Forem: Virtual Coffee

Goals Check-In: How's Your Progress Flowing?

Ayu Adiati — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Remember way back in January? A new year begins with fresh possibilities and an exciting sense of setting big goals. In Virtual Coffee, we kicked off the year with the "New Year, New Goal" challenge: to dream big and set one significant goal for the entire year. Then, we took it step-by-step, breaking it down into smaller, achievable monthly goals.

Well, time flies when you're working towards something awesome! Now that we're moving into May, it's a perfect moment to pause, take a deep breath, and check in on those goals we set earlier in the year.

Our Own Big Goal: A Community Success Story!

Speaking of ambitious goals, we would like to share our story before we begin. We've recently accomplished our own big goal at Virtual Coffee!

To celebrate our 5th anniversary, we set our sights on holding our very first-ever online conference in April. We had three months from welcoming the Call for Proposals (CFPs) to preparing our speakers. But thanks to our amazing team and volunteers' incredible dedication and hard work, and a big thank you to CFE.dev for hosting, the event was a huge success!

Looking Back and Looking Forward: Evaluating Progress

The "Goals Check-In" challenge isn't about judgment or pressure. Instead, it's an opportunity to reflect on your journey so far. Think back to when you set your goal. What was that big goal you set? Have you been making progress on your monthly goals?

We know that the path to achieving any meaningful goal isn't always a smooth journey. Life happens. Unexpected challenges pop up, priorities might shift, and sometimes, what felt right initially might need a little tweaking now.

So, let's ask ourselves some important questions:

What have you accomplished so far? Let's take a moment to celebrate the wins, no matter how small they seem. Did you complete some of your monthly goals? What are you most proud of achieving?
What challenges have you faced? It's okay if things haven't gone exactly as planned. Did you encounter any roadblocks? Were some monthly goals harder to achieve than you initially thought? Understanding these challenges is the first step towards overcoming them.
Do your monthly goals still feel right? As we learn and grow, our perspectives can change. Do your current monthly goals still align with your big goal? Do they feel realistic and motivating? It's perfectly fine if you need to adjust them. Maybe you need to break them down into even smaller steps, or perhaps you've gained momentum and can aim a little higher!

An Invitation to Reflect

This challenge isn't just for those who started with us in January. We believe reflecting on our progress is a valuable practice for everyone, including those who might be inspired to set goals now in May! Whether you set your goal and plans in January or are thinking about setting a goal now, this is a great time for a personal review.

How We Can Support Each Other

Virtual Coffee is all about supporting and lifting each other up. We're here to offer encouragement, share experiences, and provide support in any way we can.

Share your insights: In our Slack (if you're a member) or the comment below, feel free to share your progress, challenges, or any adjustments you're considering. You might be surprised how many others are going through similar experiences, and your insights could be invaluable to them.
Offer encouragement: If you see someone sharing their journey, offer a word of support! A little encouragement can go a long way in keeping motivation high.
Brainstorm solutions together: Don't hesitate to ask for ideas if you're facing a particular challenge. Some people might have resources and suggestions that you need.
Celebrate milestones: Let's celebrate each other's successes, big or small! Celebrating wins helps keep spirits up and keeps the good vibes going.

Final Words

Remember, goals are meant to guide us, not limit us. This check-in is an opportunity to ensure they are still serving that purpose. It's a chance to be kind to ourselves, acknowledge our efforts, learn from our experiences, and make necessary adjustments to keep moving forward.

So, take some time this month to reflect on your goals. What have you learned? What needs to change? And how can we, as a community, help you continue your journey towards success?

We're excited to hear about your progress and support you in reaching your goal! Let's make the rest of the year even more impactful!

If you'd like to know more about Virtual Coffee and are interested in joining our community, you can visit our website and join the waitlist.

Finding Your Voice: Why Speaking Matters in Tech

BekahHW — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:54:00 +0000

As Virtual Coffee celebrates its 5th anniversary, we're launching something special: our Spring 2025 Quarter Challenge focused on helping developers find their voice and share their stories. While the challenge culminates in an internal conference, this is about something much deeper than just public speaking. It's about building connections, creating opportunities for growth, and recognizing that every developer has valuable experiences worth sharing.

The Power of Your Story

Think back to the last time a conference talk or video really resonated with you. Chances are, it wasn't just about the technical content; it was about the story being told. Maybe the speaker described struggling with the same problems you faced or presented a familiar concept from a fresh perspective that made everything click.

That's the magic of storytelling in tech. It's not just about sharing knowledge; it's about creating connections, building bridges, and helping others see themselves in your journey. Whether you're explaining a complex technical concept, sharing a career transition story, or discussing lessons learned from a challenging project, your unique perspective matters.

Teaching as a Path to Growth

One of Virtual Coffee's core beliefs is that everyone has the ability to teach and learn, regardless of their experience level. When you prepare to speak or present, you're not just organizing information—you're developing a deeper understanding of your subject matter. The questions you anticipate from your audience push you to examine topics from different angles, filling gaps in your own knowledge along the way.

