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Contributing to an Open Source Project on GitHub

Kamran Ayub

In this course, you will learn how to get involved in an open source project by being an effective contributor. You'll understand how to onboard yourself, engage the team, work with others, and walk through real-world scenarios.

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In this course, you will learn how to get involved in an open source project by being an effective contributor. You'll understand how to onboard yourself, engage the team, work with others, and walk through real-world scenarios.

Where do you begin to get involved in an open source project? In this course, Contributing to an Open Source Project on GitHub, you will learn foundational knowledge of how to be an effective open source contributor. First, you will explore how to find a project that suits your interests. Next, you will discover how to tackle common pull request scenarios in the real world by working with others. Finally, you will learn how to leverage GitHub's social features to keep updated on what you care about most. When you are finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge of working with open source projects needed to make high-quality contributions you will be proud of.

This course is no longer available. Find something similar by browsing:
GitHub Open Source Collaboration Pull Requests Social Features

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Getting Involved in an Open Source Project
Preparing to Make a Contribution
Collaborating Effectively on Pull Requests
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a solid understanding of the fundamentals of open source contribution
Empowers learners to contribute effectively to open source projects, enhancing their professional capabilities
Taught by industry expert Kamran Ayub, who brings a wealth of practical knowledge and experience in open source
Covers real-world scenarios and challenges faced by open source contributors, providing practical insights
Leverages GitHub's social features to enhance collaboration and engagement within the open source community

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Reviews summary

Foundational guide to open source contributions

According to learners, this course is an exceptionally clear and practical guide for anyone new to contributing to open source projects on GitHub. Many highlight its hands-on labs and real-world scenarios as particularly helpful for understanding complex workflows like pull requests and collaboration. Students appreciate how it demystifies the open source process, building confidence for first contributions. While widely praised as a solid foundation for beginners, a few more experienced learners found the content too basic, wishing for more advanced topics or updates on GitHub features. Overall, it's considered highly effective for its target audience.
The course demystifies open source, boosting confidence for initial contributions.
"It demystifies the open source contribution process. This course genuinely empowers you to contribute."
"The instructions are clear... I now feel confident to make my first pull request."
"It does a great job of breaking down the intimidating aspects of open source."
"The explanations were clear and the hands-on parts were crucial for applying the knowledge."
Features valuable labs and real-world scenarios for practical skill development.
"The hands-on labs are incredibly helpful. I especially appreciated the real-world scenarios for pull requests."
"The exercises really reinforce the learning. I now feel confident to make my first pull request."
"Very practical and to the point. The step-by-step guidance on pull requests... was invaluable."
"It taught me the practical steps needed to contribute to open source. The hands-on parts were crucial for applying the knowledge."
Excellent starting point for those new to open source and GitHub contributions.
"This course is exactly what I was looking for to get started with open source. Highly recommend for beginners!"
"Absolutely fantastic! As someone who felt intimidated by open source, this course broke down the process into manageable steps."
"A good foundational course for open source contributions. It provides a solid overview of the process."
"This course is a gem for anyone looking to enter the open source world."
Primarily covers foundational aspects, not advanced contribution workflows.
"My only minor critique is that some parts could go a bit deeper, especially on more complex merge conflicts or advanced Git commands."
"I was hoping for more advanced topics, perhaps around project maintainership or more complex contribution workflows."
Learners with existing Git and GitHub knowledge may find much content repetitive.
"The course is okay, but it felt a bit too basic for me. I already knew most of the Git and GitHub fundamentals."
"I found it a bit too basic... advanced users might find it redundant."
"Decent course, but it reiterates a lot of what I already knew from other basic Git tutorials. Perhaps it's better suited for someone completely new."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Contributing to an Open Source Project on GitHub with these activities:
Review Git basics
Reviewing Git basics will provide a stronger foundation for understanding how to contribute to open source projects on GitHub.
Browse courses on Git
Show steps
  • Review Git documentation
  • Practice using Git commands in a local repository
Follow tutorials on GitHub's social features
Following tutorials on GitHub's social features will provide practical knowledge on how to stay updated in the community.
Browse courses on GitHub
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on GitHub's social features
  • Follow the tutorials to learn how to use these features effectively
Join a study group for open source contribution
Joining a study group can provide a supportive environment for sharing knowledge and learning from others.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Find or create a study group
  • Meet regularly to discuss course topics and work on projects together
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a GitHub workshop
Attending a GitHub workshop can provide hands-on practice and insights into effective open source contribution.
Browse courses on GitHub
Show steps
  • Find a GitHub workshop in your area or online
  • Register and attend the workshop
  • Participate actively and ask questions
Contribute to a beginner-friendly open source project
Getting hands-on experience by contributing to an open source project will reinforce the concepts learned in the course.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Identify a beginner-friendly project on GitHub
  • Read the project's documentation and guidelines
  • Make a small code contribution or documentation improvement
  • Submit a pull request and collaborate with other contributors
Connect with experienced open source contributors
Connecting with experienced open source contributors can provide valuable insights and guidance for effective contributions.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Attend open source meetups or conferences
  • Reach out to contributors on GitHub or other platforms
Create a resource guide for open source contributions
Creating a resource guide will help you synthesize and organize knowledge gained from the course.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Gather resources on open source contribution best practices
  • Organize the resources into a coherent guide
  • Share the guide with other learners or the open source community
Create a presentation on open source contribution best practices
Creating a presentation will help you solidify your understanding of open source contribution best practices.
Browse courses on Open Source
Show steps
  • Develop the presentation outline
  • Research and gather relevant information
  • Design and create the presentation slides
  • Practice delivering the presentation

