how-to-contribute-to-open-source
A guide to contributing to open source
A multilingual curated guide from freeCodeCamp helping beginners find their first open-source contribution, with links to beginner-friendly issues, Git learning resources, and mentorship programs like Google Summer of Code.
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).
Where it fits
- Find beginner-friendly open-source issues to fix using pre-built GitHub search links in this guide.
- Learn Git and GitHub basics through linked articles and video tutorials before making your first contribution.
- Discover structured mentorship programs like Google Summer of Code that pair you with open-source project maintainers.
- Practice submitting a pull request by adding a new resource link to this repository itself.