Good First Issue: Make your first open-source contribution

Hey, future open-source contributor! 👋

Contributing to open-source can be intimidating at first—especially when projects have thousands of lines of code and deep conversations on issues. But that’s why good first issues exist. They’re like a friendly invitation to dip your toes in and learn the ropes without getting lost in the weeds. Think of them as the training wheels to help you start riding.

What’s a Good First Issue, ANYWAY?

It’s not about making things easy, it’s about making them approachable. A good first issue is clearly defined, has a manageable scope, and (hopefully) comes with helpful pointers on where to begin.

It might involve fixing small bugs, improving documentation, or refactoring a bit of code—just enough to get you familiar without feeling overwhelmed. Or... building templates!

A Real Example

This year, Hacktoberfest has a new twist. Instead of diving into traditional GitHub pull requests, you can contribute templates directly through Frontend AI on the Webcrumbs platform! Just visit tools.webcrumbs.org, build a template, and hit Submit.

A New Way to Contribute to Hacktoberfest 2024: Directly at Frontend AI

OpenSource for Webcrumbs ・ Oct 2

#hacktoberfest #javascript #beginners #frontend

How does it work? It’s simple:

1. Create Your Template: Fire up Frontend AI and build a component or layout that you think could be useful for other devs. No need for complicated setup—everything happens right in the browser.

2. Submit Your Work: Once your template looks polished, click Submit Your Contribution via the Hacktoberfest button.

3. Get Approved & Published: After a quick review, your template goes live on our platform under your name, so other developers can see (and maybe even fork) your work!

And if you’re aiming for that shiny Hacktoberfest badge, don’t worry! We’ll send you instructions on how to complete a PR to our GitHub once your template is approved.

Why Contribute?

Whether it’s fixing a tiny bug or adding a brand new feature, making your first contribution is about learning. Good first issues make it easier to:

• Get familiar with new codebases.
• See how project maintainers structure their repos.
• Gain confidence with small, tangible contributions.

And at the end of it all, you’re officially a contributor.
Not bad, right?

Ready to Make Your First Contribution?

Head over to tools.webcrumbs.org, build something cool, and submit your first open-source template. The best way to learn is by doing, and we’re here to help every step of the way.

See you in the code! 💛