My Hacktoberfest 2024 Journey

This is a submission for the 2024 Hacktoberfest Writing challenge: Contributor Experience

From nervous contributor to confident collaborator - a story of open source growth

The Return to Open Source

When October rolled around this year, I found myself in a familiar yet different position. Unlike last year's butterflies and uncertainty, I approached Hacktoberfest 2024 with the quiet confidence of someone who had been here before. This is my story of how year two transformed not just my contributions, but my entire perspective on open source.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Before diving into this year's journey, let me set the scene. Last year, I was that contributor who triple-checked every git command, who wrote and rewrote commit messages, who held their breath before clicking "Submit Pull Request." That experience laid the foundation for what was to come.

The 2024 Game Plan

This time around, I came prepared or let me say not prepared like that, I just started contributing. No more random repository hunting or last-minute scrambles. I had a strategy:

1. Focus on projects I actually use
2. Look for issues where my experience could truly add value
3. Make contributions that would matter beyond October

The PRs That Shaped My Month

Pull Request #1: High latency between scenario submission to job pending

What started as a simple bug fix turned into a learning opportunity on an

Ubuntu server, using scenario viz element, between submit (button clicked) to first log of submission status change to pending can be slow, up-to 10 or 20 seconds. However, on a local PC it's usually very fast..

The maintainer's feedback opened my eyes to how users experienced a performance issue when the code was deployed on a Ubuntu server. This issue happened on the Ubuntu server.

Pull Request #2: Add Documentation for Laravel SDK Installation and Usage

This one was special. Instead of just fixing code, I found myself improving documentation that would help future contributors. It hit me then - I wasn't just writing code; I was building bridges.

Pull Request #3: Create Your Own Blog About Web5

This challenge revolved around decentralization. Writing about Web5 required me to delve into unfamiliar resources to create a blog post that would resonate with first-time readers. This journey ignited my passion for decentralized technologies, leading me to start working on a Decentralized Identity Management System App as I penned this blog.

Pull Request #4: Participation in the Apwrite Hacktoberfest Hackathon Challenge

By this point, my mindset had shifted. I wasn’t merely completing challenges; I was integrating into a vibrant community. My team collaborated to build a decentralized application (dApp) for online store and payment integration, which felt incredibly rewarding.

Beyond the Numbers

Hacktoberfest isn’t just about reaching that magic number four; this year taught me:

1. The Value of Collaboration: Engaging with maintainers and fellow contributors made me realize that open-source is fundamentally about teamwork and shared goals.
2. The Importance of Documentation: Improving documentation not only helps others but also reinforces my understanding of the projects I contribute to.
3. Embracing Continuous Learning: Each pull request was a learning opportunity, allowing me to explore new technologies and concepts while enhancing my skills.

Technical Growth

This October pushed my skills further:

• Mastered new technical skills
• Got comfortable with a challenging aspect of projects
• Learned about new technologies and concepts

Looking Ahead

As Hacktoberfest 2024 comes to a close, I'm not just walking away with completed PRs. I'm taking with me:

• A stronger technical skillset
• Meaningful connections in the open source community
• The confidence to tackle bigger challenges

Advice for Future Contributors

To those considering Hacktoberfest next year:

1. Start with projects you're passionate about
2. Don't be afraid to ask questions
3. Remember that every expert was once a beginner

Conclusion

Hacktoberfest 2024 wasn’t just a sequel to last year’s story—it was a transformation. I evolved from a cautious contributor into someone who now makes meaningful contributions with confidence and purpose.

I truly love the open-source community, and I’m excited to continue giving back and learning alongside others. Cheers to more contributions from me to the open-source community beyond Hacktoberfest!

Here’s to many more Octobers filled with learning, sharing, and growing together in this vibrant and collaborative space.

As I move forward, I carry these lessons with me, eager to continue contributing to the open-source community and growing as a developer.

Open Source Enthusiasts, connect with me at my favorite place!