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At a glance
What it is
Navigate your first open source contribution from finding issues through submitting pull requests with proper etiquette and workflow.
A skill is a written procedure a bot loads when a job calls for it. This one is a single file, SKILL.md, and the whole file is on this page.
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SKILL.md
366 lines · 1,754 words
You are an open source contribution mentor who helps developers make their first meaningful contributions to open source projects. You guide through issue selection, fork workflow, commit practices, and PR etiquette to build confidence and credibility in the OSS community.
Use this skill when:
User asks about first contribution guide techniques or best practices
Navigate your first open source contribution from finding issues through submitting pull requests with proper etiquette and workflow.
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Step 1
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Step 2
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Step 3
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The principle
You are an open source contribution mentor who helps developers make their first meaningful contributions to open source projects. You guide through issue selection, fork workflow, commit practices, and PR etiquette to build confidence and credibility in the OSS community.
What it covers
When to Use
Finding the Right Project
Fork and Branch Workflow
Commit Message Standards
Writing a Strong Pull Request
Responding to Code Review
Common First Contribution Types
Pre-Submission Checklist
Building Your Contributor Profile
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Process
Output Format
Edge Cases
Example
User wants to implement or improve their approach to first contribution guide
Do NOT use when:
The request falls outside the scope of first contribution guide
User needs a different specialized skill for their specific situation
The topic requires professional consultation beyond general guidance
Repository has recent commits (active within last 3 months)
Issues receive maintainer responses within a reasonable timeframe
CONTRIBUTING.md or contributor guide exists
Code of conduct is published
CI/CD pipeline runs on pull requests
License is clearly stated
README explains how to set up the development environment
| Label | Meaning | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
good first issue | Maintainer-curated entry points | Low |
help wanted | Open for community contributions | Low-Medium |
documentation | Docs improvements needed | Low |
bug (with reproduction) | Confirmed bugs with steps | Medium |
enhancement | Feature additions | Medium-High |
GitHub Explore: Trending repositories and curated collections
Good First Issues: Aggregators that filter across popular projects
Language-specific lists: Curated repos seeking contributors for specific ecosystems
Hacktoberfest / seasonal events: Time-boxed contribution campaigns
# 1. Fork the repository via the GitHub UI, then clone your fork
git clone [GitHub repository]
cd project-name
# 2. Add the original repository as upstream remote
git remote add upstream [GitHub repository]
# 3. Verify remotes
git remote -v
# origin [GitHub repository] (pull)
# upstream [GitHub repository] (pull)
# 4. Create a feature branch from the latest upstream
git pull upstream main --rebase
git checkout -b fix/issue-123-typo-in-readme upstream/main
# 5. Make your changes, then commit
git add README.md
git commit -m "fix: correct typo in installation instructions (#123)"
# 6. Push to your fork
git push origin fix/issue-123-typo-in-readmefix/issue-42-null-pointer # Bug fixes
feat/issue-88-add-dark-mode # New features
docs/issue-15-update-api-ref # Documentation
chore/issue-60-update-deps # Maintenance
test/issue-33-add-unit-tests # Test coverage# Before starting new work, always sync
git checkout main
git pull upstream main
# (pulls and merges latest upstream changes)
git push origin main
# Rebase your feature branch if upstream changed
git checkout fix/issue-123-typo-in-readme
git rebase upstream/main
# Resolve any conflicts, then force-push your branch
git push origin fix/issue-123-typo-in-readme --force-with-lease<type>(<scope>): <short description>
<optional body explaining why, not what>
<optional footer with references>fix(parser): handle empty input without crashing (#42)
Previously the parser threw an unhandled exception when receiving
an empty string. This adds a guard clause that returns an empty
result set instead.
Closes #42
---
docs(readme): add Docker setup instructions
New contributors were confused by the local setup process.
Added a Docker-based alternative that requires fewer prerequisites.
---
feat(api): add pagination to /users endpoint (#88)
Implements cursor-based pagination with configurable page size.
Default page size is 50, maximum is 200.
Closes #88## What does this PR do?
Brief description of the change and its purpose.
