Want to get more involved in open source and understand better how to contribute? Making your first contributions can be a daunting prospect, regardless of technical background. But fear not! This burd of a feather welcomes those who want a gentle introduction to the topic, and will equip you with what you need to get up to speed.

We will demystify the process of contributing to an open source project, offering insights from the Open Source Masterclass MOOC https://opensourcemasterclass.org/ and several major open source projects and contributors. Whether you're aiming to submit code, improve documentation, or participate in discussions, you'll learn key strategies for making your first contribution meaningful and accepted by the community.

Open source projects are the backbone of innovation in today's technology landscape, and contributing to them can be a fulfilling and career-enhancing experience. However, taking that first step into an active project can seem overwhelming.

We will explore the different types of contributions valued by open source communities: from code and documentation to community support and quality assurance. You will gain knowledge about the importance of communication, how to interact with project maintainers, and ways to align contributions with the current needs and priorities of the project.

Furthermore, this session will touch upon the practical aspects of the open source contribution lifecycle, including how to stay motivated, deal with feedback or rejection, and find mentorship opportunities within the community.