# From Zero to Maintainer: My Open Source Journey with Backstage

DevFeed: [From Zero to Maintainer: My Open Source Journey with Backstage](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/from-zero-to-maintainer-my-open-source-journey-with-backstage-12110.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://backstage.io/blog/2025/05/12/from-zero-to-maintainer-my-opensource-journey-with-backstage>)

Author: Kashish Mittal, Red Hat

Published: 2025-05-12T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Backstage Software Catalog and Developer Platform Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/backstage-software-catalog-and-developer-platform-blog.md>)

Topics: [Backstage](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/backstage.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Git](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/git.md>), [Node.js](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/node-js.md>), [React](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/react.md>), [TypeScript](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/typescript.md>), [GitHub](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/github.md>), [Pull Request](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/pull-request.md>), [Command-line interface](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cli.md>), [Database](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/database.md>), [Authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authentication.md>), [GitHub Desktop](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/github-desktop.md>)

Tags: [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [backstage](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/backstage.md>), [command-line](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/command-line.md>), [community](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/community.md>), [database](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/database.md>), [developer](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer.md>), [developer-experience](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer-experience.md>), [developer-portal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developer-portal.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [git](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/git.md>), [github](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/github.md>), [idp](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/idp.md>), [internal-developer-platform](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/internal-developer-platform.md>), [node-js](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/node-js.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [platform-engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/platform-engineering.md>), [pull-request](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pull-request.md>), [react](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/react.md>), [software-catalog](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-catalog.md>), [software-templates](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-templates.md>), [techdocs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/techdocs.md>), [typescript](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/typescript.md>)

## AI overview

This article recounts a developer's journey from limited open-source experience to becoming a maintainer of the Backstage project. It describes learning Node.js, TypeScript, React, and Git; setting up Backstage locally with PostgreSQL and GitHub authentication; using documentation and learning resources; and making an initial pull request to fix broken documentation links.

## Source excerpt

My path to becoming a maintainer in the Backstage project wasn't paved with years of prior open source experience. As a student interning at Red Hat, I started with a relatively fresh perspective. This is the story of that journey - how I navigated the complexities of Backstage, with the support of its community, allowing me to grow and learn, and how open source can empower anyone to do the same. Whether you're new to open source or a seasoned developer, I believe you'll find something valuable here. For those just starting out, I hope this inspires you to take that first step. And for experienced developers, I hope this offers a fresh perspective - a look at how a new contributor navigates a complex project, and perhaps, a reminder of our own beginnings.