Boosting Woman Participation in Open Source Projects: A Beginner's Guide to Contributing
Tags: wecoded, opensource, community, motivation
Published: 2023-03-10 17:38:28

Tired of the abundance of articles about _how is to be a woman in the tech industry,_  I decided to create a practical guide that helps and motivates women to become more involved in technology. 


###Sick and tired of hearing about tech bros ruling the industry?

**Open Source is here to save the day!** It's the perfect away to flip the script and **become a true inspiration for all the future girls  out there.** So let's kick those outdated stereotypes to the curb and show the tech world what women can really bring to the table (:

Not only will you be an example for future girl coders, but you'll also be working on projects that are actually used by real people. Additionally, you will be a part of a vibrant community of developers who are passionate about creating awesome software.

And the best part? **You don't have to be a genius to contribute to open source**. In fact, we welcome developers of all skill levels and backgrounds. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's a place for you in the world of open source.

It's important to know that **contributing to open source is not just about coding**. There are so many other ways you can get involved, like testing, documentation and design .

Not only will you be making a real difference in the world of software, but you'll also be part of a community that values collaboration, transparency, and yes, even a little bit of humor.


###Were you interested? The first step is to choose a project.

Look for a project that interests you and that you'd like to contribute to. You can search for open source projects on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or even twitter.


###Found something cool? Now it's time to understand the project

Once you've found a project, take some time to read through the project's documentation, code, and issue tracker. **Make sure you understand the project's goals**, the programming languages and frameworks it uses, and how the code is organized.

###It's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work: choose a task 

Look for issues or tasks that you can work on. **Start with small, simple tasks** to get familiar with the project's codebase and development process. You can also look for issues labeled "good first issue" or "help wanted."



###Set up your development environment

Follow the project's documentation to set up your development environment. This may involve installing dependencies, setting up a virtual environment, or configuring a build system.

###Go ahead and make your contribution

Once you've found a task to work on and set up your development environment, start coding! Follow the project's coding standards and style guidelines, and make sure your code is well-documented and tested.

###Finally, submit your contribution

When you're ready to submit your contribution, create a pull request (PR) on the project's repository. Describe what you've done, why you've done it, and how you've tested it. Be open to feedback and suggestions from the project maintainers.

###Remember to actively participate in the community.

Open source is about more than just code. Participate in the project's community by attending meetings, participating in discussions, and helping others. This will help you learn more about the project, make new connections, and grow as a developer.

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Contributing to open source is a learning experience, and everyone starts somewhere. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and be patient with yourself as you learn and grow. 

**Good luck!**