Your First Open Source Contribution in Python: From Fork to Pull Request

Open source is a core pillar of the Python ecosystem, yet many developers struggle to make their first contribution. The barriers are often not technical ability, but uncertainty around workflows, expectations, and collaboration practices.

This 90-minute hands-on tutorial guides participants through their first real contribution to an open source Python project, focusing on clarity, safety, and reproducibility. Rather than working on toy examples, attendees will contribute to ScanAPI, an actively maintained open source Python library used for automated API integration testing and live documentation.

The tutorial is designed to demystify the contribution process while remaining technically grounded and respectful of real-world open source practices.

What participants will learn:

1. Understanding an Open Source Python Project
2. How to quickly navigate an unfamiliar Python repository
3. Reading project structure, tests, and documentation

4. Understanding contribution guidelines and expectations

5. Open Source Workflow in Practice

6. Forking and cloning a repository
7. Creating a local development environment

8. Working with branches and commits

9. Making a First Contribution

10. Working on a well-scoped, beginner-friendly issue
11. Writing or updating Python code, tests, or documentation

12. Running tests locally and validating changes

13. Opening a Pull Request

14. Writing a clear and respectful pull request description
15. Understanding automated checks (CI)

16. Responding to maintainers’ feedback

17. Contributing Sustainably

18. How to continue contributing after the workshop
19. Common mistakes to avoid
20. How open source communities scale through good engineering and collaboration

All tutorial tasks are carefully scoped and prepared in advance to ensure a smooth experience within the 90-minute timeframe. Participants will leave with a forked repository, a commit, and a pull request opened or ready, as well as the confidence to contribute to other Python open source projects.

Why ScanAPI?

ScanAPI is a production-grade Python library distributed via PyPI and maintained in the open. It has been recognized by GitHub as part of initiatives focused on securing the open source supply chain, making it an excellent real-world example of sustainable Python open source development. The project is supported by the Cumbuca Dev open source community, which focuses on building inclusive, contributor-friendly environments through strong engineering practices.