How to Find and Contribute to Open Source Projects on GitHub in 2025

Contributing to open source is one of the best ways to improve your coding skills, build your portfolio, and connect with developers around the world. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, GitHub is the go-to platform for discovering and collaborating on open source projects.

In 2025, open source has never been more accessible—with better tools, clearer documentation, and thriving communities ready to help newcomers. This guide will show you how to find the right project and make your first contribution with confidence.

Why Contribute to Open Source?

There are many reasons why developers get involved in open source:

• Gain real-world development experience

• Learn new technologies and workflows

• Build a visible portfolio for future job opportunities

• Collaborate with developers globally

• Contribute to tools you personally use or admire

• Join programs like Hacktoberfest and get recognition

The best part? You don’t need to be an expert. Even fixing a typo or improving documentation is a valuable contribution.

Step 1: Set Up Your GitHub Profile

Before you start contributing, make sure your GitHub profile is ready:

• Add a professional profile picture and short bio

• Pin a few of your own projects or contributions

• Write a README if you have your own repositories

• Keep your contributions visible (enable contribution graph)

A clean, active profile shows others that you’re serious about development and open collaboration.

Step 2: Find the Right Project

The key to successful contribution is choosing a project that fits your interests and skill level. Start with:

• Languages you know – Filter by language on GitHub’s Explore page

• Topics you care about – Search tags like climate, healthcare, education, AI, or design

• Beginner-friendly tags – Look for labels like good first issue, beginner, or help wanted

You can explore repositories using GitHub’s search or browse curated sites like:

• goodfirstissue.dev

• opensource.guide

• GitHub’s Explore and Trending sections

Step 3: Understand the Project

Once you find a project that interests you:

• Read the README.md file to understand what the project does

• Check the CONTRIBUTING.md file for guidelines

• Look at open issues and discussions

• See how active the maintainers are—are pull requests being reviewed and merged?

Make sure the repository has a welcoming tone, clear instructions, and an active community. These are signs of a good first contribution experience.

Step 4: Start Small

Your first contribution doesn’t have to be code. Here are great ways to get started:

• Fix typos or improve grammar in documentation

• Translate content or improve UI text

• Update a README for better clarity

• Test the application and report bugs

• Add sample data or improve onboarding instructions

These small contributions help you get comfortable with the process of forking, committing, and creating a pull request.

Step 5: Make Your First Pull Request

After making your changes:

1. Fork the repository

2. Clone it to your machine

3. Create a new branch for your changes

4. Make the change and commit it

5. Push to your fork

6. Open a Pull Request (PR) from your branch to the original repo

7. Write a clear title and description for your PR

Be patient. Maintainers may suggest changes. Take feedback positively and apply it—it’s part of the learning process.

Step 6: Stay Involved and Level Up

Once you’ve made your first PR, keep going. Follow these practices to grow as a contributor:

• Subscribe to repositories to get updates

• Tackle more complex issues as your confidence grows

• Ask questions respectfully in Discussions or Issues

• Join community forums, Discord servers, or Slack groups for the project

• Participate in seasonal events like Hacktoberfest, 24 Pull Requests, and GitHub Global Campus

Consistency and engagement help you become a recognized and trusted contributor.

Contributing to open source in 2025 is easier, more welcoming, and more rewarding than ever. It’s not just about code—it’s about learning, collaboration, and making an impact. Whether you’re fixing bugs, writing docs, or building features, your work matters.

So find a project, make your mark, and join the global developer movement that’s shaping the future of technology—one pull request at a time.