But there's something even more powerful at work: teaching helps you recognize just how much you already know. Many people in tech, especially those early in their careers, underestimate the value of their experiences. The process of preparing a talk often reveals just how far you've come and how much you've learned along the way.

The Art of the CFP: Your First Step

A great talk starts with a great proposal, and crafting a compelling Call for Papers (CFP) is an art in itself. This is where you begin to shape your story and make it resonate with others. Here are some key principles to keep in mind:

Start with the Why: Before diving into what you want to talk about, consider why it matters. What problem does it solve? What insight does it offer? What journey does it represent?
Know Your Audience: Think about who would benefit most from your talk. What assumptions can you make about their knowledge? What questions might they have?
Be Specific: Instead of trying to cover everything about a topic, focus on a particular aspect or approach.
Show Your Perspective: Don't be afraid to include your unique viewpoint or experience. Your personal journey with the topic can make your talk more relatable and memorable.

Building Bridges Through Communication

In tech, we often focus on technical skills. But the ability to communicate effectively, to tell compelling stories, and to connect with others is equally important. These core skills don't just help you share knowledge; they help you build relationships, collaborate more effectively, and create more innovative spaces in tech.

When you step up to speak, you're not just sharing information, you're helping to build a more connected, empathetic tech community. You're showing others that their voices matter too, and you're contributing to a culture where knowledge-sharing is celebrated and supported.

Your Journey Starts Here

Whether you dream of giving conference talks or simply want to become better at explaining technical concepts to your team, developing your voice and storytelling skills is a valuable investment. Through Virtual Coffee's Spring 2025 Quarter Challenge", you'll find a supportive community ready to help you grow, mentors who understand the journey, and opportunities to practice and refine your skills in a welcoming environment. If you want to participate in our challenge, join our community today. But remember, we're not the only place you can give a talk. There are CFPs open, meetup groups looking for speakers, and opportunities out there if you look for them.

Remember: your experiences, your struggles, your successes, they all matter. They're all part of a story that could help someone else on their journey. Are you ready to share yours?

Join Virtual Coffee in New Year, New Goal: Setting One Big Goal and Achieving It!

Ayu Adiati — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 18:12:41 +0000

Hey, everyone! It's almost new year! 🎆

The new year is often a time for reflection and new beginnings. We look back on the past year, acknowledging our accomplishments and identifying areas for growth. Then, here comes the question: what is your biggest goal for the year ahead?

This month, we are rolling out the New Year, New Goal challenge at Virtual Coffee. We encourage our members (and you!) to set up one big goal they want to accomplish by this year and break it into small goals to achieve it.

You might ask, "One big goal? But I have several goals that I want to achieve this year." Then, you should keep reading this post to find the answer.

But before we go any further, we want to share something. This challenge is not only for you and our members. We (Virtual Coffee) also have our big goal this year.

To celebrate five years of Virtual Coffee, we will hold Virtual Coffee Community Online Conference for the first time ever, and we're very excited about that!

If you're a Virtual Coffee member and one of your goals is to speak at tech conferences, this is the perfect time to get ready!

Okay. Now, let's get back to our challenge!

Why One Big Goal?

There's nothing wrong with having many goals to achieve in a year. But how many of you actually stick to all of them?

Focusing on one ambitious goal can be more effective in improving your chances of success. This goal could be anything from landing your dream job to becoming a speaker at tech conferences, from mastering a skill to finally launching that side project you've been dreaming of.

Your goal doesn't have to be related to your professional life. It can also be something that you want to achieve in your personal life. Maybe you want to learn a new language, play a musical instrument, travel the world, or get in shape—whatever you want to achieve!

Here are some benefits of focusing on one big goal:

Increasing Focus and Motivation: Concentrating your energy on a single goal reduces your chances of feeling overwhelmed or distracted. This focused effort can significantly increase your motivation and drive.
Boosting Productivity: Focusing on one main goal helps you work more efficiently. It keeps you from spending time on activities that don't help you reach that goal.
Greater Sense of Accomplishment: Achieving one significant goal can provide a powerful sense of accomplishment and increase self-confidence. This success can then fuel your motivation to tackle future challenges.
Discovering Your Hidden Potential: Setting an ambitious goal pushes you beyond your comfort zone. You'll learn new skills, develop strength, and discover hidden talents you never knew you had.
Improving Your Career: Whether you're seeking a promotion, a new job, or the opportunity to start your own company, achieving a well-defined goal can significantly impact your career trajectory.

Choosing Your One Big Goal

When choosing one big goal from several, you can try these:

Brainstorming

You can start by brainstorming a list of potential goals. These could be professional, personal, or a combination of both. For example:

Professional: Finding a new job, learning a new technology (like AI or cloud computing), becoming a speaker at tech conferences.
Personal: Learning a new language, improving your fitness, traveling to a new country.
Combination: Finding a remote job you can do while traveling, learning a new language to get a job abroad.

