freecodecamp/how-to-contribute-to-open-source

★ 9,280RubyAudience · generalComplexity · 1/5Setup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it covers
      Beginner guides
      Issue search links
      Mentorship programs
    Learning resources
      Git basics
      Open-source culture
      Video tutorials
    Contribution paths
      Good first issues
      Pull request practice
      Add to this list
    Community
      Google Summer of Code
      Mentorship initiatives
      20 plus languages

mindmap root((repo)) What it covers Beginner guides Issue search links Mentorship programs Learning resources Git basics Open-source culture Video tutorials Contribution paths Good first issues Pull request practice Add to this list Community Google Summer of Code Mentorship initiatives 20 plus languages

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Find beginner-friendly open-source issues to fix using pre-built GitHub search links in this guide.

USE CASE 2

Learn Git and GitHub basics through linked articles and video tutorials before making your first contribution.

USE CASE 3

Discover structured mentorship programs like Google Summer of Code that pair you with open-source project maintainers.

USE CASE 4

Practice submitting a pull request by adding a new resource link to this repository itself.

Tech stack

GitHub

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

In plain English

This repository is a curated list of resources for people who want to start contributing to open-source software projects but are not sure where to begin. It was created by freeCodeCamp, the nonprofit that runs a free coding education platform, and is available in more than 20 languages. The content is organized into several categories. One section links to articles and guides explaining what open-source is and how the culture around it works. Another section provides ready-made GitHub search links that surface beginner-friendly issues, which are tasks that project maintainers have flagged as suitable for first-time contributors. There are also sections covering version control tools like Git, recommended books on open-source, community programs that pair new contributors with mentors, and seasonal initiatives like Google Summer of Code that offer structured contribution opportunities. The repository is primarily a reference document, not a piece of software. There is no app to run or install. Its value is in the links it collects and maintains. Anyone can add a new resource by submitting a pull request, which is itself a beginner-friendly contribution task and a practical way to practice the skills the repository teaches about. The intended audience is people who are new to programming or new to the open-source world and want a starting point. The content does not assume prior experience with contributing to software projects. Resources range from written guides to video tutorials, covering both the technical side (how to use GitHub) and the social side (how open-source communities work and how to communicate with maintainers).

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I want to make my first open-source contribution. Based on freeCodeCamp's guide, what are the steps to find a good first issue and submit a pull request?

Prompt 2

Using the GitHub search links in the how-to-contribute guide, find me beginner-friendly JavaScript issues labeled good-first-issue on active projects.

Prompt 3

Which mentorship or internship programs for open-source contributors are listed in the freeCodeCamp how-to-contribute repository?

Prompt 4

Show me how to fork a repository, create a branch, make a change, and submit a pull request as a first-time contributor.

Prompt 5

How do I communicate with a project maintainer after submitting my first pull request and it hasn't been reviewed yet?

Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

← freecodecamp on gitmyhub — every repo by this author, as a profile.

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