a key role in making open-source projects inclusive and beginner-friendly. Here’s how to encourage contributions:
📌 Write a clear CONTRIBUTING.md – Outline the process for new contributors.
📌 Label issues clearly – Use good first issue and help wanted for newcomers.
📌 Engage with contributors – Provide feedback and help them improve.
📌 Maintain project health – Keep documentation updated and review PRs actively.
🔗 How to Write a Great CONTRIBUTING.md
It’s About Learning and Growing Together
Contributing to open-source isn’t just about code—it’s about:
🌍 Collaboration – Working with developers worldwide.
📚 Learning – Improving coding skills by working on real projects.
🚀 Building a reputation – Showcasing your work and networking in the dev community.
Go fork that repo, submit your first PR, and become part of something bigger!
🎥 Watch how contributing to Open Source can change your life!
💬 Have questions? Drop a comment below! 🚀