Contributor Day Nav Links
To enjoy the day and make a meaningful contribution, we recommend setting up an environment you need in advance.
Welcome to Contributor Day. Whether this is your first time contributing or you have been part of the WordPress project for years, the day is designed to help you connect, learn, and make meaningful contributions together.
This guide is structured to help you quickly find what you need: how the day works, how to prepare, where to get help, and how to keep going after the event.
What Contributor Day Is (and How It Works)
Contributor Day brings people together to collaborate on the WordPress project. You can explore different teams, learn new skills, and make real contributions—no matter your experience level.
Throughout the day:
- You can drop into short workshops covering specific skills, workflows, or contribution topics.
- You can join a team table, meet the table lead, and get help finding a suitable task.
- You can move between workshops, tables, and shared spaces as needed.
If you are new, table leads can help you find a first, approachable task. If you are experienced, they can help you dive straight into more advanced work.
Support Spaces You Can Use
Several dedicated spaces exist to help you stay unblocked and inspired during the day:
Help Table
For setup issues, tooling questions, or small blockers. It is designed for quick, practical support so you can keep moving.
Open-Source Library
A space to hear stories, share experiences, and learn how contributors grow within the WordPress project—from first contributions to long-term leadership. This is a good place for perspective, inspiration, and thoughtful conversations.
Before You Arrive
A little preparation can help you get more out of the day.
Accounts and Setup
- Sign in to your WordPress.org profile ahead of time.
- Take a few minutes to explore the teams you might want to contribute to.
If you plan to contribute to Core or other development-focused teams, setting up a local development environment in advance is strongly recommended. To contribute to Core follow the getting started instructions in the WordPress Develop repository:
https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/?tab=readme-ov-file#getting-started
A full setup is helpful but not required for all teams. If you do not complete the setup beforehand, support will be available onsite, but you may spend a significant portion of the day getting familiar with the environment.
What to Bring
(Especially for First-Time Contributors)
- A fully charged laptop and powercharger
- Curiosity
You do not need a perfect setup or deep expertise. Many contributors complete their first task using simple tools and guidance from table leads. Starting small helps build momentum and gives you a clear sense of progress by the end of the day.
On the Day
Getting Oriented
Start by joining the first-timer orientation & workshop. This session gives a quick overview of:
- How the day flows
- What support is available
- How different teams work
Joining a Team Table
When you are ready:
- Choose a table that matches your skills, interests, or curiosity
- Introduce yourself to the table lead and other contributors
- Share what you would like to work on and how comfortable you are with the tools or workflows
Not sure how to identify a table lead? Team leads are also introduced during the opening remarks, so arriving early helps you get oriented.
Asking for Help
Ask questions early and often. No question is too small. Table leads and experienced contributors are there to help you move forward, whether you are tackling your first task or advanced work.
If you feel stuck or lost in what to do, the Help Table is always available for quick assistance.
Ways New Contributors Can Get Involved
If you are unsure where to start, these teams are especially welcoming to new contributors:
Support Team
Answer straightforward questions in the WordPress.org support forums and link people to helpful resources. You do not need to be an expert to be useful.
Documentation Team
Update outdated paragraphs, fill in missing steps, translate pages, or draft short topics you know well. Small edits add up and keep documentation up-to-date.
Photos Team
Contribute original images to the WordPress Photo Directory. Everyday tech scenes—laptops, keyboards, people using WordPress—are especially helpful.
Polyglots Team
Translate a handful of strings into your language and see progress right away. You only need a WordPress.org account to begin.
If you are unsure which team fits you best, try the Contributor Wizard for a quick match.
When Things Feel Unclear or Harder Than Expected
Sometimes a task turns out to be more complex than it looked at first. You might realize that it is beyond your current understanding, difficult to complete within the time you have during Contributor Day, or simply too vague to know how to proceed. In other cases, you may see several possible ways forward and feel unsure which one is best. That is completely normal.
Contributor Day is not always the right moment for deep investigation or weighing all pros and cons of a complex decision. Some questions require more time, context, or long-term familiarity with the project, and it is okay to acknowledge that.
If you reach this point:
- Raise this question at your table to discuss with table leads and other contributors and describe what feels unclear or heavy
- Ask whether the task can be narrowed down to a smaller, well-defined piece
- Check with the table lead if there is a simpler or more time‑boxed task you could switch to
Often, a short conversation helps clarify expectations or confirms that pausing or changing direction is the right call.
If the task still feels too big for the day, consider choosing a lighter contribution for now—such as a documentation edit, a translation, a review task, or helping someone else at the table—and make a note to return to the original problem later with more time and context.
Workshops can also help in these moments. They are designed to explain workflows, surface common patterns, and give you practical context that may make a previously confusing task clearer.
You can always spend time in the Open-Source Library if you need perspective or a reminder that contribution paths are rarely linear. Stepping back, switching tasks, or deciding not to solve something today is part of contributing thoughtfully, not a failure.
Keeping the Momentum After Contributor Day
Before you pack up:
- Save links to what you worked on or shipped
- Bookmark your team’s handbook, repository, or Slack channel
In the days that follow:
- Reflect on what you learned
- Choose one simple, repeatable way to stay involved
This could be:
- Weekly translation contributions
- Monthly documentation updates
- Helping test tickets during a release cycle
- Reviewing issues when time allows
Small, regular contributions build confidence and help you stay connected between events.
Before you leave, decide on one clear follow-up action you can do at home. Start small, keep going, and let Contributor Day be a starting point—not a one-day experience.
Attending your team’s regular meetings can help you to stay in the loop and pick up interesting, challenging tasks that will not only benefit the project but also help you develop your skill.