DevOps Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Best Open-Source DevOps Projects to Contribute in 2025

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of DevOps, open-source projects provide an excellent opportunity for beginners and experienced engineers alike to learn, collaborate, and contribute to real-world solutions. Contributing to open-source projects not only helps build hands-on experience but also enhances your resume and connects you with the global DevOps community.

In this blog, we will explore some of the best open-source DevOps projects to contribute to in 2025. Whether you are a beginner looking to get started or an experienced DevOps engineer seeking impactful contributions, this guide will walk you through step-by-step approaches, real-world applications, and best practices to make the most of your open-source journey.

Best Open-Source DevOps Projects to Contribute in 2025

1. Kubernetes

• Description: Kubernetes is the leading container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
• Why Contribute? It is widely used in cloud environments, making it an essential skill for DevOps professionals.
• Getting Started:
  • Set up a local Kubernetes cluster using Minikube.
  • Explore beginner-friendly issues on Kubernetes GitHub.
  • Join the Kubernetes community Slack for support and networking.

• Real-World Application: Major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon use Kubernetes for container management.

2. Jenkins

• Description: Jenkins is a popular automation server used for continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD).
• Why Contribute? Learning Jenkins helps in mastering CI/CD pipelines, a crucial part of DevOps.
• Getting Started:
  • Install Jenkins and explore pipeline creation.
  • Find beginner-friendly issues on Jenkins GitHub.
  • Contribute by improving documentation or writing plugins.

• Real-World Application: Companies use Jenkins for automating software testing and deployment.

3. Terraform

• Description: Terraform is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that helps automate cloud infrastructure deployment.
• Why Contribute? Infrastructure automation is a critical skill in cloud DevOps.
• Getting Started:

• Real-World Application: Used by enterprises to manage AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud infrastructure.

4. Prometheus & Grafana

• Description: Prometheus is a monitoring system, and Grafana is used for visualization.
• Why Contribute? Learning observability tools helps in improving system reliability.
• Getting Started:
  • Set up Prometheus and Grafana using Docker.
  • Look for beginner-friendly issues in Prometheus GitHub and Grafana GitHub.
  • Contribute dashboards, plugins, or bug fixes.

• Real-World Application: Many companies use these tools for monitoring cloud applications.

5. Ansible

• Description: Ansible is an automation tool for managing configurations and deployments.
• Why Contribute? Helps in automating repetitive DevOps tasks.
• Getting Started:
  • Learn YAML and write Ansible playbooks.
  • Check open issues on Ansible GitHub.
  • Contribute to Ansible modules or documentation.

• Real-World Application: Used for automating IT infrastructure in DevOps teams.

Common Mistakes & Best Practices

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

1. Not Reading Documentation: Many beginners jump into coding without understanding project guidelines.
2. Ignoring Small Contributions: Even fixing typos in documentation is a valuable contribution.
3. Not Communicating with the Community: Open-source projects thrive on collaboration. Engage with maintainers and fellow contributors.

Best Practices to Follow

Start Small: Begin with easy issues labeled “good first issue” or “help wanted.”
Understand the Codebase: Read through project documentation and previous pull requests.
Follow Contribution Guidelines: Every project has contribution rules. Follow them to get your PR merged faster.
Join Community Discussions: Engage in Slack channels, forums, and GitHub discussions to learn and network.

Conclusion & Call-to-Action

Contributing to open-source DevOps projects is one of the best ways to gain practical experience, build industry connections, and enhance your technical skills. Whether you start with Kubernetes, Jenkins, Terraform, Prometheus, or Ansible, each contribution helps you grow as a DevOps professional.

Now it’s your turn! Have you contributed to any open-source DevOps projects? Do you have questions about getting started? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts! Also, explore more DevOps-related blogs to continue your learning journey.

Happy coding and contributing!