Contributing to Open Source isn‘t that hard: my journey to contributing to the Node.js project

As a developer, contributing to open source software can seem like a daunting task, especially if you‘re earlier in your career. You might think you don‘t have the skills or experience to make meaningful contributions. But that‘s not the case at all!

Contributing to open source is an excellent way to grow your development skills, gain real-world experience collaborating with other programmers, and build your portfolio. Many top companies look very favorably on open source contributions from job candidates. And contrary to what you may believe, you can start contributing to open source no matter your current skill level.

In this article, I‘ll share my own journey of learning Node.js and contributing to the Node.js open source project. I‘ll give an overview of how to find beginner-friendly open source projects, tips for making your first contributions, and details on the Node.js Mentorship Program that helps new contributors. By the end, I hope you‘ll see that contributing to open source isn‘t as hard as you think and that you‘re capable of doing it too!

My journey learning Node.js

My path to becoming a Node.js developer began when I first learned about it at a coding bootcamp. The curriculum focused heavily on full-stack JavaScript development, using Node.js on the back-end. I really enjoyed being able to use my JavaScript skills on both the front-end and back-end.

After graduating from the bootcamp, I was determined to continue building my Node.js skills. I knew the best way to improve was to write lots of code and build projects. So I started working through freeCodeCamp‘s curriculum, which includes several certification projects you build with Node.js and Express.js. Over about 6 months, I completed all of freeCodeCamp‘s certifications, including the back-end projects.

Some of the most valuable experience came from building a real-world project through freeCodeCamp‘s nonprofit initiatives. I worked with another freeCodeCamp contributor to build an app for a nonprofit conference focused on crimes against women. It was an amazing opportunity to apply my Node.js skills to a meaningful project. And now freeCodeCamp has made the code open source, so other developers can contribute to it too.

How I got started contributing to open source

After gaining experience building my own Node.js projects, I started to think about contributing to open source. I knew it would be a great way to learn, make an impact, and add to my portfolio. But I wasn‘t sure where to begin.

One great place to start is by contributing to open source projects you already use. You‘ll be more familiar with the codebase and can start making small documentation updates or bug fixes. Many projects tag beginner-friendly issues with labels like "good first issue" or "first-timers only".

freeCodeCamp has a whole list of their open source projects that welcome contributions from developers of all levels. They even have a fantastic guide on how to contribute to open source in general. I started by making my first contributions to one of their projects that I had already worked on.

Contributing to the Node.js project

As I used Node.js more in my own work, I became interested in contributing directly to the Node.js project itself. But I wasn‘t sure I had the skills to work on such a large and important project. What I didn‘t realize is that the Node.js project maintainers are incredibly welcoming to new contributors and have lots of resources to help you get started.

I reached out by email to some of the Node.js core contributors. They encouraged me to make my first contributions and pointed me to the Node.js Mentorship Program (more on that later). One contributor, Franziska Hinkelmann, even pair programmed with me to help submit my first pull request to Node.js.

We looked through the list of open issues and found one tagged as a "good first issue". These are a great place to start as a new contributor. The problem was a small bug fix, but it was a real issue that needed to be solved. Franziska walked me through how to investigate the problem, write a failing test, and implement the code fix. It was an amazing experience to have an experienced mentor help me through my first contribution.

Since then, I‘ve continued to contribute to Node.js. I look for issues tagged as good for beginners and ask questions when I get stuck. The Node.js maintainers are always happy to help. While it was intimidating working on such a large codebase at first, I‘ve found that I‘m able to make real contributions that improve the project for everyone.

The Node.js Mentorship Program

In addition to having a supportive community, the Node.js project also has a formal mentorship program to help new contributors. The program matches you with an experienced Node.js mentor who provides one-on-one guidance as you contribute to the project. Over 6 months, you work with your mentor to build the skills and confidence to become a regular contributor.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first participants in the Node.js Mentorship Program. My mentor has provided code reviews, pair programming sessions, and advice for navigating the Node.js community. It‘s been hugely beneficial to my growth as a developer.

The program is currently in beta, but will likely expand in the future. Developers of all experience levels are welcome to apply when applications open. And once you graduate from the program, you‘re encouraged to become a mentor and help the next cohort of new Node.js contributors.

To follow along with my experience in the mentorship program, check out my video diary. I record videos after each of my mentorship sessions to share what I‘m learning and working on. I hope it provides a peek into what it‘s like to contribute to such a major open source project.

Tips for contributing to open source

Making your first open source contributions can feel overwhelming. But if there‘s one thing I‘ve learned, it‘s that the open source community wants to help you to contribute. Many projects are very welcoming to beginners and have lots of resources to help you find your way.

Here are a few of my tips for getting started with open source:

1. Start small. Look for projects you already use and begin by fixing small bugs, updating documentation, or writing tests. You‘ll build your skills and confidence with each contribution.

2. Find a project you‘re passionate about. You‘ll be more motivated to contribute when you care about the project. And your enthusiasm will come through in your interactions with the community.

3. Engage with the community. Don‘t be afraid to ask questions or seek help in project chat rooms or forums. Maintainers want to help you succeed. And you‘ll learn a lot from collaborating with other contributors.

Remember, even the most experienced developers started out by making small contributions and asking beginner questions. Don‘t let imposter syndrome hold you back from getting involved. Your contributions are needed and valued by the open source community.

You can contribute to open source

I hope my story shows that contributing to open source doesn‘t require you to be an expert. You can make meaningful contributions to important projects, even as a junior developer.

Start by finding a beginner-friendly project, perhaps one you already use. Look for issues tagged for first-time contributors and don‘t hesitate to ask for help. Before you know it, you‘ll gain the skills and experience to take on bigger contributions. Maybe you‘ll even become a maintainer one day!

Along the way, you‘ll grow your skills, gain a deeper understanding of software development, and build your self-confidence. You‘ll also develop a strong network in the developer community that can boost your career in many ways.

But most importantly, you‘ll be helping to create and improve open source tools that make a real impact. Open source runs so much of the software we all rely on. And those projects stay strong because of contributors like you.

So what are you waiting for? Check out these resources and start your open source journey today:

• How to Contribute to Open Source
• freeCodeCamp‘s guide to contributing to open source
• Good first issues in the Node.js project
• Node.js Mentorship Program

I look forward to seeing your open source contributions. Remember, no contribution is too small. We‘re all in this together, working to make open source better for everyone.