Level Up: How Contributing to Open Source Projects Transformed My App Dev Career

Alright, folks, let's be frank. When I first started out as an indie app developer, the open-source world felt... intimidating. Like some exclusive club filled with coding wizards I couldn't even hope to understand. But here's the thing: getting involved in open source has been one of the absolute best decisions I've made for my career and the quality of my apps.

It's not just about giving back (though that's a great perk!). It's about leveling up your skills, building a network of brilliant people, and even getting ideas and inspiration for your own projects.

In this post, I'm going to walk you through my journey, sharing how I got started, the incredible benefits I've experienced, and some practical advice for diving in yourself.

My Initial Hesitation: Imposter Syndrome and Time Constraints

For years, I sat on the sidelines, telling myself I was too busy shipping my own apps to contribute to anyone else's project. Plus, the thought of exposing my code to public scrutiny? Terrifying! Imposter syndrome was hitting me hard. I figured all open source contributors were some kind of mythical being, cranking out perfect code without ever hitting a bug.

Turns out, that's complete BS. Everyone starts somewhere. Even the maintainers of massive libraries had their first "Hello, World!" moment.

The Turning Point: A Small Bug, A Big Opportunity

My first real foray into open source came about somewhat accidentally. I was using a React component library in one of my side projects, and I stumbled across a minor bug – a weird rendering issue that only appeared under specific circumstances.

Instead of just hacking around it locally, I decided to report the bug on the project's GitHub repository. To my surprise, the maintainer responded within hours, thanking me for the detailed bug report and asking if I'd be interested in submitting a fix.

Now, I could have just said "no." But something pushed me to give it a shot. I cloned the repository, set up the development environment (which, let me tell you, was its own adventure!), and started digging into the code.

My First Pull Request: Terrifying and Exhilarating

Submitting that first pull request (PR) was nerve-wracking. I spent hours agonizing over every line of code, worried about making a mistake or not adhering to the project's coding style. I knew I was living dangerously by using a feature I didn't fully understand, but hey - YOLO, right? (With proper testing and rollback strategies in place, of course!)

But you know what? The review process was incredibly helpful. The maintainer provided constructive feedback, pointing out areas where I could improve the code and explaining the reasoning behind certain design decisions.

Eventually, my PR was merged! Seeing my code included in the official release of the library was an amazing feeling. It was a huge confidence booster and a great learning experience.

The Unexpected Benefits: Skills, Network, and Visibility

That small bug fix opened up a whole new world for me. Here's what I've gained from contributing to open-source projects:

  • Improved Coding Skills: Working on different codebases and receiving feedback from experienced developers has significantly improved my coding skills. I've learned new patterns, best practices, and debugging techniques.
  • Deeper Understanding of Technologies: By contributing to libraries and frameworks, I've gained a much deeper understanding of how they work under the hood. This knowledge has made me a better developer and allows me to use these tools more effectively in my own projects.
  • Expanded Network: Open source projects are communities of passionate developers. I've met some incredibly talented and helpful people through my contributions, and I've built relationships that have led to new opportunities. I can confidently say that I stand on the shoulders of giants, and am grateful for the support of the community.
  • Increased Visibility: Contributing to open source projects demonstrates my skills and expertise to potential employers or clients. It's a great way to build a portfolio and show that I'm actively involved in the development community.
  • Free Software Utilities: I often find myself with a custom script or tool that solves a specific problem, and which I can later extract and open source for others to use.
  • Ideas and Inspiration: Seeing how other developers approach problems and design solutions has sparked countless ideas for my own projects.

Getting Started: Practical Tips for Newbies

Okay, so you're convinced that contributing to open source is a good idea. But where do you start? Here's some advice:

  1. Start Small: Don't try to tackle a huge feature or rewrite an entire library. Look for small bugs, documentation issues, or simple enhancements that you can contribute.
  2. Choose Projects You Use: Focus on projects that you're already familiar with and that you use in your own work. This will make it easier to understand the codebase and contribute effectively.
  3. Read the Documentation: Before you start coding, take the time to read the project's documentation, contributing guidelines, and code of conduct.
  4. Follow the Project's Style: Pay attention to the project's coding style and conventions. Use the same formatting, naming conventions, and documentation style as the existing code.
  5. Be Respectful and Open to Feedback: Remember that open-source projects are collaborative efforts. Be respectful of other contributors and be open to receiving feedback on your code.
  6. Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions: If you're not sure about something, don't be afraid to ask questions. Most open-source communities are very welcoming and helpful.
  7. Start with Documentation: One of the easiest ways to get involved is to improve the documentation. Many projects have outdated or incomplete documentation, and your contributions can be very valuable.
  8. Use Good Tooling: I swear by tools like git, ripgrep, and a good IDE with static analysis to understand large codebases quickly.

For example, if you're a React developer, you could start by contributing to popular component libraries like Material-UI or Ant Design. If you're a backend developer, you could contribute to frameworks like Express or NestJS.

Finding Projects to Contribute To

Here are a few strategies I've found helpful:

  • GitHub's "Good First Issue" Label: Many projects tag beginner-friendly issues with the "good first issue" label. This is a great way to find projects that are actively looking for new contributors.
  • Libraries and Frameworks You Use: As mentioned earlier, contributing to libraries and frameworks that you already use is a great way to get started.
  • Communities and Forums: Join online communities and forums related to your area of interest. This is a great way to find out about new projects and opportunities to contribute.

The Future of My Open Source Journey

I see open source as an integral part of my indie app development journey. I plan to continue contributing to existing projects and even start my own open-source projects to share the tools and utilities I create. My long-term goal is to establish myself as a respected member of the open-source community and help other developers level up their skills.

Conclusion: Dive In and Start Contributing!

Contributing to open-source projects is an incredibly rewarding experience. It's a great way to improve your skills, build your network, and give back to the development community. Don't let imposter syndrome or time constraints hold you back. Start small, be patient, and enjoy the journey!

I think there should be an architecture diagram here of a basic open-source contribution flow.

So, what are your favorite open-source projects and how have they impacted your development journey? Share your experiences and favorite tools on your platforms!