2025-11-02 –, Hall 2
Making your first open-source contribution can be daunting. This talk demystifies the process by providing a practical, step-by-step guide to applying your existing Python skills to real-world projects.
We will explore how to contribute to a diverse portfolio of open-source projects, from full-stack web applications built on Django, Plone, and Flask to smaller, data-focused projects like web scrapers. Attendees will learn the essential tools and best practices for engaging with any Python project on GitHub, including navigating documentation, submitting bug fixes, and proposing new features.
Whether you're a recent graduate looking for hands-on experience or an intermediate developer wanting to apply your skills to a project with a social mission, this talk will provide the blueprint for your open-source journey.
What you will leave with:
- A clear, actionable plan for making your first open-source contribution.
- A better understanding of how different types of Python projects are structured.
- The confidence to find a project and get started.
Sinar Project is a civic tech initiative using open technology, open data and policy analysis to systematically make important information public and more accessible to the Malaysian people. Our Github https://github.com/Sinar/
Have you ever wanted to contribute to an open-source project but felt unsure where to start? This session is your roadmap from a curious user to an active contributor. As a community officer for a portfolio of diverse projects at Sinar Project, I will share the insights on what makes a project contributor-friendly and how to find the right fit for your skills.
We will cover in 30 mins:
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The Foundation: We'll begin by demystifying the essential components of a welcoming open-source project, focusing on key files like CONTRIBUTING.md and CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md that serve as your roadmap.
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A Guided Tour: We will dive into a real-world community portfolio that includes projects built on popular Python frameworks -Django, Plone, and Flask as well as powerful web scrapers.
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Examples: You will see how to make your very first contribution, from a simple documentation fix to a bug report or a small code change, with tangible examples from our projects.
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Finding Your Fit: We will highlight different types of contributions, showing how your skills—whether you're a data analyst, a web developer, or a technical writer -can make a meaningful impact.
This talk is for Beginner and Intermediate Python developers who have written some code and are looking for a practical way to apply their skills. If you want to gain real-world experience, build your resume, and contribute to projects with a purpose, this talk is for you.
Sam Ng is currently the Knowledge Management & Community officer at Sinar Project.
Prior to Sinar Project, he previously worked as a Cloud Security Specialist in the Cybersecurity dept at a local telco. Before that, he had also worked as a Devops Engineer & System Engineer in various industries including domain registrar, fintech, proptech & others.