DEV Community

BHAVIN VIRANI

Posted on Jun 29, 2022 • Updated on May 27, 2023

Begin your opensource journey

#github #opensource

This blog post is all about contributing to open source projects to get-up, by making opensource contribution anyone can enhance their developer profile and can make connections with new people around the world who have a similar interest.

So, let's start opensource

There are certain prerequisites to make a contribution to open source projects on github.

(1) You must have git installed in your system. if you don't have git preinstalled, then check out this link,

git installation

(2) You must have a github account to find projects and contribute on github project

That is it, your good to go.

Step - 1

Fork the repository

find any github project/repository in which you want to contribute. Fork any gituhb repository by clicking on Fork opetion at top-right corner of webpage. This'll automatically create a copy of that project in your github account.

Step - 2

Clone the repository to your machine.

Open cloned repository in your github accout which is shown in your repositories tab.
Now, click on code button(Green in color) and copty the url of that repository

After coping url of repository, open any directory in terminal folder where you want to clone(make copy localy) this project and and run command.

// Git Command to clone repo
git clone <repo_url>

// For instance
git clone https://github.com/bhavinvirani/bulletproof-react.git

Step - 3

Make your new branch

Now, open cloned repository in terminal or any code editor and make own branch. and make new git branch.

git checkout -b <new_branch_name>

// Example 
git branch -b improve_view

Branching is used in version control to maintain stability while isolated changes are made to code and prevent from any code conflicts with production branch (Main branch).
The name of the branch and the purpose should be reasonable and detailed. To easy to understand.
here, -b option automatically moves you to newly created Barch '

Step - 4

Do changes and commit those changes

if you don't to how to commit, then check out my this blog
Getting Started with 'Git'

Step - 5

Push branch on github

Now, Push your changes of new branch on github. While being on your newly created branch from terminal

git push origin -u <your_branch_name>

Example 
git push origin -u improve_view

This will create new branch on your forked github repository as well.

Step - 5

Make pull request

After successfully pushing your branch on your github repository you'll find out Compare & pull request option on top of your repository's code section

Then you'll be redirected to pull request page and provide required information to the maintainer of that project and give the appropriate pull request title.
finally submit your pull request by clicking on create pull request button.

As soon as project owner/maintainer merge your changes into the master branch of that project. You will be notify regarding the changes have been merged