Open Source: A Friendly Guide for New Developers

Source: Dev.to

This article is written for first‑time developers — a friendly, practical introduction to help you understand open source and take your first steps.

Open source powers much of the software you use every day — from operating systems and developer tools to the websites and services you depend on. If you’re a new or first‑time developer, open source is an incredible way to learn, contribute, and make real‑world impact. This short guide explains what open source is, how it differs from other models, why it matters, and how you can get started.

What is Open Source?

Open source means the source code of a project is publicly available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. This encourages transparency, peer review, and collaboration. While the code is open, projects still use licenses that define what others can do with the code.

Open Source vs. Free Software vs. Commercial

Before we compare them, here’s why the distinction matters: different projects have different goals and rules. Some focus on making code easy to reuse and build on, others focus on protecting users’ freedoms, and some are designed mainly to make money. That changes what you are allowed to do with the code and how the project is run.

In simple words

Quick comparison

These categories overlap — for example, an open‑source project can also be free software, and companies often offer commercial services around open‑source projects.

A Brief History

The culture of sharing software predates modern open source. Key milestones include:

• 1983 – The GNU Project launched to create a free Unix‑like OS.
• 1991 – Linus Torvalds released the Linux kernel, sparking widespread collaboration.
• 2000s – Distributed version control and platforms like GitHub made contributing easier and more social.

Together these developments shaped the modern open‑source ecosystem: collaborative, distributed, and accessible.

Life‑Changing Open Source Projects

Open source has produced tools and platforms that changed how we build software — and many are things you already use every day. You don’t have to be a developer to benefit: many smartphones include Android components that are open source, millions of websites run on WordPress, and popular apps like VLC and Firefox are open‑source projects. If you’re a developer, these projects’ code is public and you can read or contribute; if not, you can still help by reporting bugs, translating, or donating.

These projects are not just technologies; they’re products you’ve likely used — so the question is: if you can run them, why not read or change their code? That direct connection makes open source especially inviting for first‑time contributors.

Licenses and Their Nuances

Licenses determine what others can do with your code. Choosing a license depends on your goals (encourage wide adoption, preserve freedoms, or limit certain commercial usages). Below are common license families and when you might choose them.

Tip: If you’re unsure, the MIT license is a safe, widely‑accepted default for many projects. Always read the full license text (or consult a legal professional) before applying it.

Getting Started

1. Pick a project – Look for something that interests you and has a friendly “good first issue” label.
2. Read the docs – Check the README, CONTRIBUTING guide, and code of conduct.
3. Set up the environment – Fork the repo, clone it locally, and run the test suite.
4. Start small – Fix a typo, improve documentation, or tackle a beginner‑level bug.
5. Ask questions – Use the project’s chat (Slack, Discord, Gitter) or issue comments; most maintainers are happy to help.

Remember: every contributor started as a beginner. Open source is a learning journey, not a test of expertise. Happy coding!

Open‑Source Licensing Overview

• Permissive (e.g., MIT, Apache 2.0, BSD)
  Allows commercial use and proprietary forks.
  Ideal when you want the widest possible adoption.

• Copyleft (e.g., GPL v3, AGPL v3)
  Requires derivative works to use the same license (AGPL extends to network use).
  Choose this when you want derivatives to remain open‑source.

• Source‑available / Custom
  Business Source (e.g., MariaDB BSL), commercial dual‑licensing.
  Limits certain uses (e.g., cloud providers); may not be OSI‑approved.
  Use when you need specific commercial protections or staged openness.

For a broader list of licenses see the Open Source Initiative or the SPDX license list.

How Commercial Support Adds Value

Commercial offerings around open source help organizations use projects reliably at scale. Typical services include:

• Long‑term support (LTS) and enterprise builds – stable releases with extended maintenance and security patches.
• Service‑level agreements (SLAs) – guaranteed response times and dedicated support for critical incidents.
• Managed/hosted offerings – cloud‑hosted versions (e.g., MongoDB Atlas, Elastic Cloud, Redis Enterprise) that remove operational overhead.
• Integration, consulting, and training – assistance with architecture, migration, and bespoke integrations.
• Security and compliance – coordinated advisories, back‑ported fixes, and help meeting regulatory requirements.

Well‑known examples: Red Hat (enterprise Linux), MongoDB (enterprise features & Atlas), Elastic (Elastic Cloud & plugins), Redis (Redis Enterprise & hosted services). Paid support funds maintainers, improves documentation and testing, and underwrites the work that keeps widely used projects healthy.

Trade‑off: features may be gated behind paid tiers, or licensing changes can create tension with the community—transparent governance and clear communication are essential.

When Commercialization Causes Friction

Monetization strategies can trigger community push‑back. Notable cases:

1. Vendor licensing shifts (Java/Oracle) – Oracle changed the terms and long‑term‑support model for its Oracle JDK binaries, prompting many organizations to switch to community OpenJDK builds or commercial distributions.
   Reference: OpenJDK

2. Cloud‑provider tensions and re‑licensing (Redis, Elastic, MongoDB) – Some projects moved parts of their code to more restrictive or “source‑available” licenses (or SSPL‑style terms) to stop cloud providers from offering managed services without sharing revenue. This caused forks, ecosystem disruption, and heated debate—e.g., Redis’s 2024 relicensing of certain modules and later discussions about returning to a more permissive stance.
   References:

   • Redis announcement
   • Server‑Side Public License (SSPL)

3. Platform policy changes (Chrome Manifest V2 → V3) – Chrome’s move from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3 altered extension APIs that many ad‑blockers relied on, sparking privacy and developer concerns and broader debate about platform power.
   References:

   • Chromium docs
   • Coverage on uBlock Origin

These examples illustrate why transparent governance, clear communication, and diverse funding models matter—they reduce surprises and keep communities resilient when business needs change.

How Developers Can Help Sustain Open Source

You don’t need to be a core maintainer to have high impact. Ways to help:

• Contribute small fixes – docs, tests, or tiny bug fixes labeled “good first issue”.
• Report clear bugs – include reproducible steps.
• Sponsor or donate – support maintainers and organizations behind the projects you rely on.
• Help with triage and reviews – reduce maintainer burden.
• Share knowledge – write blog posts, give talks, or mentor newcomers.

Collectively, these actions make projects healthier and more sustainable.

Getting Started — A Simple Roadmap

A. Create Your Own Project (learn by doing)

1. Start small – a focused utility, library, or tool that solves a real problem.
2. Choose a license (see the table above) and add a clear README.md and LICENSE file.
3. Add CONTRIBUTING.md, issue and PR templates, and a short roadmap to guide contributors.
4. Publish the repo (GitHub/GitLab) and announce it in relevant communities; welcome feedback.

B. Contribute to an Existing Project (learn from others)

1. Pick a project you use and read its contribution guide and code of conduct.
2. Look for labels like good first issue, help wanted, or docs.
3. Start with documentation, tests, or small bug fixes to build context and confidence.
4. Communicate clearly: describe your changes, link tests, and be open to reviewer feedback.

C. Be Helpful, Not a Nuisance

• Small, respectful, well‑explained contributions win friends.
• Avoid low‑effort or noisy PRs and follow the project’s contribution norms.
• A tongue‑in‑cheek reminder: Programmer Humor – “Looking Closely”.

Open source is welcoming – start small and grow your impact over time.

# lusion

Open source offers an incredible way for new developers to learn, contribute, and shape software used around the world. Start small, be consistent, and you’ll find that helping others also accelerates your own growth.