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

I took part in Hacktoberfest 2024 this year with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Contributing to open-source projects has always been something I wanted to try, and Hacktoberfest seemed like the perfect opportunity to dive in, learn, and give back to the community. So, here’s the story of my first experience contributing to open source.

Taking the First Step

As a newcomer to open source contributions, I initially felt a bit lost. Around this time, I also participated in other open source events like GSSoC'24 Extd and Frogtoberfest organized by Leapfrog. Being involved in these events honestly made it easier to achieve my goal of merging four pull requests... and even surpass it. Finding projects that matched my skills and were welcoming to newcomers took some time, but eventually, I discovered a few repositories that aligned well with my abilities. And so, my journey into open source contributions truly began.

Challenges and Growth

Starting as a first-time contributor meant a lot of learning and a fair share of challenges, from figuring out Git commands to understanding various project structures. Moreover, I didn't even realize that only the repositories with hacktoberfest label counted until much later. But each pull request increased my confidence and taught me the ins and outs of open source. I gained practical experience in:

• Git Workflows: Learning to navigate branches, raise issues, manage commits, and handle pull requests effectively.
• Problem Solving: Discovering and tackling into different issues made me more resourceful, teaching me to search for solutions and reach out for help when needed.
• Collaboration and Communication: Working with maintainers and other contributors showed me the importance of clear communication and teamwork in open source.

Looking Forward

Hacktoberfest 2024 has been a milestone for me. It opened the door to open-source contributions and gave me confidence that my skills can make a difference, no matter how small. I look forward to continuing this journey, building my skills, and contributing to projects I care about.