Open Source & Hacktoberfest 2025 – Why It’s More Than Just a Celebration? – ██FR█████ █INTELL███████████

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Anuj Choudhary

Hola! Hacktoberfest 2025 is here – the annual open-source celebration that brings developers, designers, and dreamers together to make the internet a better place, one pull request at a time. But before you rush into your first repository, let’s talk about what open source really means, why Hacktoberfest exists, and how to make your contributions truly meaningful.

What is Open Source?
Open source is more than just free code. It’s a movement.
It’s a community-driven ecosystem where anyone can read, modify, and improve code for the greater good. Every open-source project – from Linux to VS Code to React – thrives because people around the world dedicate their time to collaborate, fix bugs, and share knowledge.
Contributing to open source doesn’t always mean writing code. You can:
• Improve documentation
• Test features and report bugs
• Help others by answering questions
• Design logos or UI elements
• Organize meetups and build communities
Every contribution, no matter how small, keeps the digital world open and accessible for everyone.

What I Personally Love About Contributing to Open Source
The thing I love most about open source isn’t just the code – it’s the people.
The community is incredibly kind, collaborative, and welcoming. Everyone genuinely wants to help each other grow.
Let me share a few experiences that changed how I see open source forever:
When I was raising my first pull request, I was absolutely clueless. I had completed the coding part but had no idea how to submit it properly. Out of nowhere, a developer from Britain jumped in to help me – leaving his own work behind. He didn’t just guide me step by step; he also encouraged me, saying I was doing great and my work was valuable.
Another friend of mine once struggled to set up an environment for a project. While everything else was chaotic, a stranger from the community hopped on a Google Meet call to help him configure it properly – during a literal bombing situation in his own region! That blew my mind.
This is what open source is all about – helping each other, giving back, and making the tech world better together.
I resonate deeply with this idea of contribution. It’s not just coding – it’s giving back to a system that helped us learn, build, and grow.

Don’t Contribute to Open Source If…
Alright, let’s be honest for a second.
Don’t contribute to open source if you’re doing it just for attention, or just to make your GitHub wall look green. Don’t do it just because you think it’ll make your resume stand out.
Now – these things aren’t bad! But they’re just by-products of genuine, meaningful contributions.
You should contribute because you want to learn, collaborate, and connect with other amazing developers. When your intentions are genuine, everything else – connections, recognition, and growth – follows naturally.
Focus on the long-term impact, not the short-term attention.
And trust me – talk to a few great open-source contributors, and you’ll immediately understand the difference.

What is Hacktoberfest and Why Does It Exist?
Hacktoberfest started back in 2014, organized by DigitalOcean and GitHub, as a way to celebrate open source and encourage developers to contribute more actively.
Every October, thousands of developers around the globe submit pull requests to open repositories – not just for swag or T-shirts (though those are fun ), but to keep the open-source ecosystem alive, thriving, and growing.

Hacktoberfest exists because it helps people:
• Discover the joy of contributing for the first time
• Keep open-source projects active and maintained
• Connect with communities and learn collaboratively
It’s not about competition – it’s about collaboration.

How to Look for Projects Supported by Hacktoberfest
Finding Hacktoberfest-friendly projects is easier than ever!
Here’s how you can do it step-by-step:

Go to GitHub.com
In the search bar, type:
hacktoberfest
Filter results by Issues or Repositories.
Look for repositories that have the “hacktoberfest” topic or label.
Check their README to understand contribution guidelines before starting.
Pro tip: Always read the project’s CONTRIBUTING.md file. It contains rules, setup instructions, and best practices for contributions.

Which Projects Are Best for You?
This one’s completely subjective – it depends on your interests and goals.
• If you love frontend development, go for projects using React, Vue, or Next.js.
• If you’re into backend development, look for Node.js, Django, or Go-based repositories.
• If you want to explore AI/ML (like me!), contribute to projects involving machine learning, data science, or NLP.
But remember – the technology stack isn’t the only thing that matters. The vision of the project is equally important. Choose projects that align with your values and where you can see your contribution making a real impact.

Conclusion
Hacktoberfest 2025 is a great opportunity – but make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.
DOs
• Contribute with a genuine intention to learn and grow.
• Help others in the community.
• Be kind, patient, and respectful.
• Focus on quality over quantity.
DON’Ts
• Don’t spam PRs just to get rewards.
• Don’t treat it like a race.
• Don’t contribute for attention or validation.
I’m also rolling up my sleeves to contribute this month – to projects that truly matter and create real-world impact. Projects that’ll make me happy, not just my LinkedIn wall happy.
Thanks for reading, and if you haven’t started yet – go find that one project that excites you and make your first contribution today!