- Open source projects such as Chromium, PostgreSQL, Checkstyle, MariaDB, git, GNU/Linux...
- Such projects take huge time to compile, takes huge memory (partially solved via remote indexing), extremely complex for me to debug a single added line!
- Someone in Y Combinator was talking about hiring people who worked on big open source projects especially QEMU, LLVM, Rust, Swift and V8.
- Doing such contributions compromises interview practicing and doing projects.
#How important is open source contribution for working in big tech compared to doing projects?
next vortex
ionic stone
I know someone who is a key contributor to a large OSS library
he still has to pass leetcode even at the principal level 😭 ha
ruby ivy
can you clarify your question
are you trying to land a job at big tech?
or do you mean like to prepare for working at big tech
because I imagine the scale and complexity of the codebases in open source projects is very similar to that of big tech
next vortex
Hello, First of all, I am deeply sorry for not replying as no one pingd me (so I never received any notif)
next vortex
I know someone who is a key contributor to a large OSS library
he still has to ...
Yes... no doubt, but it cuts you 95% of the road! you pass the resume pre-screening! you get a referral! you can add it to your resume and LinkedIn so recruiters can see and approach you!
TBH, better than nothing.
Not sure if you do need any help in PS and Interview prep; but in this case, let me know how I can help 😇
next vortex
are you trying to land a job at big tech?
Yes; FAANG, Big 4.
next vortex
because I imagine the scale and complexity of the codebases in open source proje...
Not sure, never worked there to assert. but chromium is massive; An IDE won't help you at all at this level 😦
ruby ivy
entry level? or senior
next vortex
entry level? or senior
What do you mean?
I forget to see messages until I am pinged, so please reply or mention me 😅
ruby ivy
What do you mean?
are you applying for entry level positions? or senior positions?
next vortex
are you applying for entry level positions? or senior positions?
Entry level
ruby ivy
I'd say for entry level yeah I agree contributing to open source is not really a necessity
I think it will make you stand out
I think that for entry level what's really key is just showing on your resume your keen interest and passion for coding
next vortex
TBH, a senior SA at GitHub told me "It is just a bonus tip, not a table turning".
I trust him but I wanted to take other people's opinion just to have the 360
BTW, it is extremely hard. I mean, try it yourself at Chromium or PostgreSQL scale. And this is just the start. Try Git and you will never try OS in your life XD
Those people are so toxic and intolerant for newbie's (and they have their justifiable reasons).
ruby ivy
I've tried some open source contributing for like some stuff, nothing super big or impressive
wasn't too bad tho
like I think any codebase will have a learning curve and you just go up it
but yeah as I said at the end of the day the more you can show that you are more than just an average coder or student the better
that's mostly what counts for entry level imo