How do I start contributing to open source?

Learn Git basics, pick a good first issue on an active project, make a small change, and open a pull request. IssueFinder’s guides and Issues browser walk you through each step.

Where should beginners look for issues?

Start with good first issue and help wanted labels on repos that are not archived and still receive updates. IssueFinder filters for unassigned, recently updated tickets.

What are good first issues (and how to find them)

A good first issue is a GitHub ticket maintainers intentionally mark as suitable for newcomers — usually small scope, clear acceptance criteria, and limited codebase knowledge required. Here is how to evaluate and find them.

Why the “good first issue” label exists

Maintainers want help but cannot onboard everyone personally. Labeling issues reduces noise: newcomers get a runway; maintainers get smaller reviews. The label is a signal, not a guarantee — always read the issue and surrounding code.

How to tell if an issue is actually beginner-friendly

Look for a clear description of the current vs expected behavior, links to relevant files, and recent activity on the repo. Red flags include vague “make it better” tasks, issues with long heated threads, or tickets last updated years ago on archived projects.

Unassigned and still open
Updated recently (IssueFinder defaults to the last 30 days)
Repo not archived, with enough stars to suggest a living community
You can restate the fix in one sentence before coding

Where to browse good first issues

GitHub search works, but it is easy to land on stale or assigned tickets. IssueFinder’s Issues page defaults to good first issues that are unassigned and recently updated on non-archived repos with 100+ stars. Filter by language to match your stack.

Also check help wanted when you are ready for slightly harder work, and Starter projects when mega-repos feel overwhelming.

Before you write code

Comment that you are taking the issue only if you can start soon. Reproduce the bug or confirm the docs gap. Read CONTRIBUTING for branch naming, lint commands, and CLA requirements. Then implement the smallest fix.