Contributing to MongoDB

Introduction

Contributing to the MongoDB project can be a rewarding experience. This guide will walk you through the process of making contributions, from finding issues to submitting pull requests.

Finding Issues

The first step in contributing to MongoDB is to find an issue to work on. You can browse the issue tracker on GitHub to find bugs, enhancements, and other tasks.

GitHub Issue Tracker

Visit the MongoDB GitHub Issue Tracker to find open issues. Look for issues labeled "good first issue" or "help wanted" if you are new to contributing.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before you can start working on an issue, you need to set up your development environment.

Forking the Repository

Fork the MongoDB repository on GitHub to create your own copy. Clone your fork to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/mongo.git
            

Building MongoDB

Follow the instructions in the MongoDB Build Wiki to build MongoDB from source. This will ensure that you have all the necessary dependencies and can build the project successfully.

Making Changes

Once your development environment is set up, you can start working on your chosen issue.

Creating a Branch

Create a new branch for your work:

git checkout -b my-feature-branch
            

Implementing Changes

Make the necessary changes to address the issue. Be sure to follow the project's coding standards and guidelines.

Submitting a Pull Request

After you have made and tested your changes, you can submit a pull request to the MongoDB repository.

Pushing Your Changes

Push your changes to your fork:

git push origin my-feature-branch
            

Opening a Pull Request

Go to the MongoDB repository on GitHub and open a pull request from your branch. Provide a clear and detailed description of your changes and reference the issue you are addressing.

Example: Fixing a Typo

Here is an example of a simple contribution, such as fixing a typo in the documentation:

# Correct the typo in a markdown file
- Incorrect: "Thsi is a typo."
- Correct: "This is a typo."
                

Conclusion

Contributing to MongoDB is a great way to improve your skills, collaborate with other developers, and help advance a widely used database technology. Follow the steps outlined in this guide to start making valuable contributions to the MongoDB project.