Introduction

Three years ago, I made my very first contribution to an open source project. At the time, I had no idea how much this journey would shape my career, my skills, and my community.

Contributing to open source has not just been about writing code—it has been about collaboration, learning from global peers, and building tools that impact real people. In this blog, I’ll share my 3-year journey in open source, the lessons I’ve learned, and how others can start their own journey.

Year 1: Taking the First Step

Like many beginners, I started with hesitation. I wondered:

• Am I good enough to contribute?
• What if I make mistakes?
• How do I even find projects that need help?

My first contribution wasn’t groundbreaking—it was fixing a typo in documentation. But that small step gave me confidence and opened the door to bigger contributions.

Key Lessons from Year 1:

• Start small—documentation fixes, bug reports, or small pull requests are a great entry point.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions; the open source community is welcoming.
• Every contribution counts, no matter how small.

Year 2: Growing Skills and Confidence

By my second year, I was actively contributing to multiple projects. I began working on code contributions, feature enhancements, and reviewing pull requests.

I also joined online communities and open source sprints, which helped me:

• Collaborate with developers across the world.
• Learn best practices for version control and project management.
• Gain visibility in the tech community.

This was the year I realized that open source isn’t just about code—it’s about teamwork, mentorship, and learning.

Year 3: Making an Impact

In my third year, I became a regular contributor to some projects and even took on maintainer responsibilities.

This meant:

• Reviewing other contributors’ work
• Writing clear contribution guidelines
• Ensuring projects stayed active and inclusive

The highlight was seeing my contributions being used by real people and organizations. Knowing that my work helped solve problems for others gave me a sense of purpose beyond personal career growth.

Challenges Along the Way

The journey wasn’t always smooth. I faced challenges such as:

• Impostor syndrome: Doubting whether my work was valuable.
• Time management: Balancing contributions with school/work.
• Technical barriers: Learning new frameworks and tools on the go.

But every challenge became an opportunity to grow. The community, mentorship, and sheer persistence kept me going.

Lessons Learned After 3 Years

1. Consistency is key – small but regular contributions matter more than rare big ones.
2. Community matters – networking, mentorship, and collaboration make open source rewarding.
3. Open source grows careers – my GitHub became my portfolio, and opportunities opened up.
4. Pay it forward – helping new contributors is just as valuable as coding.

Advice for New Contributors

If you’re just starting out:

• Begin with documentation or simple issues.
• Join communities like GitHub Discussions, Discord, or Gitter.
• Don’t chase perfection—progress matters more.
• Celebrate small wins, and keep learning.

Final Thoughts

My 3-year journey in open source has been life-changing. It’s more than just code—it’s about collaboration, impact, and continuous learning.

If you’re thinking about contributing, don’t wait for the “perfect moment.” Take that first small step—you never know where it will lead you.