Prioritization

Once you have a list of potential goals, prioritize them based on their importance to you until you find one that speaks loud to you. You can consider these factors:

Long-Term Vision: Does this goal contribute to your overall vision for your life? Will achieving it impact your long-term happiness and fulfilment? Choosing a goal that excites and fulfils you will boost your motivation and help you overcome challenges.
Personal Growth: Will achieving this goal lead to your personal growth, such as developing new skills, overcoming fears, or building confidence?
Realistic Expectations: Is this goal challenging but achievable within the given timeframe?
Measurable Progress: Can you track your progress towards this goal with clear milestones and metrics? This will help you maintain motivation and identify areas for improvement.
Time Commitment: How much time and energy will this goal require? Do you have the necessary resources (time, finances, etc.) to dedicate?
Support System: Do you have the support of friends, family, or mentors to help you achieve this goal?
Life Stage: Consider your current stage of life (career, family, etc.). Choose a goal that fits with your current responsibilities and commitments.

Breaking Down Your Big Goal

To make your big goal more manageable, break it down into smaller, more achievable goals. This will make your journey less daunting and give you a roadmap for success. How do you break your goals into small ones?

Set SMART goals: Ensure your smaller goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of "Learn to code," set a goal like "Complete a beginner-level Python course within the next three months."
Create a timeline: Establish deadlines for each smaller goal to maintain momentum and stay on track.
Track your progress: Regularly monitor your progress and celebrate your accomplishments along the way. This could involve keeping a journal, using a project management tool, or simply reviewing your goals weekly.

Final Words

Let's set one ambitious goal this year and commit to making it a reality! Take time to reflect on your aspirations, choose your one big goal, and break it down into smaller, actionable goals.

Whatever your goal is, you want to remember this:

It's okay to adjust your goals throughout the year as your priorities and circumstances change.
Celebrate your progress along the way, no matter how small.
Don't be afraid to seek guidance and support from others.

Come and share with us your goal for 2025 in the comment below, and let's hold each other accountable!

Lastly, visit our website if you want to know more about our community, and join the waitlist if you want to be a member!

Monthly Challenge: Creative Community Challenge!

Ayu Adiati — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:41:24 +0000

We can't believe that it's the last month of 2024. How time flies!

At Virtual Coffee, we're wrapping up a busy year. It's time to take a breather. Let's recharge and explore our creative side. After all, we're more than just code and deadlines. We're artists, musicians, writers, the list goes on! And sometimes, we want to share our work with the community.

This month, we encourage you to express yourselves, share, and showcase your arts and hobbies through our Creative Community Challenge.

Why Getting Creative Is Important for Developers

Let's face it. Our jobs require us to spend a lot of time behind our computers. Some of us even work on side projects in our free time. If you enjoy it, great! But have you ever considered taking a break from your daily routine and reconnecting with those hobbies that once brought you joy? Or perhaps you want to explore something new? Something fun to express yourself creatively, like playing or creating music, crocheting, writing poetry, scrapbooking, or dancing?

Engaging in creative activities improves mental well-being. Studies have shown that creative expression can be a powerful tool for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, creativity stimulates brain function, improving problem-solving skills, memory, and focus. Participating in creative activities allows you to break away from routine, think more innovatively, discover new approaches to challenges, and improve your overall productivity.

Sharing your art with others can help you feel more confident and boost your self-esteem. Plus, it's a fun way to connect with others who share your interests, encourage each other, and make good friends outside of work.

These are the abilities and skills that you want to have and sharpen as developers.

Join Virtual Coffee's Creative Community Challenge

The Creative Community Challenge is an excellent opportunity to explore your new artistic activities. Try experimenting with different art forms, such as painting, writing, music, or photography. This can help you uncover your new passions and interests.

This challenge is all about having fun! Enjoy every moment of the process of creating something beautiful and relaxing. Let your imagination flow, and enjoy expressing yourself through your art. Remember, the goal is not to make a masterpiece but to embrace the creative process.

We love seeing the activities that our members share every December, but we also want to see yours! Share your artwork, stories, music, or any other creative expression in the comments below! If you see someone who shares your interests, interact with and connect with them. We love friendships!

If you're interested in and want to join the Virtual Coffee community, visit our website and join our waitlist.

Let's make this December a month of creativity, connection, and fun!

Monthly Challenge: 50,000 Word Blogging Challenge

Chris Jarvis — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 23:57:28 +0000

November is special for writers. There's a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in a month called National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo for short. Since 2020, Virtual Coffee has held our own blogging challenge inspired by the NaNoWriMo.

The Virtual Coffee Blogging Challenge is a community project with a goal to write blog posts totaling 50,000+ words in the month. In 2020, we collectively wrote 38,075 words. We didn't make goal, but we all really enjoyed the challenge.

