Open source projects power much of the internet, software, and technology used every day. Many of the apps and tools found online are built by people working together from around the world. These people share their work publicly and invite others to join in, whether they are new learners or experienced developers.

Anyone can contribute to open source, even without advanced coding skills. Projects often welcome help with writing, testing, design, or answering community questions. Getting involved does not require special access,just curiosity and a willingness to learn how things work.

This guide explains what open source contribution means and how beginners can find good first issues to start with.

What is Open Source Contribution

Open source software is code that is made public so anyone can view, use, change, and share it. Contribution means people work together to improve these projects through various activities like writing code, fixing bugs, updating documentation, designing graphics, testing features, or supporting users.

Open source projects rely on contributors to keep growing and to make software remain useful and reliable. Popular projects like Linux, WordPress, and React exist because thousands of people contribute their time and skills.

Roles You can Play Beyond Code

Programming/Development/Coding is one way to participate in open source, but projects often rely on contributors with different skills.

Documentation and tutorials: Write or update guides, README files, and create tutorials that explain features. Some contributors translate project content into different languages.

Design and UX reviews: Create graphics, improve user interfaces, optimize layouts, and provide feedback on visual aspects of projects.

Testing and quality assurance: Run tests, verify bug fixes, review new patches, and report issues with clear reproduction steps.

Community support: Answer user questions in forums, help new contributors learn projects, organize events, and moderate discussions.

How To Find Active Projects That Welcome Beginners

Active projects with responsive communities provide better learning environments for new contributors. You can evaluate project health by examining development activity and maintainer responsiveness.

Look for repositories with recent commits in the past month and contributions from multiple people. Projects where maintainers reply to issues within days or weeks often have active discussions and resolved issues.

Check for green build badges or passing status indicators, which show that automated tests work properly. Clear contribution guidelines in a CONTRIBUTING.md file indicate organized processes.

Platforms Curating Good First Issue Lists

Several platforms help people find beginner-friendly issues in open source projects using labels and curated lists.

GitHub Explore And Good First Issue Search

GitHub provides search filters for issues labeled "good first issue." This label highlights tasks suitable for newcomers across repositories. The GitHub Explore section displays trending repositories and active issues.

Search syntax: label:"good first issue" is:open in the GitHub search bar.

First Timers Only And Dedicated Platforms

First Timers Only highlights issues specifically marked for first-time contributors. goodfirstissue.dev curates easy issues from popular projects and offers guided workflows.

CodeTriage And Community Events

CodeTriage lets users subscribe to selected projects and receive daily emails with new open issues. Open Source Friday encourages weekly participation in open source activities.

Vetting A Good First Issue Before You Start

Not every issue labeled "good first issue" on GitHub suits beginners. Some issues lack information, appear more complex than expected, or already have active work.

Check that you can reproduce the bug or understand the feature request clearly. Issues with detailed descriptions and clear steps work better than vague requests.

Look for issues involving changes in single files or specific project components. Avoid issues that touch multiple files or require deep system knowledge.

• Check for existing work: Read comments to see if someone already claimed the issue
• Verify scope: Confirm the change involves a small, isolated component
• Test reproducibility: Follow provided steps to recreate the problem

Step-By-Step Workflow From Fork To Pull Request

Contributing to open source follows a standard Git workflow from setup to merge.

Fork And Clone The Repository

Create a personal copy of the project repository on your GitHub account. Download the repository to your computer using git clone [repository-url].

Create A Feature Branch

Set up the project in your development environment. Create a new branch with a descriptive name like fix-typo-in-readme or add-login-test.

Use: git checkout -b [branch-name]

Make Changes And Run Tests

Edit files to implement your fix or feature. Run the project's test suite to verify changes don't break existing functionality. Follow the project's coding guidelines found in CONTRIBUTING.md.

Commit With Clear Messages

Save changes with descriptive commit messages. Reference issue numbers when applicable: fix: correct spelling in README (#123).

Push And Open Pull Request

Push your branch to your GitHub fork using git push origin [branch-name]. Open a pull request to the original repository with a summary of changes and relevant issue numbers.

Respond To Review Feedback

Project maintainers may request changes or provide feedback. Update your pull request branch and communicate responses in the conversation thread.

Communication Etiquette With Maintainers

Respectful, clear communication helps maintain constructive exchanges with project maintainers.

Read the CONTRIBUTING.md file first, which contains project-specific guidelines about code style, required tests, and submission steps.

Ask clarifying questions early if issue requirements seem unclear. Post questions in the relevant issue thread before starting work to prevent misunderstandings.

Write clear pull request descriptions explaining what changed and why. Include references to related issues, testing instructions, and screenshots when relevant.

Staying Engaged After Your First Issue Is Merged

Continued participation helps maintain familiarity with the codebase and community practices.

Review pull requests made by others by reading code, checking accuracy, and leaving clear, respectful comments. Subscribe to repository notifications to join discussions about features, bugs, or project planning.

Propose small enhancements based on your experience using the project or reviewing code. Suggest new good first issues to help future contributors.

Key Takeaways And Build Your OSS Journey With Hyperswitch

Finding well-scoped good first issues and following organized workflows leads to successful open source contributions. Hyperswitch is an open source payment orchestration platform that welcomes contributors and offers learning opportunities.

Open source contribution builds technical and collaboration skills while creating connections with developers and potential employers. Real-world contribution experience demonstrates practical abilities through public portfolios.

Start with small, well-defined issues and gradually take on larger challenges as you become familiar with project workflows and communities.

FAQs About Finding Good First Issues

What happens if a good first issue label is several months old?

Review recent activity and comments on the issue thread. Post a comment asking if the issue remains relevant and available before starting work, as requirements may have changed.

How can I find open source payment processing projects to contribute to?

Search GitHub using keywords like "payment processing," "fintech," or "payment orchestration." Projects like Hyperswitch focus on payment infrastructure and offer contribution opportunities.

Can I contribute to open source projects during work hours?

Check your employment contract and company policies regarding external contributions. Many organizations allow open source participation, but policies vary by employer.

What if I cannot reproduce a bug described in a good first issue?

Comment on the issue asking for clarification or additional steps. The bug may be environment-specific or the description might need updates from the original reporter.