🚀 Welcome to CodeLab's Open Source Cohort!

👋 Hey there, Open Source Enthusiasts! Open source is here, and it's ready for your contributions! Whether you're looking to gain real-world industry experience, build your portfolio, or just have fun collaborating with like-minded developers, you're in the right place. This cohort is all about learning by doing—no resumes, no interviews, just passion and effort. Let's dive into what we'll be building together!

🎨 Our Project: A React Component Library

We're building a modern, CodeLab-themed React Component Library that's reusable, customizable, and perfect for web development. The stack? Glad you asked!

Tech Stack:

• Next.js - For a powerful, scalable React-based framework.
• Tailwind CSS - To keep our styling clean and mobile-friendly.
• ShadCN - A headless UI component library to speed up development.
• Storybook - For interactive documentation and live component demos.

We'll be designing components that are easy to use, beautifully styled, and documented for smooth adoption. Think of it as building Lego blocks for web apps!

📌 What You Need to Know Before You Start

1️⃣ No Experience? No Problem!

This cohort is open to everyone. You don't need to be an expert—just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

2️⃣ GitHub is a Must!

We'll be using GitHub to track issues, assign tickets, and submit pull requests. You should have a basic understanding of GitHub, including:

• Cloning repositories
• Branching
• Making pull requests
• Merging changes (but don't worry, mentors will handle this part!)

If you're new to GitHub, take some time to brush up on the basics!

3️⃣ Get Familiar with Our Tech Stack

While we don't expect you to be an expert, having a basic understanding of the following will help you contribute effectively:

• Next.js - Learn how routing and components work.
• Tailwind CSS - Understand utility-based styling.
• ShadCN - Familiarize yourself with its pre-built components.
• Storybook - Explore how we document and demo our UI components.

Bonus: We'll be sharing component designs via Figma, so a basic understanding of Figma is also helpful!

📌 How to Contribute

We operate on a ticket-based system, meaning all tasks will be assigned through GitHub Issues. Here's how it works:

✅ Tickets will be released every 1-2 weeks. Each ticket includes:

• A ShadCN component link 📌
• A Figma design 🎨

✅ Claim a ticket only if you're comfortable with the tech! This keeps development efficient.

✅ One ticket per person per release. No hoarding! If you miss out, no worries—there's always the next batch.

✅ Tickets must be completed within two weeks. Struggling to finish? Reach out to a mentor!

🚀 First ticket drop: February 5th, 2025! Stay tuned in the announcements channel!

Need help? We got you! Weekly office hours (schedule coming soon) will be available for debugging and guidance.

🌟 Becoming an Active Member

Want to make the most of this experience? You need to make at least one successful pull request to be considered an active member. Here's why it's worth it:

🎖 Add this experience to your resume & LinkedIn 💼 Boost your chances in CodeLab's future recruitment cycles 📈 The more you contribute, the more perks you unlock!

Remember, only successfully merged PRs count toward your contributions!

📢 Important Reminders

📺 Watch the meeting recording for a full walkthrough, including a demo on how to assign yourself a ticket on GitHub.

📖 Read the README.md - It covers project details and setup instructions.

📌 Check out the CONTRIBUTING.md - This guide explains how to submit PRs and follow best practices.

🚫 You should NOT merge any pull requests. The CodeLab OS mentors will review and merge all PRs.

🔑 Final Key Takeaway:

If you want to list this experience on your resume, you must be an active member—that means at least one successfully merged PR!

Ready to start? Let's build something amazing together! 🎉