In 2021, we tried again and beat goal with 125,392 words! Then in 2022, we hit 106,978. In 2023, with 30 writers we wrote 150,083 words, a new group record.

You can see all the links to our posts and our tracker at the Virtual Coffee 2023 blogging challenge Page.

New this year

In previous years, the challenge was focused on tech. But since there's more to life than tech, this year we're opening it up to non-tech articles. This year, we’ve pushed our challenges to include more of who we are outside of tech, including this year's Photography Challenge and our December Creative Community Challenge. We're more than code. Maybe this year we'll see some fiction, poetry, or a personal biography.

We All Need Goals

Having a goal helps us to track our progress. Our starting goal is always 50,000 words. If we break our initial goal, we'll add a stretch goal, try to beat it, and repeat.

We don't have a theme this year but we do have prompts and suggestions listed on the bottom of the Challenge page.

Write with us

Writing allows us all to grow our network and community. Do you want to write? You don't have to be a part of Virtual Coffee to participate. Are you worried about how to get started or do you need a suggestion?

Hacktoberfest just ended and DEV has a Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge running until Nov. 3. We expect to see some articles about our member's Hacktoberfest experience. (I'm personally waiting until the first to begin my review, so I can count it towards our word count.)

If you don't want to try to hit 50,000 on your own, that's OK. Start by setting a personal goal for how much you want to write this month. You can focus on word count or number of articles. I always try to beat my word and article count from the previous year.

Goals

How do you track your words?

TrackBear lets you track words, time, and page count. You can set writing goals or targets.

Are you looking for more inspiration? Here are some talks from Virtual Coffee members that write as part of their careers.

How to grow your tech career through writing Jessica Wilkins' talk on writing for tech. This is a talk Jessica gave that helped kickoff our blogging challenge a few years ago.

Let's get blogging with Julia Julia Seidman lunch and learn kicked off our 2023 challenge.

Write, Learn, Enjoy

I love this challenge. It's great because it forces me to write more often and there's also support from fellow writers. We encourage each other to write, and it’s great to read everyone’s articles. It's fun to watch the progress bar on our tracker page fill out.

You can follow us at the 2024 Virtual Coffee blogging challenge page

Good luck with your writings.

Opening Our Hearts and Our Repo: Virtual Coffee's Journey to Open Source

BekahHW — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:00:36 +0000

When I started Virtual Coffee in April 2020, I never imagined we'd still be going strong today. What began as a way to connect during uncertain times has grown into a supportive community of people at all stages of the tech journey. Today, I'm excited to announce a significant step in our evolution: we're open-sourcing our Virtual Coffee Community Docs repository.

Virtual-Coffee / VC-Community-Docs

Management and coordination for Virtual Coffee events

Virtual Coffee Community Building Resources

Welcome to Virtual Coffee's Community Building Resources repository!

This repository contains documentation, procedures, and insights into how we manage various aspects of our tech community. Whether you're looking to understand how we operate and volunteer at Virtual Coffee, start your own community, or improve an existing one, we hope these resources will be valuable to you.

Visit the Virtual Coffee Community Building Resources website to start exploring!

About Virtual Coffee

Virtual Coffee's mission is to be a welcoming tech community that allows room for growth and mentorship at all levels and to create meaningful opportunities for learning, leadership, and contribution for everyone.

We prioritize supporting one another and believe in the power of learning and teaching at every level. To learn more about who we are, visit our website.

How to Use This Repo

Explore: Browse through the different folders in the docs…

View on GitHub

A Look Back at Our Journey

Early on at Virtual Coffee, we were figuring things out as we went along. As we grew, it became clear that we needed clear paths of communication for our contributors and comprehensive documentation to make everyone's experience smoother. Our private Contributors repo became the source of truth for this information—a place where we could brainstorm new ideas and provide our dedicated volunteers with special access to our evolving processes.

This approach served us well. It allowed us to experiment, make mistakes, and refine our methods in a safe space. As part of this, our volunteers became a part of shaping Virtual Coffee's structure and culture.

Why We're Opening Up Now

After years of nurturing our community and refining our processes, we've realized that the knowledge we've gained could be valuable beyond our immediate circle. Open-sourcing our Contributors repo aligns perfectly with our vision:

We will welcome and support developers at all stages to create a more empathetic tech community.

By sharing our playbook, we're not just supporting our immediate community—we're extending a hand to community builders everywhere. We're living our values of creating a positive, inclusive community and removing tech barriers on a broader scale.

What You'll Find in Our Repo

Our Contributors repo is a knowledge base of community-building insights. You'll find documentation on:

How we organize Lunch & Learns
The structure of our twice-weekly Coffees
Our approach to Lightning Talks and Monthly Challenges
The ins and outs of our Coffee Table Groups
Detailed procedures for various community tasks

But more than just processes, you'll see the heart of Virtual Coffee. You'll see how we strive to put people first, how we cultivate intimacy and empathy, and how we create spaces for growth and learning at all levels.

