How to get started with open source projects?

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Hi,

I am a coder and I enjoy it as a hobby and I have almost never worked on actual software development.

I am proficient in languages like c/c++, java, python but only used them in writing programs to solve puzzles and coding contest problems.

I have searched internet a lot on how to start with open source projects and after reading few articles, I have tried to get involve into few of them, but failed miserably to get started into something. I have tried to join Minix 3 open source project, but failed to do any contribution as I felt most of the engaged programmers into the projects are guided by some university professors or need some extensive supervision for getting started. I literally don't know whats going on. I can see their prevailing objectives and current problems, but don't know if anyone is already working on them or not.


Most of the time, I felt like knowing just programming language is not just enough to get started.

Can someone give me a practical guideline on how to start contributing into some open source projects with something small (coding sort of, not like documentations n all).