Choose a good first issue you can start

Found a beginner issue, but unsure whether it's yours to take? Check these three things before writing code.

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  1. Is someone already working on it?

    Open the latest GitHub issue. Check assignees, recent comments, and linked pull requests. A good first issue label describes intended difficulty, not availability. If someone has offered a fix, ask before duplicating their work.

  2. Can you explain the change?

    Read the contribution guide and reproduce the problem. Pick a task with a clear result you can test. If setup fails, share the exact error in the project's preferred help channel.

  3. What should you do next?

    HelpMeHack's Unassigned status is a starting signal, not a reservation. Possibly claimed or Linked PR exists means you should inspect the discussion. Status unknown means the evidence is incomplete. Follow the project's assignment rules before starting.