Top Open Source Projects for Beginners
Updated on Jun 02, 2025 | 22 min read | 85.03K+ views
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Updated on Jun 02, 2025 | 22 min read | 85.03K+ views
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Did you know? The 2025 Google Summer of Code (GSoC) saw 15,240 applicants from 130 countries, with 1,272 contributors from 68 countries ultimately accepted. Notably, 66.3% of applicants had no prior open source experience, highlighting the field’s accessibility and global reach.
To excel in open source projects, you'll need a basic understanding of version control (Git), programming fundamentals, and collaborative development workflows. Top projects for 2025 include beginner-friendly contributions to web development frameworks, Python automation tools, JavaScript libraries, and documentation-focused repositories, each designed to strengthen your skills step by step.
These carefully curated projects align with current developer trends, enabling students and aspiring programmers to gain real-world coding experience while building portfolio-ready contributions.
This comprehensive guide explores 25 beginner-friendly open source projects, helping you grow your skills, confidence, and visibility in the global developer community.
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The only distinction between open and closed source is that the permissions are different, not the code. Suppose you are the owner; you can sell the same application in two ways. The first way is to sell it to one client as proprietary (closed source, with very few rights). The second way is to sell it to another as open source (with everything except ownership rights).
Gaining hands-on experience through open source is a smart way to grow as a developer. Here are the top courses to help you build the skills to contribute confidently.
Open-source projects involve free software solutions in which one may view, use, modify, and distribute source code. As they are mainly driven by community involvement and based on transparency, such projects invite developers from around the world. These developers contribute and build the code base together.
Open-source software is free to use rather than having its code hidden behind a paywall or proprietary license. The best open source projects for beginners promote education, collaboration, and advancement in learning.
Participating in open-source projects has various advantages for developers. It improves their career skills and enhances their portfolio and reputation. Developers can showcase their abilities and dedication to the tech community by contributing to open-source and well-known projects. Additionally, it provides opportunities to network and learn from other developers.
Closed-source projects, on the other hand, make their source code proprietary, and this means no one can access it. Contributions and modifications are under the control of specific organizations or individuals.
Closed-source software frequently provides better user interfaces and an overall better user experience. As the source code isn't made public, security vulnerabilities are typically more difficult to discover. Businesses and organizations frequently adopt closed-source software because it might offer a more dependable and stable solution than open-source software.
The following table will help you understand the clear differences between open-source projects and closed-source projects:
Parameters |
Open Source |
Closed Source |
Transparency |
It is completely transparent and available for all. |
Proprietary and hidden codes. |
Community Collaboration |
Anyone is allowed to contribute. |
The collaboration is restricted to approved developers. |
Cost |
Use and modification are free. |
It often requires licensing costs. |
Flexibility |
It is highly customizable. |
Customization of closed source is constrained or limited. |
Check out this upGrad blog to explore the Top 3 Open Source Projects for C (For Beginners To Try ).
Open-source projects are an excellent way to put their knowledge to use in practical situations. The following list of the top 25 open-source projects will help you start your journey of contributing to open source:
freeCodeCamp helps thousands of learners worldwide access high-quality coding education for free. By contributing to this open-source platform, you directly support a mission that removes barriers to tech learning and helps improve content or site features that benefit millions.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node.js, MongoDB, OAuth 2.0, Gatsby, Webpack
Use Case: You could use HTML and CSS to fix a broken layout on the certification page or add a new interactive module using React, directly improving the learning experience for thousands of users like you.
Looking to kickstart your backend development journey? upGrad’s Node.js for Beginners course is the perfect starting point. Learn to build scalable backend applications while mastering Node.js fundamentals, architecture, core modules, REPL, UML, and the I/O model. Get 14 hours of structured learning and a free certificate on completion.
Also Read: How to Use MongoDB Docker Compose? A Complete Guide
First Contributions lowers the barrier to entry for open-source by offering a simple, beginner-friendly guide to making your first pull request. It’s designed to help new developers understand Git fundamentals and gain confidence contributing to collaborative projects.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Git, GitHub, Markdown, Command Line
Use Case:
You’re learning Git but are unsure how to apply it in real life. First Contributions walks you through creating a personal branch and submitting changes without affecting the main project, making your first GitHub contribution stress-free and educational.
