Post-Hacktoberfest Recap
Tags: opensource, hacktoberfest, webdev, python
Published: 2023-10-31 20:47:08

Welp, that's it, Hacktoberfest is coming to a close, all 4 of my PRs have been completed, and most importantly, it's Halloween!

## Early Contributions

The most important but scary thing about Hacktoberfest for me was finding issues that are not only good for my growth but can also be great contributions to a community of people. It was worrying having to scramble around looking for such issues, but luckily GitHub has you covered with their comprehensive search functionality. I found the issues I wanted to work on by scrolling through the `Hacktoberfest` label on GitHub. During the earlier days of October, it is completely swamped with issues both big and small, complex and simple. Making it super easy to find the perfect one for any skill level. Furthermore, for my very first issue, I added the `good first issue` tag which was groups of issues that are relatively low in scope and easy to understand. The great thing about GitHub searches is that you can also further filter these issues by looking for specific languages. If you feel more comfortable with Python, simply filter all your results to display repos with their main language being Python. 
![GithubFilter](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/n7ofw3wog1o2yz86gh1f.png)

## PRs

I had a fantastic time working on all of my PRs and truly loved how kind all the repo owners were when giving feedback. If Hacktoberfest taught me anything, it's that the open-source community is absolutely great! I loved the idea of contributing to someone's project and getting real experience working with others to deliver a solid product. 

[PR1](https://github.com/bhargavnova/python-helper-modules/pull/22) Had me create a Python timer class to get the runtime of functions and entire scripts. I shared my thoughts and process [here](https://dev.to/namatuzio/contributing-to-the-community-hacktoberfest-pr-1-2f96)

[PR2](https://github.com/KriteshTimsina/Wassupbroo-Chat-App/pull/3)
Had me implement an emoji keyboard into a web app which was done with a library and a whole lot of blood, sweat, and CSS. I shared the process of developing and finding a proper library [here](https://dev.to/namatuzio/contributing-to-the-community-hacktoberfest-pr-2-48j6) along with my battle with CSS.

[PR3](https://github.com/TheShiveshNetwork/Pokedex/pull/13) Had me update an existing functionality to accommodate for a larger amount of data, and weave in loading techniques to not break the app. I shared my process and hardships [here](https://dev.to/namatuzio/contributing-to-the-community-hacktoberfest-pr-3-5a61)

[PR4](https://github.com/TheShiveshNetwork/Pokedex/pull/17) Had me eager to return to the previous functionality and add a system of advanced filtration to the data, allowing users to easily sift through data they may deem important. I shared my thoughts and the overcomplex process [here](https://dev.to/namatuzio/contributing-to-the-community-hacktoberfest-pr-4-450k)

## TIL

I learned a whole lot from Hacktoberfest, honestly, probably more in a single month than I have in the last 3. I learned a lot of new concepts and implementation techniques, and a lot more about myself and the mistakes I make during the implementation of a functionality. I feel like I've made a lot of progress in both knowledge and hands-on skills with a lot of concepts from the 1st PR to the last and it really is a great feeling. Most importantly I learned how great Hacktoberfest is, with this being my first one, I will definitely try to not make it my last. The open-source community around Hacktoberfest is truly something awesome. Thank you for reading, and I hope your Halloweens are fantastic.