First steps towards contributing

Ekaterina Gerasimova and Sindhu Sundar

The first few contributions are always some of the most difficult for new contributors and the learning curve can be very steep. We, as a community can help smooth kinks along the path, while helping them understand how the community works.

Drawing on my experience working with many newcomers from different backgrounds, I will talk about some of the common pitfalls and misunderstandings that can happen during the process, and how to avoid them from both sides. This talk will also cover how to get up-to-speed and retain applicants for the Outreach Program for Women and Google Summer of Code, which are common sources of new contributors.