10 Reasons Why You Should Consider Jumping Into Open Source As A Newbie Developer

If you're a newbie developer just starting out in the field, you may be wondering what the best way is to gain experience and build your skills. While there are many paths you can take, one option that you might not have considered is jumping into the world of open source.

10 Reasons Why You Should Consider Jumping Into Open Source As A Newbie Developer
Photo by Sigmund / Unsplash

If you're a newbie developer just starting out in the field, you may be wondering what the best way is to gain experience and build your skills. While there are many paths you can take, one option that you might not have considered is jumping into the world of open source. Here are 10 reasons why you should give it a try:

1. Gain valuable experience

By contributing to open source projects, you'll get hands-on experience working with real code and collaborating with other developers. This can help you build your skills and become a better programmer.

2. Build your portfolio

By contributing to open source projects, you'll have something tangible to add to your portfolio, which can be a great way to showcase your skills to potential employers.

3. Learn from others

Open source projects are typically developed by a community of contributors, which means you'll have the opportunity to learn from more experienced developers and get feedback on your work.

4. Contribute to something meaningful

Many open source projects are developed to solve real-world problems, which means you'll have the opportunity to contribute to something that has the potential to make a positive impact.

Not this "Community" but you get the idea

5. Join a community

Open source projects are often developed by a community of contributors who share a passion for technology. By contributing to these projects, you'll have the opportunity to join this community and make connections with other developers. Like us in OSSPH, you can join us and start learning with a bunch of newbie developers such as yourself.

6. Improve your communication skills

Open source development often involves collaborating with other developers from around the world. This can help you improve your communication skills and learn how to work effectively with others. In my experience I also learned a lot of new vocabulary and patterns from other developers.

7. Learn new tools and technologies

Open source projects often use cutting-edge tools and technologies, which means you'll have the opportunity to learn new skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry.

8. Make a difference

This may sound a bit cheesy but it's true. By contributing to open source projects, you'll have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Whether you're working on a project that helps people in need or simply making software more accessible to everyone, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that your work is making a positive impact.

9. Boost your resume

Open source contributions can be a great way to stand out from other job candidates and show that you're passionate about technology and committed to building your skills. I personally built my resume just by doing open source. Check out my works at https://github.com/jofftiquez.

10. It's fun!

Let's not forget this one, contributing to open source projects can be a lot of fun! You'll have the opportunity to work on interesting projects with other like-minded developers and make a positive impact in the world.

If you're a newbie developer looking to gain experience, build your skills, and make a positive impact in the world, jumping into the world of open source is definitely worth considering. Give it a try and see where it takes you!

About the author

Joff Tiquez, hailing from Manila, Philippines, is the individual behind the establishment of OSSPH. He is a web developer who strongly supports open source and has been overseeing projects like Vue Stripe for an extended period. To get in touch with Joff, you can visit https://bento.me/jofftiquez.