Hacktoberfest (Open Source) Prep with GitHub Campus Experts!
Hi everyone! I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker on the GitHub Education Twitch Talk Show / Podcast to give advice on Hacktoberfest Prep with GitHub Campus Experts! Heres the link to the stream: (Originally uploaded on September 25, 2024!)
My journey in open source started when I was a software engineering prep fellow with MLH, Major League Hacking. During this time, I worked in a small cohort to contribute to open source projects. It was a great experience and pushed me to learn new technologies while also giving me the confidence to pursue more projects and initiatives.
Some of my key advice that I hope readers can takeaway from this conversation:
open source contributions are a valuable way to learn and develop skills
no contribution is too small - everyone starts somewhere, and events like hacktoberfest create an environment where you can lean into communities to get started in opensource
Whats Hacktoberfest?
Hacktoberfest is a month-long online event that celebrates open source software and encourages people to support open source communities:
When
Hacktoberfest is typically held in October. Registration for 2024 opens on September 23.
How to participate
Register and contribute to participating repositories to earn rewards. You can contribute in many ways, including:
Technical documentation
User experience testing
Technical blog posts or tutorials
Case studies
Preparing and sharing an open-source project
Using non-technical skills like writing, graphic design, and advocacy
Organizing an event
Mentoring others about open-source
Donating money directly to open-source projects
What to expect
You can earn a digital badge that evolves as you accept pull/merge requests.
Where to learn more
You can visit the official Hacktoberfest website for more details, including:
Contributor resources
Guidance for project maintainers
Events, office hours, or mentoring opportunities
Whats Open source?
Open source refers to software or other intellectual property that is freely available for use, modification, and redistribution:
Open source software is developed and maintained through open collaboration, and is typically available at no cost. The copyright holder grants users the right to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code.
Open source products may include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product.
Open source contrasts with proprietary or closed-source software, which is sold to end users who are not allowed to edit, enhance, or redistribute the product.
The open source model encourages open collaboration, inclusiveness, transparency, and frequent public updates.