If you’re a fledgeling developer, it’s easy to feel out of your depth in traditional learning environments and, unfortunately, many people will simply give up. Thankfully, open-source learning is throwing open the doors to those of all capabilities - and it’s more accessible than you might think. This type of learning is one where creativity and collaboration come together as one to do some pretty great things worldwide.
Why Open Source Is the Ultimate Classroom
But not so fast! First, what does open source learning actually mean? This term, boiled down to its simplest form is all about decentralising source code and making it - and its products - available to everyone to contribute and collaborate - essentially, access all areas for coders. This type of learning is super effective as it allows you to work on real-world projects within a clear context (bugs and all!) But don’t worry, the great thing here is that you’ll have access to experts to help you on your way. Hands-on learning is proven to be more than worth its salt - and that goes double for the development world. As if all that’s not enough, while you’re learning, you’re also bulking up your coding CV with which you’ll wow those potential employers.
Start with the Right Community
While open source learning is good news whichever way you look at it, it’s super-important to start by finding your squad. Open source ecosystems come in different shapes and sizes and not all of them will be a good fit so this is an important first step. A good example is
Mailto Python which connects Python learners and developers with mentors, project managers, and contributors. It’s a great starting point for understanding open-source collaboration in a friendly – even welcoming – environment. Platforms like this help you learn the etiquette of contribution, discover suitable projects, and (of course) find people willing to review your code.
While you’re finding your feet, you’ll be leaning on your community a great deal for feedback and advice so it’s vital that you take the time to find the one that will lift you up rather than squashing your dreams.
Look for Beginner-Friendly Projects
OK, so you may have some pretty big ideas but let’s figure out how to run before we can walk. Taking on too much too soon can be counterproductive and frustrating and can set you back before you’ve even got started. For this reason, it makes good sense to look for projects that are your speed to begin with. How’s that done? Here are some things to look out for:
- Labels that state things like “good for beginners” or even “project help required”
- Clearly show responsive admins or maintainers
- Concise and transparent guidelines for contributors
- Forums for help and advice for mentorship
For beginners, some great first ports of call include sites like “Up For Grabs” and “Code Triage” which will take you by the hand and gently lead you through your first project as a newbie.
Match Your Skills to Project Needs
So, you fancy yourself as the next Bill Gates? Good for you - however, knowing your limits is a pretty important part of coding. Take the time to write down all of your current skills and achievements (and be honest - no embellishing) and then look for jobs which are within your skillset but still make a valuable contribution. As your skills evolve and grow, you can progress to more complex projects with confidence.
Study the Project’s Culture
Each and every project has its own unique personality, code of practice and ethos and if you don’t understand these from the get-go, you’re unlikely to succeed. Make sure to look at things like pull requests, feedback and workflows to get a feel for how things are done before throwing your hat into the ring.
Start Small, But Start!
It’s natural to want to make a splash when you first get started but this is usually neither feasible or wise. For beginners, causing a small ripple is much more realistic but, don’t worry, you can still make your mark even by just fixing a broken link that nobody else has noticed. Small wins lead to bigger ones - and your confidence will soar with each and every one.
Learn from Feedback
You can’t exaggerate the importance of communication when it comes to coding through open source learning. If you really want to succeed, never stop asking questions or requesting feedback as it’s through this that the magic happens.
Turn Contributions Into Career Growth
Listening, learning and asking questions all go into the mix with open source learning - but always keep your eye on the prize if you’re looking to turn your new skills into a lucrative career. Keep a beady eye on sites like GitHub and build a profile there as recruiters will often pay a visit to see what new talent is available. You should also make use of all your lovely new contacts and collaborations in order to build a rock-solid network of professionals - and always always link to your professional profiles on sites like LinkedIn. With every step forward you take with open-source, you’re packing more soft and hard skills under your belt - and now what you need to do is make sure that others know about it.
Avoid Burnout
So, you’ve launched yourself onto your coding journey and you’re now ready to take on the world. Easy tiger - slow and easy does it. Open source is very much about quality over quantity and so don’t be tempted to race through numerous projects just to rack up notches on your CV. Work at your own pace and don’t be afraid to take a step back if it all gets too much.
Final Thoughts
When you get started with open-source, you’re opening the doors to a world of new experiences and skills - both technical and practical such as communication, problem solving and more. With time, these skills will mature to a point that an exciting new career might await - as long as you don’t rush it. When starting out, stay in your own lane, work at a pace that you’re comfortable with and take advantage of advice from those who have gone before you. Do all of this and, before you know it, you’ll be the seasoned professional that the next wave of newbies are coming to for help.
Won’t that feel good?
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