Career center

Learners who complete Contributing to an Open Source Project on GitHub will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Web Developer
This course can help Web Developers by teaching them how to find and get involved in open source projects. Once they have found one of interest, the course can teach how to make contributions, work with others, and onboard. It can also help them leverage social features to keep up with the projects they are interested in.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Data Analyst
Open source projects can be full of valuable datasets for Data Analysts. This course can help Data Analysts learn how to find the right projects to study and how to work with others to glean insights from large amounts of data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Data Scientist
Data Scientists may find this course useful because it can help them get involved with the open source community. It will teach them how to find projects that they are interested in, how to make meaningful contributions, and how to work with others in a remote setting.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Software Developer
As an open source contributor, Software Developers can use the skills learned in this course to take part in open source projects, making contributions and preparing pull requests. It can help build a foundation for working with open source projects, which can be a great way to improve skills and learn new ones.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer
DevOps Engineer
This course can help DevOps Engineers work with developers of all kinds. It will teach DevOps Engineers how to work with open source projects, to contribute, and to work on the code of other contributors. It will also teach them how to work remotely and to resolve conflicts.
See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer
Project Manager
Project Managers can use this course to build skills leading a team of developers, some of whom may be new or unfamiliar with open source project development frameworks. It will also teach Project Managers about working remotely, resolving conflicts, and contributing to a project, all of which are important for coordinating teams on open source projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Cloud Engineer
Cloud Engineers may find this course useful because it can teach them about collaborative development and open source. They will learn how to work with others, how to make contributions, and how to resolve conflicts. This can be helpful for Cloud Engineers who work with multiple developers and with developers who are working on different projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer
Software Engineer
This course can help Software Engineers prepare for working with open source projects. It will help in preparing contributions, working with others, and resolving conflict. Because this course uses GitHub, it will be especially helpful for working with GitHub's social features to find out more about projects and discuss issues as needed.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Technical Product Manager
Technical Product Managers may find this course helpful because it will teach them how to work with developers both with and without experience in open source projects. The course will also help them with creating pull requests and working on a team, all of which are valuable for Technical Product Managers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Product Manager
Technical Writer
Technical Writers can use this course to learn how to better collaborate with developers. It can teach them how to work with open source projects, to contribute and build pull requests, and to resolve small conflicts. The course uses GitHub's social features, which can help Technical Writers to learn how to keep updated with their projects and to communicate with developers in a shared environment.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer
Machine Learning Engineer
This course may be useful for Machine Learning Engineers because it can teach them how to work with other developers, how to make meaningful contributions, and how to work remotely. It can also teach them how to use GitHub's social features, which can help them stay updated on the latest open source projects and to collaborate with other developers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer
Database Administrator
This course may be useful to Database Administrators who would like to work with developers. It will help teach them how to communicate with developers and how to contribute to their projects. The course will also teach them how to onboard with a project, which can be helpful for working with developers who use new or difficult technology stacks.
See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator
Quality Assurance Tester
Quality Assurance Testers may find this course useful because it can teach them how to work with developers and how to resolve conflicts. It can also teach them how to use GitHub's social features, which can help them stay updated on the latest open source projects and to collaborate with other developers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Tester
Information Security Analyst
This course may be useful for Information Security Analysts because it will teach them about open source security and how to work with developers. They can learn how to work remotely, how to resolve conflicts, and how to make contributions, all of which can be helpful for working with developers who are using new or difficult technology stacks.
See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst
Technical Support Specialist
This course can help Technical Support Specialists learn how to work with developers and how to resolve conflicts. It can also teach them how to use GitHub's social features, which can help them stay updated on the latest open source projects and to collaborate with other developers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Support Specialist