Also Read: How to Use GitHub: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started and Exploring Its Benefits in 2025
Appwrite is an end-to-end backend server that helps you build secure and scalable apps without managing complex infrastructure. Built with Docker microservices, it simplifies tasks like authentication, databases, file storage, and server-side logic, making backend development faster and more efficient.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
TypeScript, PHP, Docker, Kubernetes
Use Case: Imagine you're building a mobile app and need secure user login, file upload, and a real-time database. With Appwrite, you can implement all these features using ready-to-use APIs, letting you focus on front-end logic while the backend is handled efficiently.
Ready to future-proof your tech career with Cloud and DevOps? upGrad’s Professional Certificate Program in Cloud Computing and DevOps gives you hands-on training in AWS, Azure, GCP, and DevOps tools. Build real-world cloud solutions and become job-ready for the 46 million opportunities expected by 2030. Enroll now and lead the next tech revolution.
Also Read: 45+ Must-Know Microservices Interview Questions and Answers for 2025
Simple Icons offers over 2,000 pixel-perfect SVG brand icons, making it a go-to resource for developers building clean and scalable user interfaces. Its detailed contributing guidelines make it easy for beginners to start with open-source.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, SVG, npm
Use Case: You’re building a web dashboard and need official brand logos for integrations. With Simple Icons, you can fetch clean SVGs directly from the npm package and contribute new logos or fixes using familiar web technologies, enhancing both your UI and open-source experience.
Looking to strengthen your development skills with a solid understanding of object-oriented programming? upGrad’s free Java Object-oriented Programming course helps you grasp key concepts like classes, objects, and inheritance through hands-on examples.
Habitica is a gamified habit-building app that turns your daily tasks into a role-playing game. By contributing to this open-source project, you help enhance user experience, fix bugs, or introduce new features that keep users engaged and motivated.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Vue
Use Case: You might use your HTML and CSS skills to improve the user profile layout or apply JavaScript and Vue to fix a bug in the daily task component, directly enhancing the experience for thousands of users who rely on Habitica to stay productive.
Oppia is an open-source platform that empowers users to create interactive, tutor-style educational experiences called “explorations.” These simulations help learners engage with content more actively by receiving personalized feedback, like a one-on-one tutor session. As a beginner contributor, you can help build new lessons, refine the codebase, or improve the overall user interface and experience.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, Angular, Firebase
Use Case: You could use Python to build a logic-based exercise, enhance the frontend with TypeScript and CSS for a smoother UI, or fix an HTML structure issue in an exploration module, directly improving the learning experience for students worldwide.
Also Read: How to Run the Angular Project [Step-By-Step Explanation]
Zulip is one of the most advanced open-source team chat apps, uniquely combining real-time messaging with threaded asynchronous conversations. It's widely used by remote teams and open-source communities for its clean organization and scalability. Beginners can contribute to front and backend tasks, gaining real-world experience across a full tech stack.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, Django, TypeScript, React, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Use Case: You can improve the message rendering system in Zulip using React and CSS, or resolve a backend bug written in Python. Each contribution directly enhances team productivity for users around the world, just like you.
Also Read: Top 30 Django Project Ideas for Beginners in 2025 [With Source Code]
Public APIs will be one of the most valuable open-source projects for developers in 2025. They offer a massive, community-curated collection of free APIs across domains like weather, finance, health, and more. You can contribute by adding new APIs, fixing broken links, or improving categorization, making it easier for developers to discover and use these resources.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, Shell, Markdown, GitHub
Use Case: You’re building a weather app and need a reliable data source. Instead of writing an entire backend, you head to Public APIs, find a suitable weather API, and integrate it into your app within minutes. You later spot an outdated API listing and contribute an update, helping other developers like you avoid broken links.
OpenLibrary is a well-known open-source initiative started in 2006 with the mission to create one web page for every book ever published. As part of the Internet Archive, it makes out-of-print and public domain books accessible to everyone. You can help fix bugs, improve metadata accuracy, or enhance search functionality by contributing.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, Vue, HTML, Shell scripting, JavaScript
Use Case: You might improve search speed by optimizing metadata with Python or enhance the user interface with Vue, making it easier for readers to find rare or out-of-print books, just like you would want when looking for your favorite title.
