A Complete Guide to Hacktoberfest 2024: How to Register, Contribute, and Make the Most of It

Hacktoberfest is back for 2024! This annual event encourages developers worldwide to contribute to open-source projects. Whether you're a seasoned open-source contributor or a newcomer, this guide will walk you through the process of getting started, making contributions, and maximizing your participation in Hacktoberfest 2024.

 

What is Hacktoberfest?
Hacktoberfest is an event held every October to celebrate and promote open-source software. DigitalOcean organizes it in partnership with other tech companies and open-source communities. The goal is to foster collaboration in the open-source ecosystem and provide a platform for developers to contribute to meaningful projects.

 

Participating in Hacktoberfest 2024 :

Here’s what you need to know to participate and complete Hacktoberfest:

• Register anytime between September 23 and October 31.
• Pull/merge requests can be made in any GitHub or GitLab hosted project that’s participating in Hacktoberfest (look for the “hacktoberfest” topic).
• Aim to submit four high-quality pull/merge requests between October 1 and October 31, with project maintainers accepting your pull/merge requests for them to count toward your total.
• You’ll unlock a digital badge when you register for Hacktoberfest, and level it up with each of your four pull/merge requests accepted during Hacktoberfest.
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How to Contribute During Hacktoberfest : 

Explore Repositories: Use GitHub's Explore feature or GitLab’s Discover section to find open-source projects. Look for repositories labeled with “hacktoberfest” or those actively seeking contributions.

Check Issues: Many projects have issues tagged with "good first issue" or "hacktoberfest." These are ideal for beginners.

Fork the Repository: If you find a project you’d like to contribute to, fork the repository to your own GitHub/GitLab account.

Clone Your Fork: Clone the repository to your local machine using Git.

Create a Branch: Create a new branch for your changes to keep your work organized.

Make Changes: Address the issue or add the feature you’re working on. Ensure that your code adheres to the project's contribution guidelines.

Commit and Push Changes: Commit your changes with a descriptive message and push them to your forked repository.

Open a Pull Request: Go to the original repository and open a new pull request from your forked repository. Provide a clear description of the changes you made.

Respond to Feedback: Be prepared to receive feedback from maintainers and make additional changes if required.

 

Pull/Merge Request Details : 

Here’s how Hacktoberfest validates contributor pull/merge requests (“PR/MRs”) for Hacktoberfest

[out-of-bounds] Your PR/MRs must be within the bounds of Hacktoberfest.

[excluded] Repos that go against Hacktoberfest’s values will be excluded from qualification and PR/MRs made to those repos won’t count.

[spam] Your PR/MRs must not be spammy.

[participating] Your PR/MRs must be in a repo tagged with the “hacktoberfest” topic, or have the “hacktoberfest-accepted” label.

[invalid] Your PR/MRs must not be labeled as “invalid”.

[accepted] Your PR/MRs must be merged, have the “hacktoberfest-accepted” label, or have an overall approving review.

Once your PR/MRs pass all the checks above, it will be accepted for Hacktoberfest after the seven day review period.

 

2024 Participation Rewards : 

For joining in the fun this year, participants in Hacktoberfest 2024 get a customizable digital badge from Holopin that gains new characteristics with each of your pull/merge requests. As each pull/merge request you submitted is accepted by maintainers, you’ll unlock a new level and customization for your badge, up to the four pull/merge requests to complete Hacktoberfest. As your skills evolve, so, too, will your badge!

Once Hacktoberfest 2024 is complete, you’ll be able to share your badge on the Holopin Hacktoberfest Badge Board of Fame to show-off your unique badge and to celebrate your hard-won victory! You can also embed your Holopin badge board, showing off all the Hacktoberfest badges you’ve collected over the years, on your GitHub or GitLab profile.

 

Resources for Beginners : 

• Introduction to GitHub and Open-Source Projects
• How to Contribute to Open Source
• What is Open Source
• How to use Git

Hacktoberfest 2024 is a fantastic opportunity to dive into the world of open-source development. By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to register, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

for more details please visit hacktoberfest.com

FAQs

Que 1. Do I get a reward for participating?

Ans. Aside from the knowledge you’ll gain, (and the fun you’ll have) you’ll get a digital badge through Holopin to represent your participation in Hacktoberfest. As each of your four pull/merge requests is accepted by a maintainer, you’ll unlock a new level in your badge, letting you customize it and showing to the community your achievement.

Que 2. How will I receive my digital badge?

Ans. You will receive a notification in your Hacktoberfest profile on the Hacktoberfest website. Additionally, you will receive an email from Holopin to claim each level of your badge.

Que 3. When do I need to claim my badges by?

Ans. Hacktoberfest profiles close on December 15. Please make sure you’ve claimed all your Holopin badges using the claim links on your profile (also sent via email).

Que 4. Why isn’t there a t-shirt this year?

Ans. As Hacktoberfest has grown, so have the logistical challenges associated with creating a reward. Unfortunately, it’s no longer feasible for us to provide a free t-shirt. Nevertheless, we still want participants to have a memorable experience and receive a special memento marking their participation and the year. Instead of a t-shirt reward, we’re partnering with Holopin to provide a digital badge to each participant, making global delivery much simpler. We believe this shift will allow Hacktoberfest to continue supporting and raising awareness for open-source projects worldwide for years to come.