Join Virtual Coffee in the Preptember 2023 Monthly Challenge!
Tags: opensource, hacktoberfest, beginners
Published: 2023-09-05 17:45:50

---
title: Join Virtual Coffee in the Preptember 2023 Monthly Challenge!
published: true
description: Welcome to Preptember 2023, a month dedicated to preparing for the exciting Hacktoberfest season. Whether you're a project maintainer or a new contributor, Virtual Coffee is here to support your Open Source journey.

tags: opensource, hacktoberfest, beginners
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/u2n223xazi1du98qekfp.png
# Use a ratio of 100:42 for best results.
# published_at: 2023-09-05 17:20 +0000
---




Welcome to Preptember 2023, a month dedicated to preparing for the exciting Hacktoberfest season. Whether you're a project maintainer or a new contributor, Virtual Coffee is here to support your Open Source journey.

## What is Preptember?

Preptember is the month leading up to Hacktoberfest, an annual event celebrating open-source contributions. It's a time to prepare, plan, and set the stage for a successful Hacktoberfest experience. Whether you're a maintainer or a contributor, Preptember is the month to prepare for contributions during to Hacktoberfest.

## Why is Preptember Important?

Preptember is an important preparation time for maintainers and contributors. For maintainers, it's a time to clean up repositories, improve documentation, and set clear guidelines. For contributors, it's an opportunity to explore projects, understand their dynamics, and learn how to make meaningful contributions.

## Goals
### Become a Repeat Contributor

Preptember isn't just about a one-time contribution; it's about building lasting relationships with projects and their maintainers. By investing time in understanding a project before making contributions during Hacktoberfest, you set the stage for continued involvement, making you a valuable community member beyond just Hacktoberfest.

### Prepare Yourself for a Fruitful Hacktoberfest Experience
#### Resources For Maintainers
- [Preptember: Maintainer Powerups](https://dev.to/virtualcoffee/preptember-maintainer-powerups-4m1n)
- [Preptember: Projects and Discussions](https://dev.to/virtualcoffee/preptember-projects-and-discussions-1ei6)
- [Preptember: Getting ready for Hacktoberfest](https://dev.to/virtualcoffee/preptember-getting-ready-for-hacktoberfest-143j)

#### Resources For Contributors
- [https://dev.to/virtualcoffee/guide-to-asking-questions-about-code-299n](https://dev.to/virtualcoffee/guide-to-asking-questions-about-code-299n)
- [Intro to Hacktoberfest: PRs, Issues, Evaluating repos – Hacktoberfest Initiative – Virtual Coffee](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAUodCQnpkQ)
- [Getting Started in a New Codebase](https://dev.to/abbeyperini/getting-started-in-a-new-codebase-e7b)

### Quality Over Quantity: Make Your Contributions Count

Here's how to make meaningful contributions:

- **Understand the Project**: Take time to understand the project's goals and roadmap.
- **Solve Real Problems**: Focus on issues that add value to the project.
- **Quality**: Adhere to the project's contributing guidelines, coding standards, and communication guidelines.


## How to Participate in Preptember with Virtual Coffee
Ready to jump in? Here's how:

- **Maintainers**: Use our [Repository Checklist](https://virtualcoffee.io/resources/developer-resources/open-source/maintainer-guide#repository-checklist) to get your project ready. If your project checks all the boxes, drop it in the comments below!

- **Contributors**: Check out our [Contributor Guide](https://virtualcoffee.io/resources/developer-resources/open-source/contributor-guide) to learn more about how to navigate open source projects. And if you evaluate a project that meets our guidelines, share them in the chat.

If you have a repository you'd like us to review, drop it below!