Open Source/Contributing Back

Contributing Back to the Community

Learn how to contribute to open source VLSI projects and give back to the community that helps you grow.

60%
Code
25%
Documentation
10%
Bug Reports
5%
Testing

📚 Contribution Guides

Getting Started with Open Source

Beginner

A beginner's guide to contributing to open source VLSI projects, from setting up your environment to making your first PR.

Key Steps:

1.Choose a project that matches your skill level
2.Read the project's CONTRIBUTING.md file
3.Set up your development environment
4.Start with documentation or small bug fixes
5.Submit your first pull request

Code Contributions

Intermediate

Learn how to contribute code effectively to VLSI tools and frameworks.

Key Steps:

1.Understand the project architecture
2.Follow coding standards and style guides
3.Write comprehensive tests for your changes
4.Document your code and APIs
5.Participate in code reviews

Bug Reports & Testing

Beginner

Help improve project quality by reporting bugs and contributing to testing efforts.

Key Steps:

1.Use the latest version before reporting
2.Provide detailed reproduction steps
3.Include system information and logs
4.Test proposed fixes and provide feedback
5.Help triage and verify other bug reports

Documentation

Beginner

Contribute to project documentation, tutorials, and user guides.

Key Steps:

1.Identify gaps in existing documentation
2.Write clear, beginner-friendly tutorials
3.Create examples and use cases
4.Translate documentation to other languages
5.Review and improve existing docs

🙋‍♂️ Projects Needing Help

OpenROAD

Intermediate
12
good first issues

RTL-to-GDSII platform looking for contributors in GUI development and algorithm optimization.

Help Needed:

C++ DevelopmentGUI/QtAlgorithm OptimizationDocumentation
View Project

Verilator

Advanced
8
good first issues

Verilog simulator needs help with SystemVerilog features and performance improvements.

Help Needed:

C++ DevelopmentSystemVerilog SupportPerformanceTesting
View Project

Yosys

Intermediate
15
good first issues

RTL synthesis framework looking for contributors in optimization passes and new features.

Help Needed:

C++ DevelopmentSynthesis AlgorithmsDocumentationTesting
View Project

Cocotb

Beginner
20
good first issues

Python verification framework needs help with simulator support and new features.

Help Needed:

Python DevelopmentSimulator IntegrationDocumentationExamples
View Project

Ready to Start Contributing?

Join thousands of engineers who are building the future of open source VLSI tools. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.

2,500+
Active Contributors
150+
Projects
500+
Good First Issues