# Contributing to Discourse **URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/contributing-to-discourse/53797 **Category:** Contributing **Tags:** explanation **Created:** [December 5, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/contributing-to-discourse/53797 "2016-12-05T15:07:38Z") **Posts on this page:** 1 **Showing post:** 1
### Author: ![Discourse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/discourse/32/148734_2.png) [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse) #### Post date: [December 5, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/contributing-to-discourse/53797/1 "2016-12-05T15:07:38Z")
> 🔖 This is a guide on how to contribute to the Discourse open-source project in various ways including advocacy, design, translation, code contributions, bug reporting, and financial support. > > 🙋 Required user level: Anyone can contribute! Many passionate people often ask how they can give back to Discourse. The simple answer is, “You’re awesome! ❤” and yes, there are many ways you can contribute. ## Summary In this documentation, we’ll cover: - Different ways you can give back to Discourse - Step-by-step guides on how to get involved - Best practices for each form of contribution - Solutions to common issues you may run into - Frequently asked questions about contributing ## Everyone is welcome 🙌 Discourse is an [open-source project](https://www.discourse.org/faq/#license). Contrary to popular belief, contributing to an open-source project isn’t limited to coding. There are several other important areas where you can make a difference. ## Advocacy 📢 One of the best ways to support Discourse is by advocating for it. Talk about Discourse whenever you can, without being pushy. ### Common Advocacy Methods - **Meta’s Praise Category** : Share your positive experiences with Discourse in the #Community Building > Praise category. Also, consider reviewing Discourse on these [3rd party sites](https://meta.discourse.org/t/add-your-vote-review/65662/2). - **X (formerly Twitter)**: Use [@discourse](https://x.com/discourse) to share your community stories. We read all your posts. - **Other social media** : We may not have official accounts on other social platforms, but they’re still a great place to tell people about Discourse. - **Meetups** : Join or organize meetups through platforms like [meetup.com](https://www.meetup.com/). Discuss Discourse by connecting with people interested in topics like Ruby, JavaScript, and Open Source. ## Design 🎨 You can contribute to design by participating in ongoing #Contribute > UX or #Contribute > Feature discussions. You can also create a #Customization > Theme or #Customization > Theme component. - Check designs like [Material Design](https://meta.discourse.org/t/material-design-stock-theme/47142) or components like [Header Categories Navbar](https://meta.discourse.org/t/header-categories-navbar/249179). - Follow guides like [Beginner’s Guide to Using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) and [Developer’s Guide to Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/developer-s-guide-to-discourse-themes/93648). ## Translation 🌍 If you speak multiple languages, contribute by translating Discourse. - Follow the [translation contribution guide](https://meta.discourse.org/t/contribute-a-translation-to-discourse/14882). - Join the conversation in #dev:translations. ## Code 💻 If you’re familiar with Rails and Ember.js or want to learn them, you can contribute code. - Start with a #Customization > Theme component or #Customization > Plugin. - Refer to guides like [Beginner’s Guide to Using Theme Creator](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-theme-creator-and-theme-cli-to-start-building-a-discourse-theme/108444) and [Creating Discourse Plugins](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-creating-discourse-plugins-part-1/30515). - Follow the [development and contribution guidelines](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-development-contribution-guidelines/3823). ## Bug Reports 🐛 If you encounter bugs, you can help by reporting them. - Ensure the bug is reproducible. - Follow the [bug report guide](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-write-a-good-bug-report/183671). ## Money 💰 If you or your organization has more financial resources than time, consider subscribing to our [premium hosting service](https://discourse.org/buy). We do not take donations, but paying for our hosted service goes directly to the same core team that develops Discourse. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I know where to start? With so many options, it can be daunting. Here’s some advice: - **Read all the things** : Start with the [Top page](https://meta.discourse.org/top) to stay updated with major events. - **Do the things you think people should be doing** : If you think the community could benefit from something, go ahead and do it. ### Can contributors get paid? Yes, some contributions are paid either by the Discourse company or third parties. We encourage paid contributions but understand it’s not always possible. Regardless of how it happens, contributions should ideally be driven by intrinsic motivation and a desire to grow the Discourse project and community. ## Additional Resources - [Writing effective how-to documentation](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-to-write-a-how-to/178575?silent=true) - [Contributing translations to Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/t/contribute-a-translation-to-discourse/14882?silent=true) - [Contributing to Discourse development](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-development-contribution-guidelines/3823?silent=true) > Last edited by @Bas 2025-12-15T12:24:08Z > > Last checked by @hugh 2024-06-11T02:08:22Z > > > **Check document** > > > > Perform check on document: --- _[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/contributing-to-discourse/53797)._