This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Oni
How to Make It Worth Your Time
This is a submission for the 2025 Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge: Open Source Reflections.
Introduction
I've been doing Hacktoberfest for 7 years straight. Made every mistake possible. Learned what actually works.
Below are the brutal truths nobody tells you about Hacktoberfest, and how to make it genuinely worth your time.
What NOT to Do
DON'T: Submit docs typo fixes or add your name to README files.
“This screams I just want the t-shirt. Maintainers can spot this from a mile away. These PRs get labeled as spam faster than you can say open source.”
How to Get Real Value
DO: Pick projects you'll actually use.
I contributed to a testing library in 2019 because I needed a feature. That PR led to:
- Using the library in my job
- Meeting the maintainer at a conference
- Getting my first OSS maintainer role
Real value > Free swag
More Truths for Contributors
DON'T: Mass-submit PRs just to hit the PR target.
Quality beats quantity. Always.
I once reviewed 47 PRs in October from the same person. All low-effort. All rejected.
The goal isn’t 4 PRs. It’s 4 meaningful contributions.
DO: Start with "Good First Issue" but don’t stop there.
- Year 1-2: I did beginner issues only
- Year 3+: I tackled real bugs and features
The jump from "good first issue" to "real work" is where the actual learning happens. Push yourself!
DON'T: Ignore contribution guidelines.
Every project has them. Read. Them. First.
Wrong branch? Wrong commit format? No tests? Your PR goes to the bottom of the review queue.
5 minutes reading guidelines > 5 days waiting for review
Bonus Tips from 7 Years
- Keep a list of interesting projects year-round
- Small bug fixes > massive refactors
- Test locally. Then test again.
- Screenshots in PRs = faster reviews
- Say thank you to maintainers
Real Talk: What Hacktoberfest Should Be
Hacktoberfest isn’t about free t-shirts, padding your GitHub graph, or 6 PRs and out.
It’s about:
- Learning in public
- Building real skills
- Joining communities
- Creating lasting impact
Approach it right, and October becomes the month that changes your career.
Call to Action
That's 7 years of lessons in one thread. If this helped you:
- Bookmark it for October
- Share it with someone starting their OSS journey
- Drop a comment with your Hacktoberfest experience
Let's make this the best #Hacktoberfest yet. What questions do you have?
Thanks for reading! Want to connect? Drop your experience below and let’s build something amazing together!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Oni
Oni | Sciencx (2025-10-31T21:54:07+00:00) Brutal Truths from 7 Years of Hacktoberfest – How to Make It Worth Your Time. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/10/31/brutal-truths-from-7-years-of-hacktoberfest-how-to-make-it-worth-your-time/
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