how to start ??

[Reshma-2301]

i am newbie and i am very confused how to start and what to do ..can anyone help me??

[SamFusedBits]

Of course! Starting as a newbie in open source can feel overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to get started:

1. Choose a project: Look for projects that interest you and align with your skills and goals. Start with smaller projects or issues labeled as "beginner-friendly" to ease into the process.

2. Read the guidelines: Most projects have contribution guidelines or a contributing.md file that outlines how to contribute. Read these carefully to understand the project's coding standards, contribution process, and community norms.

3. Explore the Codebase: Take some time to explore the project's codebase. Familiarize yourself with the structure, architecture, and existing features. This will help you understand how your contributions fit into the project.

4. Start Small: Begin by tackling small tasks or issues. This could be fixing a bug, adding documentation, or implementing a simple feature. Starting small allows you to gain confidence and build momentum.

5. Ask for help: Don't hesitate to ask questions or seek help from the project community. Most projects have communication channels like chat rooms, forums, or mailing lists where you can connect with other contributors and ask for guidance.

6. Contribute Regularly: Make contributing to open-source a habit. Regular contributions, even small ones, can have a significant impact over time. Set aside some time each week to work on open-source projects.

7. Celebrate Progress: Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Every contribution counts, and each step forward is a learning opportunity.

Remember, everyone starts as a newbie at some point. Be patient with yourself, keep learning, and enjoy the journey of contributing to open source!

[Ojas-Arora]

Of course! Starting with GSSoC as a newbie can feel overwhelming, but it's also a fantastic opportunity to learn and contribute to open-source projects. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Understand GSSoC: Familiarize yourself with the GirlScript Summer of Code (GSSoC) program. Understand its goals, rules, and how it works. You can find this information on their website or through their official communication channels.

2. Choose Your Projects: Browse through the list of projects participating in GSSoC. Look for projects that align with your interests and skills. Don't be afraid to explore different technologies or domains.

3. Join Communication Channels: Join the communication channels used by GSSoC and the projects you're interested in. This might include Discord servers, Slack channels, or mailing lists. Engage with the community, ask questions, and introduce yourself.

4. Review Available Issues: Most projects have a list of issues that need to be addressed. Look for beginner-friendly or "good first issue" labels to find tasks suitable for newcomers. Start with smaller tasks to get familiar with the project's codebase and contribution process.

5. Set Up Your Development Environment: Follow the project's documentation to set up your development environment. This typically involves installing dependencies, setting up version control (e.g., Git), and familiarizing yourself with the project's coding standards.

6. Contribute: Once you've found an issue to work on, fork the repository, create a new branch, and start working on the issue. Follow the project's contribution guidelines and coding standards. Don't forget to write tests if required.

7. Submit Pull Requests: Once you've made your changes, submit a pull request to the project's repository. Include a clear description of your changes and reference the related issue if there is one.

8. Seek Feedback: Engage with the project maintainers and community members by asking for feedback on your pull requests. Be open to suggestions for improvement and iterate on your contributions based on the feedback received.

9. Attend Workshops and Events: Take advantage of any workshops or events organized by GSSoC or the participating projects. These can provide valuable learning opportunities and help you connect with other participants.

10. Stay Persistent and Patient: Contributing to open-source projects can sometimes be challenging, especially when you're just starting out. Stay persistent, keep learning, and don't get discouraged by setbacks. Each contribution, no matter how small, is a step forward in your journey.

Remember, the key is to keep learning and growing as you contribute. Don't hesitate to reach out to the community or mentors if you have questions or need guidance. Good luck with your GSSoC journey!

[ishita-43]

Hey Reshma, pick any issue from the project's list that you think you can handle. You can find all projects at (https://gssoc.girlscript.tech/project) Comment on it if its not assigned to anyone, wait for the response from the assigner/admin and in mean time try to find another issue you can solve.

If you've got a brilliant idea for an issue that's not listed, you can also create a new one. To start an issue, simply click "New Issue" in the project's repository and start working on it. In order to start contributing refer (https://github.com/GSSoC24/Contributor)

For some inspiration, check out this blog (https://gssoc.girlscript.tech/blog) where folks share their experiences contributing to projects. You'll find stories about fixing bugs, adding new features, updating docs, and more.

Hope this helps! 🙌.

[Yodha-Sudarsi]

Hi @Reshma-2301 , First select the domain in which you have experience working. Search that domain in GSSoC and open the GitHub repository of that project.

Step 1 ) Before diving into any project, regardless of its size, make sure to thoroughly review the CONTRIBUTING.md or README.md file in the repository. These files serve as valuable guides and references.

Step 2) Following that, familiarize yourself with the project and consider forking or downloading it to your local environment. Experiment and explore its functionalities. If you encounter any issues that you believe you can address, navigate to the issues tab and submit a new issue.

Step 3) The repository maintainer will assign the issue to you based on FCFS. Next, attempt to resolve it in your forked repository. Once resolved, submit a pull request to merge your changes back into the main repository.

Reference : Hands-On GSSoC: A Beginner's Guide to Contributing Code

I hope this will help you to start your journey...
Happy Coding.