An Invitation to Collaborate

Opening this repo is more than just sharing information—it's an invitation to collaborate. We hope that by sharing our methods, we can learn from others and continuously improve our approach to community building.

Whether you're a veteran community leader or just starting out, we welcome your insights, questions, and ideas-you can add them in the comments here or in our discussions. Together, we can create ripples that extend far beyond our individual communities.

Check out the Virtual Coffee Contributors Repository and let us know what you think! We welcome issues and discussions.

As we take this step, I'm filled with gratitude for every member of the Virtual Coffee community, especially our volunteers over the years. Your passion, kindness, and commitment have made this journey incredible.

Hacktoberfest 2024: Why You Should Participate

Ayu Adiati — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 11:03:48 +0000

It's that time of the year again: Hacktoberfest!

For those who don't know, Hacktoberfest is an annual month-long celebration of open-source projects. The main goal is to promote open-source collaboration and encourage more people to contribute to open-source projects. This year, DigitalOcean, Cloudflare, and Quira are sponsoring the event. Also, this year, if you'd like to write about your experience participating in Hacktoberfest either as a contributor or a maintainer, you can join DEV's Hacktoberfest Writing Challenge.

To participate in Hacktoberfest, visit their official website and register anytime between September 23 and October 31. You must submit four high-quality pull/merge requests between October 1 and October 31, and project maintainers must accept them to count toward your total.

Why Participate in Hacktoberfest

There are many reasons why you want to participate in Hacktoberfest. Here are a few of the most common:

Learn new skills: Contributing to open-source projects is a great way to learn new programming languages, frameworks, and tools. You'll also be able to work on real-world projects and be updated with the latest trends.
Network with other developers: Hacktoberfest brings together developers from all over the world. Participating in the event allows you to connect with other developers, share ideas, and collaborate on projects.
Build your portfolio: Contributions to open-source projects can be a valuable addition to your portfolio. Additionally, the community will recognize your contributions, which can significantly boost your reputation as a developer and help you land your dream job or freelance gig.
Make a difference: By contributing to open-source projects, you're helping create and improve free and open software that everyone can benefit from.

Tips to Make the Most of Hacktoberfest

If you're new to open source, here are some tips to help you make the most of Hacktoberfest:

Choose the Right Project
- Find projects that align with your interests: Look for projects related to your skills and passions. Explore projects on GitHub or GitLab by using keywords to search programming languages or topics that interest you. Once you find the project, don't forget to look at the "About" section on their homepage. Only repositories that have a "hacktoberfest" label participate in the event.
- Consider the project's size and activity: Smaller projects might be more welcoming to new contributors, but larger projects can offer more growth opportunities.
- Check the project's README and contribution guidelines: First, understand the project's goals and objectives. You also need to know how to install and run it, what it's used for, etc. How can you contribute to a project if you don't understand how it works? If you decide to contribute, the next step is understanding the project's rules and expectations before starting. Reading the project's documentation is compulsory. They are there to help you succeed with your contribution.
Start Small
- Look for beginner-friendly issues: Many projects label issues as "good first issue" or "beginners only". Working on an issue with one of these labels is a good starting point for understanding the project and diving into open source. However, if you've worked on an issue with this label at a repository, consider leaving it for others who are also beginners and new to open source.
- Create issues: Beginner-friendly issues are likely quickly gone, especially during Hacktoberfest. But don't feel discouraged. Do you find a missing step in the documentation or a bug when you try out the project? Have you thought of a helpful feature to be added to the project? Once you've searched and are sure there is no open or closed issue with the changes you'd like to propose, create an issue and tell the maintainers you want to work on it.
- Low or non-code contributions: These contributions help open-source projects tremendously but often get overlooked. They require minimum or no coding knowledge, such as technical documentation, user experience testing, technical blog posts or tutorials, translations, talks or presentations, social media, etc. You can help a project improve its documentation, such as fixing typos, explaining the project through blog posts or tutorials, promoting it through social media, etc. If the project's maintainers facilitate these contributions, they are counted toward your total pull requests. You can read more about these particular contributions on the Hacktoberfest official website.
- Ask questions: If you need clarification on something, don't hesitate to ask the project maintainers or other contributors for help.
Be Patient
- Review process takes time: With many pull requests coming in, especially during Hacktoberfest, it may take a few days—or even weeks—for your pull request to be reviewed and merged. You may ask about the review's progress by commenting on your pull request when you don't hear anything in a few days. But don't rush the maintainer, or worse, direct message them to review your pull request.
- Don't get discouraged: If your pull request gets closed or you need to go back and forth to fix it, don't get discouraged. Keep submitting pull requests and learning from the feedback you receive.
Collaborate with Others
- Join the project's community: Join their Discord, Slack, or GitHub Discussion, participate in discussions, attend their events, and connect with other contributors.
- Work together on issues: Collaborating with others can help you learn new skills and make new connections.
- Offer help to others: If you see someone struggling and you can help, offer your assistance.
- Be respectful: Treat everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their experience level.

