A Maintainer's Advice on Contributing to Open Source in 2026

Open-source maintainers value contributors who are passionate about their projects, have a deep understanding of them, and are eager to enhance the software for everyone's benefit. Building a relationship with contributors can be a profoundly enriching experience, fostering intellectual growth and even lifelong connections. One of the most rewarding aspects is when a contributor submits a comprehensive proposal, like Craig's formal language grammar for Wasp, which requires significant time and expertise to review and discuss. These contributions often lead to valuable collaborations and technical advancements.

However, low-quality contributions are common, and they typically stem from a lack of genuine interest in the project or a desire to inflate one's online presence. These contributions often lack the effort and thoughtfulness needed to contribute meaningfully to the project. The rise of AI-generated content has exacerbated this issue, making it difficult for maintainers to distinguish between genuine contributions and those created by automated systems.

This can be discouraging for maintainers, as they struggle to determine if the effort invested in reviewing a PR will yield a productive collaboration or a waste of time.

To stand out as a contributor today, maintainers suggest building trust by demonstrating genuine interest in the project and its objectives. Share your experiences and enthusiasm for the project, and engage in meaningful conversations with maintainers. Avoid using AI to generate or enhance your contributions, as this can undermine the authenticity of your work and make maintainers question the sincerity of your intentions.

By showing a sincere commitment to the project, you can help maintainers assess your contributions more effectively and foster a collaborative environment that benefits both you and the project.