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Contributing to an Open Source Project on GitHub.
Cover image
Version Control with Git
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Provides a more in-depth look at Git than Pro Git, and good choice for those who want to learn more about the inner workings of Git.
Version Control with Git: Powerful tools and...
Paperback
$$
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The Impostors
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Comprehensive guide to software development, and covers topics such as design, testing, and maintenance.
The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and...
Hardcover
$$
The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and...
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
The Pragmatic Programmer
Save
Classic in the software development field, and provides a wealth of practical advice on how to write better code and work more effectively with others.
The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey To Mastery,...
Hardcover
$$
Pragmatic Programmer, The: From Journeyman to Master
Kindle Edition
$$
(Italiano) Pragmatic Programmer - Edizione del 20°...
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(Italiano) Il Pragmatic Programmer: Guida per manovali del...
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(中文) The Pragmatic Programmer: access to the highest...
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Pragmatic programmer (Korean Edition)
Paperback
$$$
Cover image
Functional Design
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Provides a set of principles and practices for writing clean, maintainable code.
Functional Design: Principles, Patterns, and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Software Testing Strategies
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Provides a set of techniques for working with legacy code, which is often difficult to understand and maintain.
Software Testing Strategies: A testing guide for...
Paperback
$$
Software Testing Strategies: A testing guide for...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Introduction to Software Design with Java
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Provides a set of techniques for refactoring code, which is the process of improving the design of existing code without changing its functionality.
Introduction to Software Design with Java
Kindle Edition
$$$
Introduction to Software Design with Java
Paperback
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Cover image
Effective Java
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Provides a set of guidelines for writing effective Java code, and good choice for those who want to learn more about the language.
Effective Java
Paperback
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Effective Java
Kindle Edition
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Java Concurrency in Practice
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Provides a comprehensive guide to Java concurrency, and good choice for those who want to learn more about this topic.
Java Concurrency in Practice
Paperback
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Java Concurrency in Practice
Kindle Edition
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Cover image
Java Performance Tuning
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Provides a set of techniques for tuning Java performance, and good choice for those who want to learn more about this topic.
Java Performance Tuning (2nd Edition)
Paperback
$$$
Java Performance Tuning
Paperback
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Cover image
Head First Java
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Good choice for those who are new to Java, and provides a fun and engaging way to learn the language.
Head First Java: A Brain-Friendly Guide
Paperback
$$
Head First Java
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Java For Dummies
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Good choice for those who are new to Java, and provides a clear and concise overview of the language.
Java For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Paperback
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Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies
Kindle Edition
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Course image
Time
108 hours
Level
Intermediate
Via
Pluralsight
Instructor
Kamran Ayub
Language
English
This course belongs to a collection called Collaborative Coding with GitHub. It's comprised of nine courses:
  1. GitHub: Getting Started
  2. GitHub Pull Requests from Start to Finish
  3. Supercharging Your GitHub Workflow
  4. Building Custom GitHub Actions
  5. Getting Started with GitHub Desktop
  6. Contributing to an Open Source Project on GitHub (viewing)
  7. Open Source Your GitHub Project
  8. Adopting an InnerSource Culture with GitHub
  9. Getting Started with GitHub Actions
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a solid understanding of the fundamentals of open source contribution
Empowers learners to contribute effectively to open source projects, enhancing their professional capabilities
Taught by industry expert Kamran Ayub, who brings a wealth of practical knowledge and experience in open source
Covers real-world scenarios and challenges faced by open source contributors, providing practical insights
Leverages GitHub's social features to enhance collaboration and engagement within the open source community
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