If you want to learn more about contributing to open-source projects, @bekahhw and @adiatiayu co-hosted a Virtual Coffee Lunch & Learn: Intro to Open Source Workshop that walks you through making a positive impact as a contributor. They shared ways to get started and discussed considerations for communications, contributions, and being a good open-source citizen.

Virtual Coffee: Hacktoberfest Initiative

Since our first-ever challenge in 2020, we have run the Virtual Coffee: Hacktoberfest Initiative for our members during October. We aim to support our members—new/seasoned contributors and maintainers—in participating in Hacktoberfest.

Contributors

During the challenge, contributors find repositories with "hacktoberfest" topic(s) they want to contribute to and issues they want to solve. The goal is to create four accepted pull requests and complete Hacktoberfest.

We encourage contributors to also contribute to open-source projects through non-code contributions. They can submit issues to report bugs or request new features, create content (blog posts, tutorials, or streaming) about a project, help answer questions or triage issues, promote open-source projects through social media, etc., and post their progress on Slack.

When a contributor makes four meaningful contributions—code or non-code—during October, they will count as having completed our Virtual Coffee: Hactoberfest Initiative challenge.

Maintainers

Maintainers who want to participate in Hacktoberfest are encouraged to add a "hacktoberfest" topic to their repository. They will also answer the contributors' questions, review the pull requests, and accept and merge them following the contest rules.

If you're a new maintainer and want to learn more about becoming a maintainer, watch the Virtual Coffee Lunch & Learn: Becoming a Maintainer Workshop by Bekah and Ayu. This workshop explained what it means to be a maintainer, gave tips and tricks to make it a positive experience for you and your contributors, and taught you how to start a brand-new open-source project.

Mentors

We know that open source can be intimidating and overwhelming for new contributors and maintainers. So, during this challenge, we encourage members with more open-source experience to give back to the community by becoming mentors for new contributors and maintainers. Based on their availability and capacity, they are paired with one or multiple mentees and provide support through a 1:1, a pairing session, Slack, or whatever works best for them.

We love seeing many of our members take on the role over the years, regardless of their technical skills. At Virtual Coffee, we believe in linear mentorship. We all learn from each other!

Final Words

Hacktoberfest is a fantastic opportunity for developers of all levels to learn new skills, collaborate with others, and support open-source projects. We encourage you to participate if you want to advance your development career and expand your network.

Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the experience. Bring the spirit of the Hacktoberfest beyond the event, and don't stop at four pull requests. By contributing to open-source projects, you're not only helping yourself, but you're also helping to build a better world for everyone through these projects.

So, what are you waiting for? Join the Hacktoberfest and start making a difference today!

Preptember: Preparing for a Successful Hacktoberfest

BekahHW — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:18:39 +0000

In recent years, Hacktoberfest, the annual celebration of open source software, has faced some significant challenges. The event has been impacted by spam, low-quality contributions, and participants who haven't taken the time to understand project guidelines or respond to feedback. This has led to frustration among maintainers and a negative perception of the event in some circles. The influx of new contributors, while exciting, has often overwhelmed project maintainers who find themselves spending more time managing poor contributions than advancing their projects.

However, we firmly believe that with proper preparation and the right mindset, Hacktoberfest can be an incredibly rewarding experience for everyone who opts in. That's where Preptember comes in. By dedicating the month of September to preparation, we can address these challenges head-on and set the stage for a more positive and productive Hacktoberfest.

The Critical Importance of Preptember

Preptember isn't just about getting ready for a month-long event; it's about creating a sustainable, respectful, and productive open-source ecosystem. Here's why it's so important:

Building Sustainable Communities: By preparing projects and contributors in advance, we're not just setting up for a successful October, but for long-term engagement in open source. Well-prepared projects are more likely to retain contributors beyond Hacktoberfest.
Reducing Maintainer Burnout: One of the biggest challenges in open source is maintainer burnout. By ensuring contributors are well-prepared and projects are set up for contributions, we can significantly reduce the stress on maintainers during Hacktoberfest and beyond. You can read more about this here.
Enabling Respectful Collaboration: Preptember encourages both maintainers and contributors to consider each other's perspectives. This mutual understanding is key to fostering a respectful, collaborative environment in open source.

The Preptember Challenge

Our Preptember Challenge is a call to action for both maintainers and contributors. We're inviting everyone interested in participating in Hacktoberfest to join us in preparing throughout September. Here's how you can get involved:

For Maintainers

If you're planning to opt into Hacktoberfest, now is the time to set your project up for success. This means:

Reviewing and updating your project documentation
Creating clear contribution guidelines
Preparing good "first issue" tags for new contributors
Setting up templates for issues and pull requests

By doing this work upfront, you're not only creating a better experience for contributors but also setting yourself up for a more manageable and rewarding Hacktoberfest.