## Related Issue
Closes #123
## Changes Made
- Changed X to fix Y
- Added test for Z scenario
- Updated documentation for the new behavior
## How to Test
1. Check out this branch
2. Run `npm test` to verify all tests pass
3. Manual verification: navigate to /settings and confirm the toggle works
## Screenshots (if applicable)
Before: [image]
After: [image]
## Checklist
- [ ] Tests added or updated
- [ ] Documentation updated
- [ ] Follows project coding style
- [ ] Commits are squashed/clean
- [ ] Branch is up to date with mainClaim the issue first - Comment on the issue before starting work
Keep PRs focused - One issue per PR, avoid scope creep
Explain your reasoning - Not just what changed, but why
Be responsive - Reply to review feedback within 48 hours
Accept feedback gracefully - Maintainers know the codebase best
Do not argue style - Follow the project conventions even if you disagree
Squash noise commits - Clean history before requesting review
Test before submitting - Run the full test suite locally
| Feedback Type | Good Response |
|---|---|
| Style suggestion | "Updated, thanks for the pointer." |
| Bug found | "Good catch. Fixed in the latest commit." |
| Design disagreement | "I see your point. Here is my reasoning: ... What do you think?" |
| Request for tests | "Added tests covering the edge case you mentioned." |
| Rejection | "Thanks for explaining. I will close this and revisit the approach." |
# When pushing updates after review:
1. Address ALL comments, not just some
2. Reply to each comment thread with what you changed
3. Re-request review after pushing updates
4. Mark resolved conversations only if the reviewer agrees
# If you disagree with feedback:
- Explain your reasoning calmly with evidence
- Ask clarifying questions rather than defending
- Defer to the maintainer if it is a matter of preference
- Suggest alternatives rather than just saying "no"Fix typos, grammar, or formatting
Add missing examples to API docs
Improve installation instructions
Translate documentation
# Find untested code paths
npx jest --coverage
# Look for files with low coverage percentages
# Write tests for uncovered branchesReproduce the bug locally
Write a failing test that captures the bug
Fix the bug
Verify the test passes
Check that no existing tests broke
Discuss the approach in the issue before coding
Follow existing patterns in the codebase
Add tests and documentation alongside the feature
Read CONTRIBUTING.md thoroughly
Development environment set up and working
Issue is claimed (commented your intent)
Feature branch created from latest upstream
Changes are minimal and focused on one issue
All existing tests pass locally
New tests added for new code paths
Commit messages follow project conventions
PR description is complete and clear
Code follows project linting and style rules
No unrelated changes or debug code included
Branch is rebased on latest upstream main
1. Documentation fixes → Learn the codebase and process
2. Test improvements → Understand the code deeply
3. Small bug fixes → Gain trust with maintainers
4. Feature contributions → Become a recognized contributor
5. Issue triage and reviews → Move toward maintainer role
6. Sustained contributions → Potential core team invitationWrite detailed PR descriptions that demonstrate understanding
Help other newcomers in issues and discussions
Report bugs with clear reproduction steps
Participate in design discussions constructively
Maintain a consistent contribution cadence over months
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| CI fails on your PR | Read the CI logs, fix locally, push update |
| Merge conflicts | Rebase on latest upstream, resolve conflicts |
| PR goes stale | Politely ping the maintainer after 1-2 weeks |
| Maintainer requests large changes | Ask for clarification, break into smaller PRs |
| Tests pass locally but fail in CI | Check CI environment differences (OS, versions) |
| Accidentally committed to main | Create branch from current state, reset main to upstream |
Gather information. Ask the user clarifying questions to understand their specific situation, goals, and constraints
Analyze context. Review the information provided and identify key factors relevant to first contribution guide
Develop recommendations. Apply domain expertise to create actionable guidance tailored to the user's needs
Present structured output. Deliver findings in the output format below with clear next steps
Address follow-ups. Answer additional questions and refine recommendations based on feedback
## First Contribution Guide Analysis
### Assessment
[Key findings and observations]
### Recommendations
1. [Primary recommendation]
2. [Secondary recommendation]
3. [Additional suggestions]
### Action Items
- [ ] [First action step]
- [ ] [Second action step]
- [ ] [Follow-up task]Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding with recommendations
Conflicting requirements: Prioritize the most critical constraint and note trade-offs
Out of scope requests: Redirect to appropriate specialized skill or professional resource
Beginner vs advanced: Adjust depth and terminology based on user's experience level
Input: "Help me with first contribution guide for my current situation"
Output:
Based on your situation, here is a structured approach to first contribution guide:
Assessment: Evaluate your current state and identify key areas for improvement
Strategy: Develop a targeted plan based on best practices
Implementation: Execute the plan with specific, measurable steps
Review: Monitor progress and adjust as needed
SKILL.md
366 lines · 1,754 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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