Today, I've got 8 ways that can help you find your dream open-source project.
Before delving into the nitty gritty on how to find open-source projects, let's first understand what open-source means.
Open Source is more than merging a PR
In a world where we are more connected than ever, being a part of an open-source community can be the key to unlocking new opportunities and achieving personal growth.
For me, it's an opportunity to make a difference without needing a job, leaving an impact on millions of users.
You Code. Collaborate. Network.
But most important of all, you're welcome, and you interact with experienced people all the time.
Tip: Pick good organizations rather than individual repositories for long-term benefit.
I have made 200+ Pull Requests and participated in over 400 discussions, so I am familiar with what is required and the standards of good open-source projects.
Most people struggle with how to find good open-source projects. This article provides numerous options tailored to be a perfect fit for you.
1. GitHub Trending
You can find trending repositories based on Spoken Language, Programming Language and Date.
These are all the elite repositories that can boost your credibility and reputation in open-source community.
- https://github.com/trending - trending repositories
2. GitHub Advanced Filters
If you want complete control over the search, then this option is a perfect fit for you.
You can filter using more than 60+ options, including Language, Number of Stars, Number of forks, License, Issues, and even Commits.
3. Good First Issues
If you're starting with open source, don't make it more complex than it is.
Remember, issues suitable for new contributors are often labeled as good first issue or help wanted, helping you make your first contribution to open-source.
You can find several good first issues with the option to choose your preferred language through a friendly user interface.
- https://goodfirstissue.dev - Good First Issues
4. Up For Grabs
This option is one of the most popular websites to find good open-source projects.
You can filter by name and label, such as good first issues, and explore popular tags like opencv and android. Additionally, you can check when the repository was last updated.
- https://up-for-grabs.net/ - up for grabs
5. First Contributions
A website where you can search projects from a pre-defined list using your preferred language as a filter.
- https://firstcontributions.github.io/ - first contributions
6. Quine
Quine helps you monetize your reputation by contributing to open source. They have their leaderboard, quests, and so many innovative features.
You can search for projects without signing up, but I highly recommend you sign up and explore.
The standout feature is that it displays PR merge time in hours, shows how many new contributors there are for the current month, and details the types of issues. It provides a clear idea about the project.
- https://quine.sh/contribute - Quine
You can even add widgets to your profile. So, go ahead and explore.
7. OpenSauced
There are numerous stats that add credibility, offering relevant filter options such as Top 100 Repos, Minimum 5 Contributors, Recent, and Most Active.
You can review PR Velocity and PR Overview, and filter using language or tags.
- https://app.opensauced.pizza/ - OpenSauced
Among all the features that set Open Sauced apart, it recommends a few excellent repositories tailored to your open-source journey.
There are many more features, such as creating highlights to track activities in your chosen repositories.
8. GSOC Organizations
From my experience, I can say that the benefits of contributing to organizations are much more than individual repositories.
You must have heard about Google Summer of Code, in which reputable organizations participate.
Here, you can explore the list of all accepted organizations in Google Summer of Code with their tech-stack and the option to filter by topics and categories.
- https://www.gsocorganizations.dev/ - GSOC Organizations
If you're keen on sponsoring this post, shoot me a message at anmolbaranwal119@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter! 🚀
If you've got some fantastic suggestions up your sleeve, drop a comment, and I'll happily add them to the post.
Who knows? You might discover new passions, make lifelong friends, and achieve personal growth beyond your wildest dreams. So take the first step and contribute to the open-source community. The world is waiting for you.
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