PyTorch is a leading open-source machine learning library focused on deep learning applications. This project offers a rich collection of tutorials, articles, code libraries, and videos, making it an excellent place to contribute as a newcomer. You can help by writing tutorials, working with datasets, or fixing beginner-friendly issues.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, PyTorch, Machine Learning, Deep Learning
Use Case: You might write a beginner-friendly tutorial explaining neural networks or fix a bug in a dataset loader, helping other learners and developers enhance their understanding of AI with PyTorch.
Looking to explore AI-driven creativity with Generative AI? upGrad’s free Introduction to Generative AI course lets you learn real-world applications, get hands-on training, and earn a certification online. Start building your AI skills today!
30 Seconds of Code is one of the easiest open-source projects for beginners. It offers a vast collection of concise, easy-to-understand JavaScript code snippets that explain a concept in 30 seconds or less. By contributing, you're improving your JavaScript skills and helping build a powerful community resource for developers.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
JavaScript, Markdown, Git, GitHub
Use Case: If you're a beginner, you could enhance a snippet’s clarity or add a new one, like a utility to debounce a function, making it easier for other developers like you to reuse and learn from it.
VS Code is one of the most popular open-source code editors, built by Microsoft. Its flexibility, active community, and rich extension ecosystem make it ideal for beginners and pros. Contributing to this project helps you understand large-scale codebases and participate in real-world software development.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
TypeScript, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, Electron
Use Case: You might contribute by creating a new extension that highlights TODO comments across different languages or enhancing the interface using TypeScript and CSS skills directly applicable to real-world front-end and tooling projects.
The TensorFlow Models project is perfect if you're diving into machine learning and want to work with real, production-grade models. It provides a wide range of pre-trained models and state-of-the-art implementations to help accelerate your ML workflows. Whether you’re refining models, improving documentation, or creating tutorials, there’s always something impactful to contribute.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, C++, Shell Scripting, TensorFlow, Machine Learning
Use Case: Imagine you're exploring TensorFlow for the first time and want to see how object detection works. You clone a pre-trained model from the repository, fine-tune it using Python, and document your steps, helping the next contributor like you get started faster.
JabRef is an open-source reference management tool that helps researchers efficiently manage citations and bibliographies. Built with JavaFX, it offers advanced features like filtering, smart search, and BibTeX integration, making it ideal for organizing academic research. You can contribute by enhancing features, fixing bugs, or improving the user experience.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Java, JavaFX, Python, CSS, Git, XML
Use Case: You might improve the filtering feature using Java or polish the interface with CSS tweaks. If you're interested in backend enhancements or scripting automation tools, Python can help you contribute effectively to the JabRef ecosystem.
Godot Engine allows aspiring game developers to build 2D and 3D games using a fully open-source platform. Unlike starting from scratch, Godot comes with a wide range of built-in tools, allowing you to focus directly on gameplay, mechanics, and design. Since it’s entirely community-driven, you can help shape the engine to match your development goals.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
C++, C, Java, C#, GodotScript
Use Case: You might use C# to script a player controller or customize physics interactions in a 2D platformer. Or you could use C++ to contribute to fixing a rendering bug in the engine itself, helping improve performance for the whole Godot community.
This open-source project offers a curated list of real-world React apps, such as Whisper, Milan, DripUI, and Noteslify. You can choose any of these projects to explore, enhance features, fix bugs, or customize UI components, making it a hands-on way to grow your React skills.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
React, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Git, GitHub
Use Case: Let’s say you want to enhance the UI of a Noteslify app. You can fork the project, redesign the layout using CSS, or add a dark mode feature using React hooks, while learning version control and modern React practices.
Looking to build dynamic web interfaces like the ones in your favorite React open-source projects? upGrad’s React.js for Beginners course helps you learn to create reusable components and develop apps like a Phone Directory. Start your front-end journey with hands-on experience today.
Also Read: Top 28 React Projects for Beginners in 2025 [Source Code Included]
Kubernetes is a leading open-source platform for managing containerized applications across clusters of hosts. By contributing, you help enhance its command-line tools and support the deployment, scaling, and maintenance of complex applications in production environments.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Go, Shell, Kubernetes CLI, Docker, YAML, Git
Use Case: You might contribute by writing Go code that enhances a Kubectl feature or fixes a shell script used in deployment automation. This would help teams like yours streamline app delivery in real-world cloud environments.
