Getting Started With Fedora
Welcome to my corner of the internet. Today, I want to share my experience contributing to Fedora through the Outreachy internship. If you’re new to Fedora or considering contributing, this post will give you a clear and practical introduction to what Fedora is, how it works, and how you can get involved.
What is Fedora?
Fedora is an open source community that develops Fedora Linux, a free and cutting-edge operating system. It’s an entire ecosystem of contributors working together to build, test, document, and improve open source software. If you use Linux or you are just interested in contributing to open source Operating Systems, Fedora is a great place to start.
Fedora is guided by four key foundations: Freedom (commitment to free software), Friends (community collaboration), Features (innovative technology), and First (leadership in adopting new tech). These foundations show that Fedora focuses on both creating great software and building a strong community.
One cool thing about Fedora is its different editions for different needs. You can use Fedora Workstation for your laptop, Fedora Server for running servers, IoT for smart devices, Cloud for cloud computing, or CoreOS for container work. There are also “Spins” with different desktop looks like KDE or Xfce. Behind all this is a community supported by Red Hat, but run by volunteers and contributors. The Fedora project has Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for different aspects/activities.
My Journey with Fedora Through Outreachy
I started contributing to Fedora through the Outreachy internship. Fedora has a well-structured process that makes it easier to get involved. If you’re an Outreachy applicant, you’ll find Fedora listed on the projects page, along with a link to join the community on Matrix, which is where you’ll communicate with your mentor and the Fedora community. The Outreachy page also lists the name of your mentor, so you know exactly who to reach out to. This pipeline makes it easy to find your footing and start contributing quickly. Your mentor will guide you on what is required of you when you are contributing through Outreachy.
Fedora organizes tasks as issues on GitLab, so you’ll need a GitLab account to track and contribute to them. It may seem overwhelming at first, but once you join the Matrix group chat, you’ll realize you’re not alone. Everyone is helpful, and you’ll find your way in no time. There may be more than one project under Fedora on the Outreachy project selection page, so you just need to join the relevant community for your project of interest and follow the process. Like I said earlier, Fedora has a well-structured process, so it’s basically the same across different projects.
Contributing Outside Outreachy
Although I’m contributing through Outreachy, Fedora is open to everyone—whether or not you’re in a formal internship program. If you want to contribute directly, here’s what you need to do:
- Join the Fedora Community – Create a Fedora account first, then head to the Fedora project page, where you’ll find links to join Matrix, mailing lists, and other communication channels.
- Create a GitLab Account – Fedora manages contributions through GitLab, so you’ll need an account.
- Communicate – Introduce yourself in the Matrix chat or Join SIG channels, ask questions, and engage with the community. The Join SIG is specifically there to help newcomers.
- Find an Issue – Browse open issues in the Fedora GitLab repository. Tasks are often labeled for beginners, so start with something small.
- Submit Your Contribution – Follow the contribution guidelines, submit your work, and get feedback.
Final Thoughts
One thing I love about Fedora is its commitment to collaboration. The community is welcoming, and there’s always something to work on, even if you’re not code savvy. You could fix a bug, improve documentation, test new features and many more. If you’re new, just take the first step—join the conversation, pick a small task, and start contributing.
If you’re an Outreachy 2026 applicant reading this, know that Fedora is one of the best open source communities to get started with. Dive in, explore, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You got this!