A few years back, when someone mentioned open source to me, this is what came to mind:

Imagine having the power to pierce the veil and see the inner workings of any tool, software, or application that's up for grabs on the internet. And not just that, but having the comfort of knowing that some random blog post swears by the fact that its source code is out there for all to see. That folks, was my definition of open source.

I mean, come on, how could you not feel reassured by that? It was like a friendly senior in your college inviting you to their house, & showing off this cool hiding place they'd been using for years!

Fast-forward to 2020, and I found myself making a career switch. The COVID-19 pandemic, of all the horrible things to happen that year, forced me to reconsider my life choices, and I stuck to my decision of teaching myself how to code. Although, I had a bit of a background in Python & C++, but that was years ago, and I was rusty.

📜 The Beginnings

I started my open-source journey in 2021 by creating a GitHub account and diving straight into the #100DaysOfCode challenge -

This was what my GitHub profile looked like in 2021 -

📌 My first portfolio site - I was ecstatic that I had finally made my first contribution and website to boot! This was the first step towards starting to contribute to open-source projects, and honing my coding skills as I progressed further in the #100DaysOfCode challenge, committing to the Rapid R1 log, and tweeting about it every day. Here it is -

P.S. This site no longer exists, so I dug up the archive link:

web.archive.org/web/20210628144219/https://..

🌟 Contributions to FOSS Projects

Since then, my passion for open source has led me to contribute to various projects and communities. One of my notable contributions is the React Tailwind Site, where I collaborated with a team to develop a responsive and modern website using React and Tailwind CSS. This experience taught me the importance of teamwork, code collaboration, and maintaining coding standards in a real-world project.

Another exciting project I worked on is the Google Clone, which involved building a search engine replica using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Through this project, I gained valuable insights into front-end development, user interface design, and the power of open-source libraries.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to contribute to the LinkFree project, a community-driven initiative aimed at creating a platform to share and discover useful links. By forking the repository and joining the EddieHubCommunity, I actively contributed by adding my own LinkFree profile to it and adding new features to enhance the functionality of the application. This experience emphasized the collaborative nature of open source and the significance of engaging with the community to create impactful projects.

• My GitHub profile now looks like this in 2023 -

🌐 Engaging with Communities

In addition to my contributions to specific projects, I have actively engaged with various open-source communities. I became a member of the Google Developers Cloud Community and attended the Google Cloud Community Day held recently in New Delhi, where I connected with like-minded individuals, and participated in discussions. Being part of this community has not only expanded my knowledge of cloud technologies but also provided me with valuable networking opportunities.

Another community that I have joined recently is FOSS United, a vibrant community of open-source enthusiasts. I am looking forward to my first meetup to share my knowledge and experiences with fellow developers. It will certainly be instrumental in my growth as an open-source contributor.

💼 Freelance Gigs and Transition to DevOps

Alongside my open-source journey, I have also taken up freelance gigs, where I have had the opportunity to work on diverse projects and collaborate with clients to deliver tailored solutions. These experiences have allowed me to further refine my frontend development skills, expand my technical repertoire, and gain valuable industry exposure.

Looking ahead, I am excited to embark on a new chapter in my career as I transition into DevOps. Building on my frontend development expertise, I have been acquiring knowledge in cloud technologies, infrastructure automation, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Through self-study, online courses, and practical projects, I am equipping myself with the skills necessary to thrive in this dynamic and evolving field.

In a nutshell, my journey in open source, coupled with my engagement with communities, freelance gigs, and pursuit of DevOps, has not only broadened my skill set but also shaped me into a versatile and passionate developer. I firmly believe in the power of open source to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and make a meaningful impact on projects we are passionate about. I encourage everyone to embrace open source, contribute to FOSS projects, interact with communities, and continuously expand their horizons.

👋 Till next time.