Additional Resources

For Contributors

Preparing to be a good open source citizen is necessary. This involves:

Learning about open source etiquette and best practices
Familiarizing yourself with Git and GitHub
Reading project documentation thoroughly before contributing
Understanding how to write good issues and pull requests

By taking these steps, you're showing respect for maintainers' time and effort, and positioning yourself to make meaningful contributions.

Additional Resources

The Long-Term Impact of Preptember

The benefits of Preptember extend beyond Hacktoberfest. By working on good habits and practices, we're contributing to the overall health of the open-source ecosystem. Contributors who learn to prepare properly are more likely to become valuable long-term members of open-source communities. Maintainers who invest time in setting up their projects for contribution are more likely to see increased engagement and support throughout the year.

Join Us in Preptember

Whether you're a seasoned open source contributor or just getting started, we invite you to join us in this Preptember Challenge. By taking the time to prepare, we can all contribute to making Hacktoberfest a positive and productive experience for the open source community.

Let's use September to learn, prepare, and set ourselves up for an amazing open source celebration in October. Are you ready to take on the Preptember Challenge? Let us know in the comments!

Monthly Challenge: Photography

Dominic Duffin — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:06:00 +0000

As programmers, we spend all day in front of the screen. At Virtual Coffee, we also value health and wellbeing. The motivation behind our August challenge is to get folks out and about and seeing the world. We will be encouraging our members to make the most of summer (in the Northern hemisphere, at least), enjoy some work / life balance and benefit from the fresh air and exercise of the great outdoors. The challenge could also be completed without ever leaving the car, but the hope is that folks will leave the car for a bit and get some real fresh air and exercise. A little hint for those of you that have access to public transportation: Public transportation is a great way to see the world while someone else does the driving. It also forces you to actually get some exercise because it probably won't pick you up at your front door.

Some inspiration

August is a good time to get out of the house, away from the desk. The city, the country, the beach or steam trains, it doesn’t matter what you do out there, so long as you get out there and enjoy living, not just working, even for a little bit. So, let's do it, folks!

If you’re addicted to your phone and want to take this idea a step further, we have a bigger idea for you: Get together with friends or family and leave all your phones (and other networked devices) behind, bringing only a standalone camera to record your day. we bet y'all will have fun, enjoy yourselves (and each other) and realize there's no need to always have the entire world in your pocket. The internet will still be there when you get back.

If you’re not yet a member of Virtual Coffee, but the Challenge appeals to you, we encourage you to get out and do it anyway, and post your pictures in the comments section, below.

Monthly Challenge: Welcoming Community!

Ayu Adiati — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:05:05 +0000

Have you ever joined a community only to feel lost in the crowd? That awkward feeling of being the "new kid" can be a barrier to participation and belonging. That's why welcoming new members is the key to any thriving community.

This month, we focus on the importance of a warm welcome at Virtual Coffee. Through the Welcoming Community challenge, we want to extend a hand of friendship to newcomers and show them exactly what makes our community so special.

Why Welcoming New Members is Important

Here's why it's important to welcome new members:

First Impression: The first few moments of someone's experience in a community set the tone for their entire journey. A warm welcome breaks the ice, makes them feel seen, and lets them know they belong.
Fresh Ideas and Perspectives: Every person brings a unique set of experiences and viewpoints. By welcoming new members, you open yourselves to a broader range of ideas and approaches. This can spark new conversations, bring new ideas for innovation, and help you see familiar problems in a whole new light.
A Culture of Support: A warm welcome sets the tone for a supportive and inclusive environment. New members who feel valued and seen are more likely to participate, share their thoughts, and contribute their talents. This creates a ripple effect of support, fostering a sense of belonging for everyone.
Growth and Sustainability: A community that isn't welcoming to new members will never grow. By actively integrating new faces, you ensure the community continues to grow and evolve. This benefits existing members by keeping things fresh and helps the community reach a wider audience and have a greater impact. A community that grows together stays together.

Be a Welcoming Ambassador and Make a Difference

Here are some simple ways to make a difference:

Spread the Word: Invite a friend or colleague who might be interested in joining your community and let them know about the amazing things happening there! This month, at Virtual Coffee, we're encouraging each member to invite one person.
Be a Welcoming Face: New members might feel shy at first. When you see someone introduce themselves, take a moment to say hello! A simple "welcome" can go a long way in making them feel comfortable.
Offer Support and Guidance: New members usually need help figuring out where to start. You can introduce them to the helpful channels on your community's Slack or Discord, answer their questions, or invite them to your community's upcoming events.

By taking these simple steps, you're uplifting others and shaping the community's health and future. A thriving community is built on shared experiences, connections, and a sense of belonging. Let's make everyone feel welcome, valued, and excited to be a part of something special.

Join us this month and let's show the power of a warm welcome!

Monthly Challenge: Mid-Year Check-In — Recharge and Refocus for an Amazing Second Half!

Ayu Adiati — Fri, 31 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt like the year was flying by? It's already halfway through 2024!

