🧵 The Shortage of Open Source Contributors: Myth or Reality? 🧵 The Shortage of Open Source Contributors: Myth or Reality? Unfortunately — it’s reality 😔 Do you know how many developers there are in the world today? 📊 According to Evans Data Corporation, in 2024 there are over 28.7 million developers globally. Evans Data Corporation Sounds like everything should be built already, right? But let’s look at how many actually contribute to open source… 📉 Linux Foundation Report (2024) 📉 Linux Foundation Report (2024) Based on this survey of 332 developers involved in OSS: this survey 👥 Out of 332 people: 💥 Even among this engaged group, only 17% are consistently active contributors*. *Sum of maintainers (10%), core contributors (5%), and committers (2%). That’s just 1 out of 6 people, and this is from a motivated audience 🧵 Of course, these numbers don’t capture everyone who helps open source thrive.
People contribute by writing docs, triaging issues, translating content, answering questions, giving feedback — and it all matters.
Without these roles, maintainers would burn out even faster 💀. 🧵 Of course, these numbers don’t capture everyone who helps open source thrive. People contribute by writing docs, triaging issues, translating content, answering questions, giving feedback — and it all matters. Without these roles, maintainers would burn out even faster 💀. 💬 JetBrains Survey Confirms It 💬 JetBrains Survey Confirms It In JetBrains’ Dev Ecosystem 2023 (20,000+ devs): JetBrains’ Dev Ecosystem 2023 ✅ Regular + full-time contributors = just 5–6% 🎯 Core of active OSS devs = ~15% at best 🧮 Let’s Do the Math 🧮 Let’s Do the Math If we take the optimistic 17% of 28.7M developers:🔧 ≈ 4.9 million active contributors But more realistically (5–11%):🧑‍💻 ≈ 1.4–3.1 million — the entire OSS backbone Let that sink in — that’s fewer people than in some cities. Let that sink in — that’s fewer people than in some cities. **🇺🇸 What About the US?**According to GitHub Octoverse 2024: 🌍 India, China, and Brazil are growing rapidly.🇮🇳 India is set to become the #1 contributor country by 2028.🇺🇸 The US still leads, but its share is gradually declining. 🚧 Open Source Is Built By a Minority 🚧 Open Source Is Built By a Minority Even in ideal conditions: ⚠️ ~80% of developers don’t contribute consistently. But instead of panic, this should be a call to action 🧭 🧩 Ways to Contribute Beyond Code 🧩 Ways to Contribute Beyond Code 📘 Docs
🐞 Bug reports
🌍 Translations
💬 Discussions
🧑‍🏫 Tutorials
🧠 Feedback
🔍 Testing
🤝 Community support 📘 Docs 🐞 Bug reports 🌍 Translations 💬 Discussions 🧑‍🏫 Tutorials 🧠 Feedback 🔍 Testing 🤝 Community support 💡 Why Don’t More Devs Contribute? 💡 Why Don’t More Devs Contribute? Here are the most common blockers: 😰 Fear of judgment (“What if my PR gets mocked?”)
🤷 Low confidence (“I’m not experienced enough…”)
❓ No idea where to start
🌐 Language barrier
⏳ No time (work, burnout, life…) 😰 Fear of judgment (“What if my PR gets mocked?”) 🤷 Low confidence (“I’m not experienced enough…”) ❓ No idea where to start 🌐 Language barrier ⏳ No time (work, burnout, life…) These aren’t character flaws. These are fixable with guidance and community. 🛠️ The Cost of Not Fixing It 🛠️ The Cost of Not Fixing It Open source is the invisible infrastructure of the tech world. But without new contributors: 🐌 Projects stagnate
🔥 Maintainers burn out
🛑 Critical tech loses support 🐌 Projects stagnate 🔥 Maintainers burn out 🛑 Critical tech loses support We’re not talking about missing features, we’re risking missing futures. 🧬 Lost Potential = Lost Innovation 🧬 Lost Potential = Lost Innovation There are millions of devs who want to contribute… …but don’t know how, or are afraid to try 😞 That means millions of ideas that stay locked.That’s not sustainable. 🧭 So, How Do We Fix This? 🧭 So, How Do We Fix This? We’re not asking everyone to become maintainers overnight. But we can make the first step easier — together.The door to open source shouldn’t feel locked. 🤗 1. Make Projects Feel Welcoming 🤗 1. Make Projects Feel Welcoming People don’t contribute to repos — they contribute to communities. A good README isn’t just technical — it says:“You belong here.”• Start with why this project matters• Add a clear “How to Contribute” section• Include a real Code of Conduct (humans first!) 📌 MUI’s README is a great example — technical and human. MUI’s README 🧠 People won’t contribute if they don’t feel invited. 📖 2. Docs = LoveDocumentation is the first handshake.Done right, it says: “We care about your time.” 📖 2. Docs = Love Include: 🛠 Setup steps that actually work
