Preptember Diaries: Gearing up for hacktoberfest 2023!
Tags: hacktoberfest23, contributorswanted, decentralized, web5
Published: 2023-09-20 21:44:44

---
title: Preptember Diaries: Gearing up for hacktoberfest 2023!
published: true
description: Are you Hacktoberfest Ready?
tags: hacktoberfest23, contributorswanted, decentralized, web5
canonical_url: https://developer.tbd.website/blog/hacktoberfest
cover_image: https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HkwxcR_Jp.png
---



Hey there, fellow techies! 🍁 With October rolling in, we're greeted by the crisp orange leaves of fall, the comforting aroma of pumpkin spice, and of course, the much-anticipated **Hacktoberfest**. Whether you're a seasoned contributor or taking your first steps into the world of open-source, there's something for everyone. And guess what? We've got some exciting news! 

## 🎉 We're Participating in Hacktoberfest 2023! 🎉

This October, it's more than just code and commits; we're spicing things up with exclusive rewards. Be among the **first 20 to get their PRs merged** and snag some exclusive swag from our [TBD shop](https://www.tbd.shop/) — we're in the midst of uploading new swag! And for a bit of fun competition? Keep track of your contributions with our [leaderboard issues](https://github.com/TBD54566975/developer.tbd.website/issues/721). Ready to climb the ranks?

**📅 Mark Your Calendars!** Our Hacktoberfest Launch event is on October 2nd. Stay in the loop and don't miss out on any of our events by checking our [events-and-updates channel](https://discord.gg/tbd) regularly.

## 📌 What is Hacktoberfest?

For the uninitiated, Hacktoberfest is a month-long celebration of open-source software. It's sponsored by DigitalOcean, GitHub, and other partners. 
> 🔗 **Newbies Alert!**: Check out Hacktoberfest's [official site](https://hacktoberfest.com/participation/) for more details and to register. Registration is from **September 26th- October 31st**.

## Guidelines for Winning at Hacktoberfest:

1. **Topic Check**: Contribute to projects that have the `hacktoberfest` topic. This ensures your PR counts towards the official Hacktoberfest prizes.
  
2. **Label Insights**:
   - Starting with an issue labeled `hacktoberfest`, `no-code`, or `good-first-issue`? That's a solid choice.
   - Got the `hacktoberfest-accepted` label on your PR? WOOHOO! One down, three more to go! 🎉   
   - Got slapped with a `spam` label? Reevaluate your contribution.

3. **Code and Conduct**: Adhere to our [code of conduct](https://developer.tbd.website/open-source/code-of-conduct) and ensure your PR aligns with the repository's goals.


4. **Community Vibes**: Engage with fellow contributors on our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/tbd) for all the Hacktoberfest gossips, and a getting started checklist!

5. **Seek Help**: If in doubt, don't stress! Connect with the maintainers by commenting on the issue or ping us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/tbd).


## 🎤 From a First-time Contributor:

I remember my first-time contribution jitters. Every step felt like a monumental task, and the fear of making a mistake? Oh boy! Here’s a snippet from my Twitter thread on my first contribution experience:
 
> "... I made all of the changes locally, and then opened a PR. Looked over it a zillion times, because, you know, it's in the public's eye! Yikes! And despite all the caution, I still goofed up my first PR. 🤦🏾‍♀️ But guess what? The community stepped in, guided me, and boom! PR merged. It was .."

You can check out my complete thread and the roller-coaster of emotions I went through [here](https://twitter.com/EbonyJLouis/status/1445864374762020866). If I could do it, trust me so can you!

> **Hot Tip**: Pair up with someone from our [`hack-together`](https://discord.gg/tbd) channel on Discord. Two heads (or more) are always better than one.

## 🎁 **Rewards, Events, and Excitement**:

- **Swag Alerts**: 

  - Made it to the **top 20 contributors with merged PRs**? Secure your swag from our [TBD shop](https://www.tbd.shop/s/shop). Keep an eye on your progress via our [leaderboard issue](https://github.com/TBD54566975/developer.tbd.website/issues/721).
  - As for the **top 3 contributors**, brace yourselves for some custom Hacktoberfest swag. Stay tuned for the reveal!

- **Event Highlights**:
Dive into our bustling Hacktoberfest schedule! Whether you're keen on learning or just here for the fun, we've got you covered:

  - **September 22nd**: **Hacktoberfest: best practices** live stream is now available on our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pVMn-p2tCY&feature=youtu.be).
 
 - [**October 2nd**](https://discord.com/events/937858703112155166/1154126364484583465): Set the tone with our **Hacktoberfest Launch event**!

  - [**October 5th**](https://discord.com/events/937858703112155166/1154132976519618591): Brush up with our **Intro to Git Workshop**.

  - **Every Friday**: Engage with us for **PR reviews**, live Q&A, and more interactive sessions.

- **Never Miss Out**: Keep a tab on our [events-and-updates channel](https://discord.gg/tbd) - we're always brewing something new!

## 📂 Dive into Our Repos:

Not sure where to start? Hacktoberfest isn't just about addressing existing issues. If you spot a bug, typo, or see room for improvement, **feel free to create a new issue or dive in with a fix!** Explore these repos and see where you can make an impact:


- **developer.tbd.website**: `MDX`, `Javascript`, `CSS`, `MARKDOWN` 
  - [Good First Issues](https://github.com/TBD54566975/developer.tbd.website/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22) 
  - [Hacktoberfest Guide](https://github.com/TBD54566975/developer.tbd.website#tbd-developer-site)

- **dwn-server**: `Typescript`, `Javascript` 
  - [Good First Issues](https://github.com/TBD54566975/dwn-server/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22)
  - [Hacktoberfest Guide](https://github.com/TBD54566975/dwn-server#dwn-server-)

- **dwn-sdk-js**: `Typescript`, `Javascript`  
  - [Good First Issues](https://github.com/TBD54566975/dwn-sdk-js/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22)
  - [Hacktoberfest Guide](https://github.com/TBD54566975/dwn-sdk-js#decentralized-web-node-dwn-sdk-)

- **web5-js**: `Typescript`, `Javascript`, `HTML`  
  - [Good First Issues](https://github.com/TBD54566975/web5-js/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22)
  - [Hacktoberfest Guide](https://github.com/TBD54566975/web5-js#web5-js-sdk)

> **Hot Tip**: Not a coder? No worries! We have non-code related issues up for grabs. Check them out on our [developer.tbd.website](https://github.com/TBD54566975/developer.tbd.website/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3Ano-code) repo.


## More Resources for First-Time Contributors:

- 📖 [How to Contribute on GitHub](https://www.dataschool.io/how-to-contribute-on-github/)
- 🛠 [Git Cheatsheet](https://education.github.com/git-cheat-sheet-education.pdf)
- 🔍 [Projects Participating in Hacktoberfest](https://github.com/search?q=hacktoberfest&type=repositories&s=&o=desc)


**🔄 Fellow community managers**, did I miss anything? What are you doing for "Preptember" and Hacktoberfest? **Share your insights and strategies in the comments!** Happy Hacking everyone! & Cheers to Hacktoberfest 2023! 🎉

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## Let's Connect

- 💬 Got a question or just want to chat? **Leave a comment below** or hit me up in [discord](https://discord.gg/tbd).
- 🤝 Fellow community managers or tech enthusiasts looking to collaborate? **I'm all ears!** DM me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/EbonyJLouis).
- 📣 Enjoyed this post? **Follow me here on [dev.to](https://dev.to/ebonyl)** for more community management tips and all things tech.
- 🔔 And if you're as excited as we are about Hacktoberfest 2023, make sure to **share this post** with your network!

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