TLDR
- In the AI era, the barrier to participating in open source is no longer limited to "coding." AI tools can help newcomers quickly understand project structures and code logic, but the true core challenge lies in comprehending the design decisions and historical context behind a project. Consequently, forms of open source contributions have diversified. Beyond submitting code, providing genuine feedback, improving documentation, and participating in design discussions are equally important. Newcomers can start from their own user experience, beginning with submitting an Issue, and gradually delving deeper. In the future, truly scarce contributors will be those who understand users and systems, knowing "what to do" and "why to do it."
source & further reading
x-cmd.com — original article