I'm a junior developer looking to get involved in open source projects. How do I go about finding projects that I can contribute to? Is it just a matter of searching GitHub for projects in a language or tech stack that I'm familiar with? Additionally, I've heard that refactoring legacy code into modern frameworks can be considered contributing. Is this true?
3 Answers
A great approach to finding projects is to start with libraries or tools you’re already familiar with. Once you notice a missing feature or a bug, read the codebase and see where you can add value. Communication is key—especially for bigger changes. Talk to the maintainers to ensure you're on the right track.
When you're starting with open source, it's best to contribute to projects you actually use or care about. This way, you have a personal stake in improving it. Simply searching through GitHub isn't enough; you should engage with the community and see where you can make a difference. Also, check out the FAQ section on how to contribute to open source projects for more guidance!
It's not enough to just dive into a legacy refactor without talking to project maintainers first. Before making big changes, ask the maintainers if they’re on board with what you're thinking. It's important to understand the project's ecosystem—like who will maintain the changes and how those changes add value. You don’t want to invest a lot of time only to have your PRs rejected.
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