In January, we kicked off the new year with the "New Year, New Goals" challenge.

This month is the perfect time to pause and reflect on your goals. The "Mid-Year Check-In" challenge is your chance to assess your progress, learn from experiences, and reignite your motivation for the remaining months.

Grab that pen, and let's dive in!

Victorious Achievements: What goals have you achieved so far? Did you master a new skill, hit a personal target, or finally tackle that project you've been putting off? Write them down and celebrate these wins! Recognizing your accomplishments is a powerful motivator that will move you forward.
Learning from Setbacks: Did something not go according to plan? It happens to the best of us! Instead of feeling discouraged, view these experiences as valuable lessons. Ask yourself: What went wrong? What could I have done differently? This self-reflection will equip you to adjust your approach and avoid similar pitfalls in the future.
Unfinished Business: Think about the goals that still remain. Are they within reach? Do they need some tweaking? Write down the things you want to achieve by the end of December. Be specific and set clear deadlines to stay motivated.
Shifting Goals: Life throws curveballs sometimes, and your priorities might have shifted since the beginning of the year. That's okay! Revisit your initial goals and adjust them as needed. Remember, your goals should reflect where you are now and where you want to be.

We understand that staying motivated can be challenging. Don't go it alone! In the comment section below, share your achievements, learnings, remaining goals, and/or new goals you want to accomplish by the end of the year. We're here to support and encourage you and keep you moving forward.

So, are you ready to take charge of your year? Let's do this together!

Monthly Challenge: Cultivating Community Kindness in Uncertain Times

BekahHW — Fri, 03 May 2024 12:58:44 +0000

Let’s go back to April of 2020. The early days of the pandemic when the world seemed to close in around us. The pandemic had left us isolated, uncertain, and craving connection. It was in this time that something beautiful was born: Virtual Coffee. I put out one, simple tweet: Is anyone interested in Virtual Coffee. And what started as one coffee turned into finding hope together in the one place we could safely gather: online. Virtual Coffee was built out of necessity but grown through compassion and shared experiences.

Who knew Virtual Coffee would still be here?

As Virtual Coffee approaches its fifth year, we're celebrating what makes this community truly special and taking this month to challenge you to spread the kindness to the communities you're in.

At the heart of Virtual Coffee's success is our commitment to authenticity and empathy. Virtual Coffee isn't just a space for transactions; it's a place for genuine relationships to flourish. Members don't just show up to take — they give, support, and celebrate one another. This relational approach, what we call the Virtual Coffee Effect, creates ripples of impact that extend far beyond virtual interactions.

Our "Coffee Table Approach," allows for intimacy, vulnerability, and mentorship, like conversations you would have with a friend around a coffee table. Every interaction is an opportunity for growth, connection, and inclusivity, ensuring that all voices are valued and heard.

In today's uncertain landscape, characterized by job losses, burnout, and isolation, our hope is that our community will continue to spread kindness and that you'll join us on this mission. Through shared stories and meaningful conversations, we can rewrite our narratives, finding purpose and support in challenging times.

As Virtual Coffee looks to the future, our mission remains clear: to deepen authentic connections and ensure that every member feels welcomed, valued, and supported. Success is not measured in numbers but in the positive impacts on each other's lives, creating ripples of kindness that extend far beyond the community's boundaries. But it doesn't have to stop with us. Join us in our monthly challenge to spread kindness in the tech community.

Let's all work to make tech a community that shows up, steps up, and grows together. This is the Virtual Coffee Effect — where every interaction is an opportunity for kindness, understanding, and belonging.

Here are some simple ways to spread kindness and show gratitude:

Send a Thank You Note: Take a few moments to express appreciation to someone who has helped or supported you in the community. A heartfelt message can go a long way in brightening someone's day. Or used oss.love to send a card to someone in the open source community who has helped you.
**Offer Support: Keep an eye out for members or people you know who may be struggling or in need of assistance. Reach out with words of encouragement, offer a listening ear, or provide practical help if you're able.
**Acknowledge Contributions: Whether it's a small comment on a post or a shoutout during a community meeting, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of your fellow members. Recognizing their efforts fosters a culture of appreciation and validation.
Practice Active Listening: When engaging in conversations or discussions within the community, practice active listening. Show genuine interest in others' perspectives, ask clarifying questions, and validate their experiences. This demonstrates respect and empathy.
Random Acts of Kindness: Surprise a someone with a random act of kindness, such as sharing a helpful resource, offering to collaborate on a project, or simply sending a positive message to brighten their day.
Participate in Community Events: Show your support for community initiatives, events, and projects by actively participating and contributing your time and expertise. Your involvement strengthens the sense of belonging and unity within the community.
Spread Positivity: Be intentional about spreading positivity within the community. Share uplifting stories, words of encouragement, or inspirational quotes to inspire others and create a culture of optimism and kindness.

Let us know if you have more ideas about how to spread kindness in the community!