Open-source development is like a vast playground, full of exciting opportunities to build, break, and—most importantly—collaborate. Recently, I took a deep dive into the world of CLI tools and added a feature to a project that made it even cooler. But wait—there's more! My own repo also got a pull request, and that brought its own set of surprises. Let's break it down! 😎

The Mission: Add Token Usage Monitoring to AutoComment 🛠️
I was tasked with adding a new feature to an open-source project called AutoComment, a CLI tool that automates adding comments to your code using OpenAI’s models which was made my by peer Aldrin Fernandez (https://github.com/aldrin312).
My mission: implement a way to track API token usage—a crucial feature for anyone mindful of API rate limits and costs.

📝 What I Did:

• Added a New Flag: I introduced a --token-usage flag to the tool. Now, users can easily see how many tokens the API consumed when generating comments.
• Documented the Feature: After coding, I made sure to update the project’s README.md file to explain how to use the new flag and even added an example output.
• Challenges Along the Way: Merging, Conflicts, and Success! 😅
• Merge Conflicts: When I submitted my pull request, there was a merge conflict in the README.md. Both my branch and the main branch had changes in the same section. Git was confused, and so was I—for about five seconds.
• Conflict Resolution: After taking a deep breath, I manually merged the changes, making sure my new documentation didn’t overwrite the existing demo section. Problem solved!
• Final Approval: After resolving the conflict, my pull request was reviewed and approved. Victory! 🎉

What I Learned (Besides How to Breathe During Merge Conflicts) 🧠
Merge Conflict Mastery: Now, I’m way more comfortable resolving merge conflicts, especially when they involve documentation.
Importance of Clear Documentation: A great feature isn’t complete without thorough documentation. I learned how to write clear instructions that both maintainers and users will appreciate.
Collaboration is Key: Working on an open-source project requires solid communication, whether you're asking for feedback or just ensuring that your work aligns with the project goals.

My Experience Receiving a Pull Request:
Interestingly, I also received a pull request for my own repository. Here’s what that experience was like:

• Clear Communication: The contributor provided clear information about the feature they added—a token usage function and CLI command. They explained how it works and even provided examples to make it easier for me to test their code.
• Minimal Changes Required: The PR was well-documented and thoroughly tested. The only follow-up needed was a minor fix for a spelling issue, which was promptly addressed by the contributor.
• Appreciating the Contribution: I was thrilled to see someone contributing to my project, and I made sure to express my appreciation for their efforts.
• PR Merging: After reviewing the PR and testing the new feature, I merged it into the main branch. The entire process went smoothly, and it was exciting to see collaboration happening in real-time.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time 🤔

• More Frequent Communication: I’d reach out to the repo maintainers earlier in the process to make sure my changes align perfectly with their expectations.
• Test More Edge Cases: There’s always room to test more scenarios—especially with a new feature like token usage tracking.

In Conclusion: Open Source is a Blast! 🎉

Working on the AutoComment project was a rewarding experience, and it felt even better to receive my own pull request. I walked away with improved technical skills, better conflict resolution chops, and a newfound love for open-source collaboration. If you're thinking about contributing to open source, do it! It’s a rollercoaster of learning and collaboration, and you'll always come out on top.

So what’s next? Who knows! But if my CLI tool needs another feature—or if you’re working on one—don’t hesitate to hit me up. Let’s make open source awesome, together. 🚀