Open Source Development Course Syllabus

8-Week Comprehensive Program

Modified

July 1, 2025

Course Syllabus: Open Source Development

Course Information

Course Title: Open Source Development
Duration: 8 Weeks
Level: Intermediate
Next Start Date: November 1st, 2025
Format Options: Instructor-Led Online, Self-Paced, In-Person Workshops

Course Description

This comprehensive course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively contribute to open source projects, understand licensing, navigate community guidelines, master version control workflows, and engage in collaborative development practices. Through a combination of theoretical learning and hands-on projects, students will gain practical experience in all aspects of open source development.

Prerequisites

  • Basic programming knowledge in at least one language
  • Familiarity with command line interfaces
  • Understanding of fundamental software development concepts
  • Computer with internet access and ability to install software

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Effectively use Git for collaboration and version control
  2. Understand open source licensing and legal considerations
  3. Contribute to existing open source projects following best practices
  4. Navigate and understand unfamiliar codebases
  5. Write clear documentation and communicate effectively with project maintainers
  6. Implement continuous integration and testing in open source projects
  7. Create and maintain their own open source projects
  8. Build inclusive and welcoming open source communities

Course Structure

Week 1: Introduction to Open Source

  • What is open source software?
  • History and philosophy of open source
  • Benefits and challenges of open source development
  • Key open source projects and their impact
  • Setting up your development environment

Week 2: Git and Version Control Fundamentals

  • Introduction to Git and distributed version control
  • Basic Git commands and workflows
  • Repository management
  • Branches, commits, and pull requests
  • Git best practices

Week 4: GitHub and Collaborative Workflows

  • GitHub platform deep dive
  • Issues, pull requests, and code reviews
  • GitHub Actions and CI/CD integration
  • Project management with GitHub
  • Alternative platforms (GitLab, Bitbucket)

Week 5: Contributing to Existing Projects

  • Finding projects to contribute to
  • Understanding project guidelines and conventions
  • Reading and navigating unfamiliar codebases
  • Creating effective pull requests
  • Working with maintainers and the community

Week 6: Documentation and Community

  • Writing effective documentation
  • README files and project wikis
  • API documentation
  • Community building and management
  • Codes of conduct and inclusive communities

Week 7: Continuous Integration and Testing

  • CI/CD in open source projects
  • Writing effective tests
  • Test-driven development
  • Automated testing frameworks
  • Quality assurance in open source

Week 8: Maintaining Your Own Project

  • Starting an open source project
  • Attracting contributors
  • Sustainable maintenance strategies
  • Managing issues and pull requests
  • Building a community around your project

Instructional Methods

  • Interactive lectures and demonstrations
  • Hands-on coding exercises and projects
  • Code reviews and peer feedback
  • Guest speakers from prominent open source projects
  • Case studies of successful open source initiatives
  • Group discussions and collaborative problem-solving

Assessment and Grading

Assessment Components

  1. Weekly Assignments (40%)
    • Practical coding tasks
    • Short answer questions
    • Project milestones
  2. Open Source Contribution Portfolio (30%)
    • Documented contributions to real open source projects
    • Pull requests, issues, and code reviews
  3. Final Project (30%)
    • Creating or significantly contributing to an open source project
    • Documentation and presentation of the project

Grading Scale

  • A: 90-100%
  • B: 80-89%
  • C: 70-79%
  • D: 60-69%
  • F: Below 60%

Required Materials

  • GitHub account
  • Git installed on your computer
  • Code editor of your choice
  • Access to the course learning management system
  • Recommended readings (provided throughout the course)

Course Policies

Attendance and Participation

  • Instructor-led format: Attendance at live sessions is strongly encouraged
  • Self-paced format: Regular progress through course materials is expected
  • Active participation in discussions and collaborative activities is essential

Late Assignments

  • Assignments are due on the specified dates
  • Late submissions may be accepted with a penalty, at the instructor’s discretion
  • Extensions may be granted for exceptional circumstances

Academic Integrity

  • All work must be original or properly attributed
  • Collaboration is encouraged, but individual assignments must reflect individual work
  • Plagiarism and code copying without attribution will result in penalties

Support and Resources

  • Instructor office hours (schedule provided at course start)
  • Teaching assistants for technical support
  • Community forum for peer assistance
  • Curated list of external resources and readings
  • Recorded lectures and demonstrations

Accessibility

We are committed to providing an inclusive learning environment. Students with disabilities or special needs are encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course to discuss accommodations.

Course Schedule

A detailed week-by-week schedule with specific topics, readings, and assignment due dates will be provided at the start of the course.

This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. All changes will be communicated to students in advance.