🧪 Clear testing instructions
🧠 A “What to do if you’re stuck” section 🛠 Setup steps that actually work 🧪 Clear testing instructions 🧠 A “What to do if you’re stuck” section Every unclear instruction is a contributor lost. 🐣 3. “Good First Issues” Aren’t a MemeTagging tasks with “good first issue” isn’t charity — it’s strategy. 🐣 3. “Good First Issues” Aren’t a Meme They should be: 🧩 Small and self-contained
🧭 Explained with real context
🔁 Even small things (rename, doc fix) matter 🧩 Small and self-contained 🧭 Explained with real context 🔁 Even small things (rename, doc fix) matter Want to try? Here are real ones you can do today in vite-plugin-create: vite-plugin-create Add plugin usage example to vite.config.ts — help devs get started faster.🛠 PR welcome
Unify default config naming — tiny change, real impact.🛠 PR welcome Add plugin usage example to vite.config.ts — help devs get started faster.🛠 PR welcome Add plugin usage example to vite.config.ts Unify default config naming — tiny change, real impact.🛠 PR welcome Unify default config naming 🚀 Where to Find Beginner-Friendly Projects? 🚀 Where to Find Beginner-Friendly Projects? Even if you’re not ready to contribute here — there’s a world of welcoming projects waiting for you: goodfirstissue.dev 🟢
up-for-grabs.net 🧩
firstcontributions.github.io 🎓
codetriage.com 🧑‍⚕️ goodfirstissue.dev 🟢 goodfirstissue.dev 🟢 up-for-grabs.net 🧩 up-for-grabs.net 🧩 firstcontributions.github.io 🎓 firstcontributions.github.io 🎓 codetriage.com 🧑‍⚕️ codetriage.com 🧑‍⚕️ Each one helps you discover real issues — not just toy examples — and shows you exactly how to jump in. No pressure. No gatekeeping.Just real ways to help. 💪 💬 4. Feedback That Teaches, Not Scares 💬 4. Feedback That Teaches, Not Scares The way you reject a PR defines your project more than how you merge it. Bad:✖️ “This is wrong.” Better:✔️ “Thanks for this! Let’s tweak it like this — here’s why…” Every comment is a moment to mentor. Don’t waste it. 🌱 The Secret? It’s Not About Code 🌱 The Secret? It’s Not About Code It’s about people helping people. Want your project to grow? Help someone grow through your project. 💎 Real Projects Doing It Right: 💎 Real Projects Doing It Right 🟢 Vue.js Vue.js ✨ Clean documentation
🧠 Beginner sections
🫂 Supportive Discord & community ✨ Clean documentation 🧠 Beginner sections 🫂 Supportive Discord & community 🎨 p5.js p5.js 🧑‍🎓 Creative coding for learners
🌍 Focus on diversity
📦 Tons of beginner-friendly examples 🧑‍🎓 Creative coding for learners 🌍 Focus on diversity 📦 Tons of beginner-friendly examples 📊 OpenRefine OpenRefine 🔍 Clear contribution docs
🤝 Active on forums
💬 Friendly PR feedback 🔍 Clear contribution docs 🤝 Active on forums 💬 Friendly PR feedback 🌱 My First OSS Step 🌱 My First OSS Step My journey began with helping a friend build a driving test app for foreigners in Thailand 🇹🇭He didn’t have time to finish — I jumped in. Later, we mentored a beginner dev together. It felt like real impact. Then I tried making a Vite plugin I needed — and published it. And people actually used it 💥My first stars. My first issue.It felt amazing. That led to more projects. More contributors.And eventually — my first PRs to React, Vite, and others. Now I mentor devs and help them start their journey. 🎓 Tip: Take This Course📚 Open Source Software Development on Coursera
• Clear, practical lessons
• OSS etiquette & licensing
• Real-world Git workflows 🎓 Tip: Take This Course📚 Open Source Software Development on Coursera Open Source Software Development on Coursera • Clear, practical lessons • OSS etiquette & licensing • Real-world Git workflows If you’re scared to start — this will help. 🤔 And what about you? And what about you? I’d love to hear from you — the readers. you 🗳️ Have you ever contributed to open source? Have you ever contributed to open source? Leave a comment with the emoji that matches you: 💡 — I’ve contributed once or twice 🔧 — I contribute regularly 📚 — I help with docs, translations or community 🧍 — I use it but haven’t contributed yet ❓ — I want to, but don’t know how 👇 Drop your emoji below! 🏁 Final Words 🏁 Final Words 🌍 Open source is how we build the internet.🤝 It’s also how we grow developers, communities, and ideas. You don’t need to be a genius. You just need to start small — and start together. ✨ The world needs your code. But more importantly — it needs you.

This story contains new, firsthand information uncovered by the writer.

Aren

Don’t Be Intimidated by Open Source—Here’s How to Start Helping

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