Also Read: How to Use MongoDB Docker Compose? A Complete Guide
Docusaurus makes it easy to build scalable documentation websites. Originally developed by Meta to support their growing list of open-source projects, it’s now a flexible, developer-friendly tool used by many other organizations as well.
By contributing to Docusaurus, you can work with modern frontend tooling while improving documents for developers worldwide. The project offers a well-defined contributing guide, so you can easily suggest bug fixes, add enhancements, or test new features.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
TypeScript, CSS, React, Markdown, Node.js, Babel, Webpack
Use Case: You can fix a layout issue on a documentation page using CSS or add a new plugin in TypeScript that helps organize content better, improving the experience for teams using Docusaurus to document their APIs or products.
Ansible is an open-source automation tool that simplifies application deployment, provisioning, and configuration management tasks. Contributing to this project means helping developers and IT teams streamline workflows by setting up environments with Ansible collections and Python dependencies, improving automation efficiency across systems.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, Go, Shell Scripting, YAML, JavaScript
Use Case: You might contribute by creating a reusable Ansible role to automate Python app deployment on cloud instances, helping teams like yours reduce manual setup time and minimize errors in production environments.
Also Read: DevOps Architecture Tutorial: Introduction, Components & Benefits
Homebrew is a popular macOS package manager that lets you install open-source and free software directly from the terminal. It supports essential developer tools like Python, Ruby, and Node.js. By contributing to Homebrew’s open-source projects, you can help improve documentation, add new packages, or maintain existing ones to support the developer community.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
HTML, JavaScript, Shell scripting
Use Case: You might use HTML knowledge to improve Homebrew’s web-based documentation, apply JavaScript skills from a full-stack course to better understand Node.js tooling, or contribute to shell scripting for automating installation tasks, helping countless developers streamline their workflows.
Eidolon AI is an open-source framework designed to build and manage networked AI agents effortlessly. It eliminates the need to create custom networking layers by handling agent-to-agent communication and simplifying agent configuration. New contributors can start by exploring a curated list of beginner-friendly issues, joining discussions, or connect via Discord for support.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Python, Artificial Intelligence
Use Case: You could dive into Python code to help improve agent configuration or fix bugs in communication protocols, making the system more reliable for developers building intelligent multi-agent applications.
KitOps enables easy packaging and sharing of AI and ML models. It lets you unpack only the parts of a ModelKit you need, saving time and storage space. By contributing, you can help enhance model versioning or simplify deployment workflows.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
Go, Shell scripting, Machine Learning.
Use Case: You might improve deployment by adding automation scripts in Shell or enhancing model versioning logic in Go. This would help your team efficiently share and update models without unnecessary overhead, speeding up your AI projects.
Mermaid is a JavaScript-based tool that uses markdown-like syntax to create flowcharts and diagrams. It helps keep documentation up-to-date with evolving projects. By contributing to Mermaid, you join a growing community focused on improving diagram rendering and building interactive documentation tools.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, Vue.js
Use Case: You might enhance Mermaid by building a new diagram feature using TypeScript or designing dynamic interfaces with Vue. Your contributions can improve teams' visualization of complex workflows and keep their documentation clear and current.
Storybook is a popular open-source tool that helps developers build and document UI components in isolation. Used by thousands of teams, it streamlines UI development, testing, and collaboration with a rich ecosystem of add-ons for design, documentation, and interactivity. Contributors can work with any Node.js version manager to get started quickly.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
React, TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js
Use Case: You might create reusable React components with Storybook and add interactive documentation using TypeScript. This helps your team build consistent UIs faster while maintaining clear documentation that improves collaboration.
Electron is a popular framework for building cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Trusted by apps like Visual Studio Code, it combines Node.js and Chromium to deliver powerful desktop experiences. By contributing to Electron, you can help improve documentation, add new features, or fix bugs while following the Contributor Covenant code of conduct.
Key Features:
Tools & Technologies:
JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Node.js, Chromium, C++, TypeScript
Use Case: You might start by fixing a UI bug using JavaScript and CSS or optimize backend functionality with Node.js, directly enhancing the performance and usability of apps millions rely on daily.
