Top 10 Open Source Projects for Beginners to Contribute To
Getting into open source can feel like showing up to a party where everyone already knows each other. You want to help, but where do you even start? The truth is, contributing early builds real skills — Git workflows, code review etiquette, reading unfamiliar codebases — that you just can’t get from tutorials. And the good news? There are tons of projects actively looking for beginner help.
Here are 10 beginner-friendly open source projects that welcome new contributors, with practical tips on how to get started.
1. first-contributions (GitHub)
Repo: https://github.com/first-contributions/first-contributions
This isn’t a real-world app — it’s a training ground. It walks you through forking, branching, committing, and opening a PR with a simple text file edit.
Why it’s great:
- Zero coding required.
- Step-by-step guide with visuals.
- Instant feedback via automated checks.
Quick start:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/first-contributions.git
cd first-contributions
# Add your name to Contributors.md
git add Contributors.md
git commit -m "Add <your-name>"
git push origin main
Then open a PR. Done. You’ve contributed.
2. The Odin Project
A free curriculum for learning web dev — built by the community, for the community.
Beginner tasks:
- Fix typos in lesson markdown files.
- Improve code examples.
- Translate content.
How to find issues:
Look for labels like good first issue or content.
Example fix:
<!-- In a lesson file -->
- Use `const` for variables that won't be reassigned.
+ Use `const` for variables that won't be reassigned. Prefer it over `var`.
Small edits matter — especially when thousands are learning from it.
3. Public APIs
A curated list of free APIs. No code, just Markdown.
Good for:
- Learning Git basics.
- Practicing PR etiquette.
- Helping others discover tools.
Contribute by:
- Adding a new API (with auth type, HTTPS, CORS).
- Fixing broken links.
Example PR:
| API | Description | Auth | HTTPS | CORS |
|-----|-------------|------|-------|------|
| [JSONPlaceholder](https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com) | Fake REST API | No | Yes | Yes |
Check the PR template — they’re strict about formatting.
4. freeCodeCamp
One of the largest open source education platforms. Thousands of contributors.
Beginner paths:
- Fix bugs in the learning platform (React/Node.js).
- Update curriculum (Markdown).
- Improve accessibility.
Pro tip: Run the app locally first:
git clone https://github.com/freeCodeCamp/freeCodeCamp.git
cd freeCodeCamp
# Install dependencies
pnpm install
# Start dev server
pnpm run dev
Look for first-timers-only or help-wanted issues.
5. Zulip
Open source team chat app (like Slack). Python/Django + JavaScript.
Why it’s beginner-friendly:
- Excellent contributor docs.
- Friendly community.
- Many small frontend/backend bugs labeled
good first issue.
Example: Fix a typo in a button
// In frontend code
<button className="btn">
- "Submit Resonse"
+ "Submit Response"
</button>
They use GitHub workflows and have a live dev chat — ask questions freely.
6. Jupyter Notebook
The tool millions use for data science. Python-based.
Beginner tasks:
- Improve documentation.
- Fix small UI bugs.
- Write tutorials.
Tip: Start with type: docs or good first issue labels.
Even updating a docstring helps:
def save_notebook(self):
"""Save the current notebook to disk."""
# Add error handling docs
pass
They use GitHub + Discourse for discussion.
7. VS Code (via Monaco Editor or Docs)
You don’t have to touch the core editor. Start with docs or the website.
Easier entry points:
- Fix typos in VS Code docs.
- Improve examples.
- Translate.
Example: Update a code snippet
<!-- In a markdown doc -->
js
console.log("Hello World")
→ Add semicolon
js
console.log("Hello World");
They get tons of PRs — keep commits clean and focused.
8. **Lib
☕ Playful