As October comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on my experience during Hacktoberfest this year. This time, I participated as a maintainer for our project at @hyperswitch , which deepened my appreciation for the importance of community in open source.

My Role: As a DevRel, I was looking after issue creation, guiding people to resources, managing the assignment of issues, and coordinating among the contributors and the internal team for queries and reviews.

How It Went:📈

• We kicked off with a good start; as we created issues in the last weeks of September, contributors were already discussing and working on them.
• As soon as we started, we had a lot of people coming in and asking for assignments of issues so they could work on it. By October 3rd, we had 48 issues assigned, 18 PRs raised.
• Tried to make issues beginner-friendly, given the complexity of digital payments.
• Saw participation from all skill levels, from first-time contributors to seasoned Hacktoberfest participants.

Learnings for us:🤔

• Hacktoberfest allowed me to view our project from a fresh perspective, as contributors noticed details I might overlook.
• Questions from contributors helped identify areas in our documentation needing clarification, which we’ll be updating soon.
• Also updating guidelines to address common queries raised by contributors.
• Participation seemed lower this year, and I wonder if this trend affected other projects as well. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Community is WOW!❤️

Hacktoberfest also highlighted the diversity of the open-source community. As we had people from each level of skills and expertise, each contributor brought unique insights. Some were experienced developers who tackled issues with ease, while others were just starting out but were eager to learn and help. Working with such a diverse group reminded me that open source thrives on this variety of skills and perspectives.

Being a maintainer also reinforced the responsibility that comes with this role. Open source is not just about code—it’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s essential to be approachable, give helpful feedback, and appreciate the time each person spends on their contribution.

Road Ahead:🛣️

This Hacktoberfest was full of learning, connection, and growth for our community. My experience as a maintainer at Hyperswitch provided insights I hadn’t expected and reminded me why open source is about much more than just coding. I’m excited to continue supporting this community and watching it grow.

Here’s to Hacktoberfest 2024🥂 and to all the contributors who bring life to open source!🚀