I'm currently in my third year studying Computer Science and really struggling to get through college placements. I feel like it's too late for me to learn new skills, but I've recently come across open source projects and I'm intrigued. However, I'm not sure how to start contributing or whether it would even help me land a job. I want to work on real-life projects with other developers to enhance my skills. Any advice?
3 Answers
Jumping into open source can be tough if you feel unprepared. It’s better to start with projects that genuinely interest you. Begin by reading their documentation to understand the project and how to contribute. Try cloning the project and exploring the code base bit by bit. No one expects you to know everything right away, and it takes time to get comfortable with a new codebase. If you’re feeling lost, look for projects that are labeled as beginner-friendly!
You're definitely not alone in feeling this way. Joining community channels like Discord or Slack for a project can really help guide you.
Don’t stress too much about not contributing to open source yet. It won’t be a dealbreaker in interviews at this stage. It’s more important to focus on practical skills or using existing open source libraries. Plus, understanding open source licenses could impress potential employers more!
Don't feel pressured to contribute just for the sake of open source. It's more about quality than quantity. If you focus on what excites you, it becomes less of a chore. Also, if you're in your third year, consider looking for internships as well. Networking can be key!
There’s nothing happening with the degree. I need to work on my skills.
Definitely, internships could give you practical experience that would be way more valuable than just contributing to random projects.
Okay but finding a project that is beginner-friendly is difficult. If you know how to find such projects please tell me.