How did you make your first pull request without breaking things?

[DanielB]

I found a cool open source software github project I want to contribute to, but I've never done it before and the process seems intimidating. How did you make your first pull request without feeling like you were messing things up?

[KyleTJ]

Yeah that first PR can feel nerve wracking. I started with something tiny like a README typo. I forked the repo, created a new branch, and kept the change small so it’s easy for maintainers to review in open source software github projects.

[Nora.L]

Read the contributing guide first, find a good first issue, and comment to check you’re allowed to take it. I kept the description short, linked the issue, and explained how I tested it before submitting the PR to the GitHub repositories.

[BrandonCM]

Keep the scope tiny and don’t chase perfection. If you’re unsure about a convention, ask in the issue or PR thread. If the project has a PR template, use it to structure your notes and evidence of testing, especially anything that runs on GitHub actions.

[Benjamin_L]

Ask for feedback with a friendly tone and treat reviewer comments as guidance. That mindset shift helps a lot when you’re worried you’ll mess things up.

[Victoria.G]

After you submit, watch for a couple of quick comments, make tiny tweaks, and celebrate the small win when it lands. It’ll build confidence for the next PR.

[PaisleyPC]

Pick a project you actually use; it makes it easier to explain why your change matters and to test it in a real context. And don’t hesitate to loop in a mentor or buddy from the project if you can.