Now that you know how to contribute to impactful projects, let’s explore why contributing to open source in 2025 is more important than ever and how it can accelerate your growth as a developer.
Open source collaborations go beyond code writing. These projects offer numerous benefits, such as opportunities to develop technical skills and engage with global communities. They also allow you to create meaningful solutions, enhancing your career prospects.
Open source community projects allow you to develop real-world skills by working with actual codebases and solving real-world problems. Unlike conventional learning approaches, open source projects push you to tackle practical issues.
Some projects require building useful applications or collaborating with other developers. These experiences help bridge the gap between theory and practice, preparing you for industry challenges.
Because open source projects bring together developers from around the globe, they offer a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning. You can collaborate with a developer on the opposite side of the globe as you sit in your own little corner.
This gives you the opportunity to work with experts from different fields, learn from their approaches, and exchange ideas. This type of global exposure facilitates the building of a strong professional network.
The more projects you contribute to, the stronger your resume becomes. These open source learning projects demonstrate technical proficiency and support the development of soft skills like teamwork and problem-solving.
Your practical experience sets you apart from others, increasing your chances of securing relevant tech jobs. A substantial number of open source contributions can make your profile stand out.
Open source programs allow you to improve products and platforms you already rely on. Enhancing existing software or implementing new features benefits others and helps create a sense of community.
By contributing, you help ensure high-quality software is accessible to everyone, modernizing technology and fostering innovation.
Are you prepared to develop your abilities and change the world? Explore upGrad’s blog on Top 15+ Open SourceProject Repositories on GitHub. Start your open-source journey now!
Choose projects that align with your interests or skills. GitHub simplifies this process by labeling tasks with labels like "good first issue" or "help wanted," making it easier to identify beginner-friendly tasks.
These tasks allow you to familiarize yourself with the workflow while contributing meaningfully to the project. Once comfortable, you can take on larger features or tackle more complex problems.
Every open source project has specific rules for contributions, outlined in its contribution guidelines. These guidelines explain processes like coding standards, reporting bugs, or submitting changes. Take the time to review and understand them before contributing. Contributions succeed when they come from thoughtful and helpful individuals who respect the community’s practices.
Mastering version control tools like Git and GitHub is essential for effective open source contributions. Git tracks code changes, manages development, and resolves conflicts easily. You must know Github and how to use it. GitHub is the go-to platform for code review, collaboration, and contribution submission. Familiarity with these tools is indispensable for managing open source projects efficiently.
Begin with smaller contributions, such as fixing minor bugs, updating documentation, or correcting typos. These seemingly simple tasks help you understand the codebase and project processes. As you gain confidence, progress to adding features or solving complex issues. Gradual involvement helps you grow while making meaningful contributions.
If you're a beginner, starting with simple open source projects like documentation contributions, bug fixes, or UI improvements will help you grasp the basics of Git. It also introduces you to version control and collaborative workflows. These projects will build your confidence and help you understand how open source ecosystems function.
As you grow more comfortable, move on to intermediate projects like building small features, fixing complex issues, or working on web frameworks and developer tools. This is where you can deepen your understanding of code structure, design patterns, and cross-team collaboration while building a strong portfolio.
With over 10 million learners, 200+ industry-relevant courses, and 1,400+ hiring partners, upGrad helps you stay ahead by building job-ready skills. Explore these additional courses:
You can also explore these courses:
Sources:
https://www.freecodecamp.org/
https://github.com/firstcontributions/first-contributions
https://github.com/appwrite/appwrite
https://simpleicons.org/,https://habitica.com/
https://www.oppia.org/learn/math
https://zulip.com/,https://github.com/public-apis/public-apis
https://openlibrary.org/
https://github.com/pytorch/pytorch
https://www.30secondsofcode.org/
https://github.com/microsoft/vscode
https://github.com/tensorflow/models
https://github.com/JabRef/jabref
https://godotengine.org/showcase/
https://github.com/facebook/react
https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes
https://github.com/facebook/docusaurus
https://github.com/ansible/ansible
https://github.com/Homebrew/brew
https://github.com/eidolon-ai
https://github.com/kitops-ml/kitops
https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid
https://github.com/storybookjs/storybook
https://github.com/storybookjs/storybook
References:
https://opensource.googleblog.com/2025/05/gsoc-2025-we-have-our-contributors.html
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