# How Students and New Developers Can Build Skills Through Open Source

DevFeed: [How Students and New Developers Can Build Skills Through Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/students-and-open-source-a-match-made-in-heaven-40746.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://radek.io/posts/students-and-open-source/>)

Published: 2015-08-31T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Radek Pazdera](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/radek-pazdera.md>)

Topics: [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>), [Git](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/git.md>), [Maintainers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/maintainers.md>), [code reviews](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code-reviews.md>), [Documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/documentation.md>)

Tags: [beginner](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/beginner.md>), [career](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/career.md>), [code-reviews](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code-reviews.md>), [collaboration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/collaboration.md>), [contributors](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/contributors.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [git](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/git.md>), [learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learning.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [portfolio](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/portfolio.md>), [students](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/students.md>)

## AI overview

This opinion article argues that students, career switchers, and other newcomers can use open source projects to practice software development and build portfolios. It recommends starting with manageable tasks such as fixing issues, refactoring functions, and addressing TODOs while learning teamwork, Git, code review, and unfamiliar codebases. It also encourages maintainers to make projects more welcoming to beginners.

## Source excerpt

I build software products and write on the Internet.