How can open source software highlight beginner friendly first commit ideas?

[OliviaUS]

Open source software thrives on contributions, but the barrier to a first commit can be high. What's a small, beginner-friendly type of contribution you wish more projects would clearly highlight?

[Amelia63]

Label a tiny fix as a good first issue and pair it with a friendly mentor; fixing a typo or updating a sample config is enough to get started

[Nora29]

Add a short onboarding section to the contribution guide that shows how to run tests and what a minimal PR should include. A checklist helps newcomers avoid guesswork

[Paul_H]

Encourage new contributors to work on docs before code, like updating the README with extra examples or clarifying setup steps

[NicholasHG]

Assign a mentor for first contributions and reply quickly, with a simple PR template that links the issue and explains the change

[EleanorLT]

Give beginners a tiny scope such as adding a missing comment or writing a tiny unit test to see immediate impact

[Jonathan7]

This approach aligns with open source software 2025 guide and trends toward welcoming newcomers and lowering the barrier to entry