Good First Issue Contributor Guide

If you've used nexu, or you're curious about products combining IM, desktop clients, and digital clones, we'd love for you to start with a Good First Issue and submit your first PR.

We're actively looking for Good First Issue contributors.

Think of it as: a small task the maintainers have already scoped out — clear boundaries, focused on one area, and perfect for first-time open-source contributors.

Why It's Great for First-Timers

• Easy to get started: Usually involves just one area — no need to understand the entire architecture first.
• Easy to verify: Small scope, clear acceptance criteria, you can self-test when done.
• Faster feedback: These issues typically get reviewed more quickly.

Who Should Start Here

If any of the following applies to you, good-first-issue is a great place to begin:

• First time contributing to open source
• More interested in UX, docs, i18n, or frontend interactions
• Prefer starting small and learning the project as you go
• Willing to collaborate with reviewers to refine your changes

Jump right in:

• Good First Issue List
• GitHub Issues
• Contributing Guide

What You Get After Contributing

When your contribution is merged, it doesn't just end at "PR merged":

• Your contribution enters public display and the leaderboard
• Your effort is recorded as contribution points
• First-time contributors receive follow-up suggestions

See full details:

• Contributor Rewards & Support

Three Steps: From Observer to Contributor

1. Pick an Issue

Open the Good First Issue List, find one that interests you, and leave a comment to claim it — this avoids duplicate work.

Recommended starting points:

• Copy / i18n fixes
• Small UI / interaction issues
• Documentation improvements
• Small bugs with clear reproduction steps

2. Read the Guide & Set Up

Before you start coding, read through the Contributing Guide.

Minimum setup:

git clone https://github.com/nexu-io/nexu.git
cd nexu
pnpm install

If you're changing code, at least run:

pnpm lint
pnpm typecheck
pnpm test

If you're changing docs, preview locally:

cd docs
pnpm install
pnpm dev

3. Submit a PR

Fork the repo, create a descriptive branch name, and include in your PR description:

• Related Issue number
• What you changed
• How to verify
• Screenshots or recordings for UI changes

After merge, you'll enter the appreciation and points tracking flow.

Join the nexu Discord Contributor Group 💬

It's better to chat with a group than figure things out alone. The group includes maintainers and experienced contributors — join us and talk about your first contribution 👇

👉 Join nexu Discord

FAQ

I'm not a senior engineer — is that okay?

Absolutely. Good First Issue is designed as an entry point for first-time contributors.

What if my English isn't great?

The team reads both English and Chinese in Issues / PRs. Read through the contributing guide first — language is not a barrier, getting started is.

Can I use AI to help write code?

Yes. We recommend briefly noting in your PR whether you used AI assistance and what you verified yourself.

Will my PR be ignored?

We try to review on a public schedule. Good First Issue PRs typically get faster feedback, but it depends on maintainer availability at the time.

Final Words

The best part of open source is that your changes live in the version history — and are actually used by real people.

If you're ready, start with a Good First Issue.