Before You Start
Most documentation skips this section
This is where 90% of contributors fail—before they even write a line of code. Don't skip this.
Why This Section Exists
Most open source documentation jumps straight into "how to fork a repo." That's a mistake. This section exists because the #1 reason contributors fail isn't technical—it's misaligned expectations.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CONTRIBUTOR FAILURE FUNNEL │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 100 People Start │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ 60 quit: Wrong │ ← This section addresses this │
│ │ expectations │ │
│ └────────┬────────┘ │
│ ▼ │
│ 40 Continue │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ 20 quit: │ ← Getting Started addresses this │
│ │ Technical setup │ │
│ └────────┬────────┘ │
│ ▼ │
│ 20 Submit First PR │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │ 10 quit: First │ ← Later sections address this │
│ │ PR rejected │ │
│ └────────┬────────┘ │
│ ▼ │
│ 10 Become Contributors │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘The Real Purpose
Filter Early
Save your time and maintainers' time by setting honest expectations upfront.
Reality Check
Bust the myths that cause most contributors to quit in frustration.
Time Investment
Understand the real commitment required—no sugarcoating.
Success Mindset
Adopt the mindset that separates successful contributors from the rest.
What You'll Learn
What Open Source Really Is
Cut through the hype and understand what you're actually getting into.
Common Myths
The dangerous misconceptions that derail most new contributors.
Time & Expectations
Honest numbers about how much time this actually takes.
Roles in Open Source
Understanding Beginner → Contributor → Maintainer progression.
How Contributions Are Evaluated
What maintainers actually look for when reviewing your work.
The Hard Truth
Read This Carefully
Open source contribution is NOT:
- A shortcut to getting hired in 3 months
- A way to get quick fame or recognition
- Easy or fast (especially at first)
- Always welcoming or friendly
It IS:
- A long-term investment (6-12+ months to see results)
- A learning opportunity unlike any other
- Sometimes frustrating and slow
- Ultimately rewarding for those who persist
Self-Assessment
Before diving in, honestly answer these questions:
- I can commit 5-10 hours per week for at least 3-6 months
- I'm okay with my first few contributions taking weeks to get reviewed
- I can handle rejection and use it as a learning opportunity
- I'm interested in genuine learning, not just GitHub green squares
- I understand maintainers are volunteers with limited time
- I'm willing to read documentation thoroughly before asking questions
Checked all boxes? You're ready. Let's begin.
Missing some? That's okay—this section will help you develop the right mindset.
Architecture of This Section
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ BEFORE YOU START │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ 0.1 What Open │───▶│ 0.2 Common │ │
│ │ Source Really Is │ │ Myths │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ │ 0.5 How Contribs │◀───│ 0.3 Time & │ │
│ │ Are Evaluated │ │ Expectations │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ └────────┬─────────┘ │
│ ▲ │ │
│ │ ▼ │
│ │ ┌──────────────────┐ │
│ └────────────────│ 0.4 Roles in │ │
│ │ Open Source │ │
│ └──────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