Make Your First Open Source Contribution
6 weeks · 3 milestones
Get a pull request merged into a public GitHub repository with 100+ stars.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Choose a public GitHub repository with 100+ stars where you want to contribute, and build a working understanding of its architecture before writing a single line of code. Read the CONTRIBUTING.md, open 5–10 recently-merged pull requests to understand what problems they solved, and run the project locally. Write a one-page codebase map identifying the main modules, their responsibilities, and the folder containing the code you intend to change. This document is your proof — not a self-report that you read things.
Proof required
Submit: (1) the GitHub URL of the repository you chose (must have 100+ stars and a commit within 3 months), (2) a one-page codebase map (minimum 300 words) naming: the project's purpose in one sentence, the main directories and what each contains, the area you plan to change and why, and one observation formed by reading merged PRs that is not in the README.
What gets checked
- Repository has 100+ stars and a commit within the last 3 months — a dormant project with 5 stars does not pass; the contribution needs a real community that will review it
- Codebase map names specific directories and files — 'there is a components folder' does not pass; 'src/components/Button/ contains the accessible button primitive, which I found by reading PR #847 which added ARIA label support' does
- The PR observation names a specific PR number and describes something learned about code conventions, review standards, or project philosophy — not something in the README
Resources
Enroll free to unlock learning resources →Mastery
GitHub Docs — About Pull Requests
Reference documentation for PR mechanics — review before milestone 2 so the draft PR process is not new when you submit
Unlocks after completing Foundation + Depth