how can i start contributing in open source ?

[chauhan-varun]

where i can find the repository to contribute that fits for me where should i start and is MERN stack enough for start contributing ?

[Rish-it]

Hey there! As someone who's been in your shoes, I think the MERN stack is definitely a great foundation for contributing to open source. Here are some repositories that might be a good fit:

Projects worth checking out:

dub.sh - It's a link management tool built with Next.js, Prisma, and Tailwind. The codebase is pretty clean and they have good "good first issue" labels. https://github.com/dubinc/dub

cal.com - An open-source Calendly alternative with a strong community. They use Next.js and Prisma too, so your MERN skills will transfer well. They're also very welcoming to new contributors. https://github.com/calcom/cal.com

If you're looking for others, I've had good experiences with Strapi (headless CMS) and Appwrite (BaaS) - both have active communities and clear contribution paths.

How I'd recommend starting:

1. First, star and fork the repo you're interested in
2. Look through their issues for the "good first issue" or "beginner friendly" tags
3. Read their CONTRIBUTING.md file (super important!)
4. Join their Discord/Slack to ask questions (most maintainers are happy to help)
5. Start small - maybe fix a simple bug or improve documentation

Your MERN stack knowledge is definitely enough to get started, though picking up TypeScript (if you haven't already) would be helpful for most of these projects.

Good luck! Contributing to open source was one of the best decisions I made for my growth as a developer.

[Anish9667]

Hey chauhan-varun👋,
If you're learning the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) and wondering:

Here’s an honest, practical, and step-by-step guide just for you 👇

Is MERN Stack Enough to Contribute?
YES, absolutely!
The MERN stack gives you all the tools to work on both frontend and backend of real-world applications. You can contribute to:

🔹 Frontend (React.js):

Fixing UI bugs

Improving components

Adding features like forms, pagination, validations

🔹 Backend (Node.js + Express):

Creating or modifying REST APIs

Fixing route/controller logic

Securing routes with authentication (JWT, bcrypt)

🔹 Database (MongoDB + Mongoose):

Updating schemas

Writing queries

Adding validation and relationships

So yes, if you know MERN, you're READY to contribute.

🔍 Where to Find Beginner-Friendly Repositories?
Here are some amazing platforms and filters to help you get started:

🧠 GitHub Search Query:
arduino
Copy
Edit
mern stack label:good-first-issue state:open
🔗 Click here to search directly

Useful Platforms:

Platform Description
goodfirstissue.dev Curated list of beginner-friendly GitHub issues
up-for-grabs.net Projects looking for contributors
codetriage.com Subscribe to issues you’re interested in
firsttimersonly.com Awesome for absolute first-time contributors
github.com/topics/mern Repositories using the MERN stack
🛠 What Kind of Contributions Can You Make?
You don’t have to start with big features! Start small:

Add frontend validation to a form

Create a simple API (CRUD for blog, notes, todos etc.)

Improve mobile responsiveness

Add comments to code for better understanding

Remember: Every contribution counts!