Contributing to Open-Source Projects as a New Python Developer: How to Do It

dbader.org/python-tricks ► Get the Python skills you need to contribute to the open-source community and build your portfolio
In this video we'll discuss how you can break into open-source as a new Python developer. I got this question from a dbader.org reader and I'm replying to it in this video:
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"How do I start to contribute to an open-source project as a relatively new Python developer?
I want to build up a portfolio of projects I have worked on and contributed to, and not just a portfolio of my own contrived projects. I'm thinking that evidence shown on GitHub or similar could be useful to a relatively new Python programmer like myself in order to demonstrate credibility."
~~
Contributing to open source projects is a great way to build your programming skills, take part in the community, and to make a real impact with your code. It'll also help you get a job as Python developer.
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[@dp.9130]

Benedict Cumberbatch - actor, film producer and python programmer.

[@TalsonHacks]

LOL

[@elyria9788]

Is your point that they are both ugly? Sure but in different ways.

[@dp.9130]

@@elyria9788 no, my point is that they are similar

[@Zoronoa01]

@@elyria9788 the only ugly thing here is your soul

[@danielepetillo8393]

This is a great video for whoever wants to have a glance of the dynamics behind open source projects and contribute in the long term. I am myself really new to the open source world, and I believe that the most significant advice given here is about making the big step, which involves the social (and utilitarian) interaction between maintainers and contributors. I think that, at the end of the day, anyone can make a pull request - as shown in many videos on KZbin - but really no one talks about the social aspect among developers as in this video. So, thank you!

[@Bluer123]

I really liked this advice. I've tried to find advice and help about this before, and pretty much everyone has said to just find something I'm interested in for my language of choice and "just contribute", "just change something small and make a pull request". I've tried this, I just tried to pick something easy from the issues and change it, and while it's a confidence booster to get that first pull request done and to go through those motions for the first time, it only gives you as much feedback as they're willing to or have time to, assuming they even accept it. The advice from the other side of the fence that you have given is insightful and valuable, and from the work I've done on my internship, building up my Python knowledge, confidence and perspective in writing good code, I've come to enjoy writing documentation in that I enjoy teaching, and writing good documentation feels like teaching. I'll think about your video and then see what projects to which I can contribute from a different angle :)

[@realpython]

Great to hear that you found this video helpful and you're taking action :-) Best of luck!

[@suraj_meena_505]

Is it that simple to recognize one small issue that I know I can solve and then make a pull request. Because finding such a issue from a large projects is a very time consuming task. Can you help me on this ?

[@RyanValizan]

Documentation is so key to allowing progress to proceed faster. My first project i worked on didn’t have testing instructions for FF only Chrome, so when I had an issue in FF I had to research how to test in FF. That research slowed my progress on the project, now add that to every new dev on the project and that time adds up. I fix documentation any time I am working on something that required research and has the potential to be repeated by someone else in the near future.

[@RyanValizan]

I’ve been having a lot of fun with Markdown lately, that’s for sure!

[@2Cool4Games]

This is totally useful information! I think a lot of new programmers bounce around with this idea... and I thought this stuff was not even on KZbin. More than likely... a lot of questions you have is on KZbin now! Yes!

[@csmole1231]

thanks so much for the advice! refining what those maintainers already know seems like a right balance for showing that you understand something and not consuming much of their time :D)) imma learn the basics faster for contributing earlier!

[@jaylansiquot6130]

Been meaning to watch this for a couple weeks now, another awesome video.

[@realpython]

Thanks! Happy to hear you liked it!

[@ramgopalvarma5949]

Your Video was super helpful. Could you please make a video in which you take open source project and show us how to understand the structure of the project.

[@realpython]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@tinenourelhouda9697]

Greate video, and great advice. Be it on a blog post or a video, Real python always gives what's needed and help out all the way. thank you, guys.

[@NathanGibbs3]

Great video, anyone new to open source development should watch this. :-)

[@qwaszx822]

Very much appreciate your valuable information Dan. As a new Python developer I'll take these all into account .

[@realpython]

I'm glad the information was of value to you! :-)

[@Shiva-zy7jq]

Thanks. Informative video.

[@ameyachikkali]

Nice man . Helpful

[@eliodagostini]

Thank you

[@ahmedabdelkhalek3489]

I really like your video and find it more than helpful :) I tried to google some python open source projects and I found some on github. However, I haven't understand the structure overthere and found it vey complicated. If you can make a video explaining this, it would be great.

[@realpython]

I'm glad the video was helpful! Thanks for the suggestion. :-)

[@smokinghot5373]

I was wondering the same.

[@apoorvsharma6999]

great video sir ..However i would really like if you add open source project on github and ask the feature to be implemented (you can also give hints on how it should be done) this way it would encourage lot of people to learn by trying..since very less guidance is available on starting or contributing to open source beginners really have a tough time

[@realpython]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@kevinpatel2517]

Thank you for this video!

[@realpython]

You're welcome!

[@upsylondeveloppement8837]

Good Advices ! Thx ;-)

[@realpython]

You're welcome! :-)

[@rahulnath4852]

Guys your website is just awsome

[@techgeek5808]

How can I contribute to open source being a solution architect?

[@mohamedharoon9136]

Hey guys! This is my first time publishing a package online, its only purpose -besides having fun- is to get feedback on my current level with python and working with the community of developers in general.Criticism is much appreciated. GitHub: github.com/MohamedHaroon/Soundy

[@mdataul887]

How to logic mastering in beginner to advanced i don't know sir please help me and i am absolutely beginner and my math is very little bit but i can do it

[@cyberneticbutterfly8506]

What if you would like to not build relationships?

[@HH_1988]

Then teamwork is not for you.

[@artmcclure637]

Too Bad, You don't run the Internet, you should! That was a great! Damn Dan !!!!! I'm a Python Nut. Glory Be !!!!

[@realpython]

Haha, thanks Art!

[@mix_mash3703]

If Dr.Strange is a software Engineer . 😂❤

[@OpenSaned]

I'm pretty sure if someone makes node.py employers will pay them a billion dollars to print hello world

[@musavveerrehaman770]

you look like VR 46 xD

[@pratheek5096]

are you benedict cumberbatch

[@Jdonovanford]

Why open source software isn’t as ethical as you think it is: Open source communities are exclusionary. According to a recent survey by GitHub, 95% of open source contributors are male. 3% identified as female, and 1% as non-binary. (This is actually double the number from a few years ago.) Meanwhile, 16% identified as being from a minority background. There are lots of compounding reasons for this: for example, only certain kinds of people can afford to volunteer their time for software projects. Why you use open source? Often companies have gender and minority policies and implement positive discrimination that is not possible with open source software. OPEN SOURCE: a person from an underrepresented background building software and giving it away for free to a Fortune 500 company (THIS IS NOT RADICAL). What is radical? Them getting fucking paid.