Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify contribution opportunities across different WordPress teams that match your skills and interests
- Describe the requirements and first steps for at least two contribution opportunities
- Select a contribution opportunity that fits your skills, available time, and program goals
- Plan your first contribution steps using the resources and guidelines provided
Explore contributor pathways
The WordPress project thrives on contributions from people all over the world. Below, we’ve highlighted several great ways you can start contributing, including the experience you’ll need and any special requirements.
Pick one that matches your interests and skills, or explore the full list of pathway guides.
Cross-reference: For a full overview of every team, see the previous lesson: Contribution Team Deep Dive.
Technology and engineering
Build a WordPress Playground Blueprint for the Gallery: Playground Blueprints let anyone launch a WordPress demo in a single click, with a theme, plugins, and even content. This guide explains how to create a Blueprint and submit it to a gallery where people share their blueprints for others to use and learn from. Experience required: familiarity with web development and open source contribution workflows.
Review a Theme: Theme reviewers help theme authors get their themes into the official WordPress theme directory. You’ll install and test themes, review code for security issues, and confirm GPL compatibility — all of which keep the directory safe and high-quality for everyone. Review at least 2 themes. Experience required: familiarity with WordPress theme development and theme standards.
Answer WordPress Support Questions: Help WordPress users solve their problems by answering questions in the support forums. You’ll troubleshoot issues, share solutions, and help people get unstuck. Experience required: solid working knowledge of WordPress; no coding required. Resolve at least 10 topics. (the specific number depends on your availability and the difficulty of the cases)
Test WordPress Patches: Test at least 10 patches on WordPress core tickets to validate fixes before release. Test independently at your own pace, or join weekly team sessions for guided support. Experience required: familiarity with web development and open source contribution workflows.
Design and creative media
Contribute to the WordPress Photo Directory: Upload CC0-licensed photos to the WordPress Photo Directory. Your photos give contributors worldwide free images to use on WordPress sites. For this credit, you’ll need at least 30 photos published. Beginner-friendly: anyone with a camera or smartphone can contribute.
Create Block Patterns: Block patterns are ready-made layouts that can be added to WordPress sites. Learn what makes a good pattern, then design and submit unique, helpful patterns to the Block Pattern Directory. Publish at least 20 patterns for this credit. Some experience recommended: familiarity with the WordPress Block Editor will help.
Languages
Translate Training Content: Help make Learn WordPress available in more languages by translating existing lessons, courses, and lesson plans into your language. Every translated piece of content makes WordPress education accessible to more people around the world. Beginner-friendly: native speaker of the target language required; no technical experience needed.
Translate Top Themes and Plugins: Help make WordPress accessible to more users by translating themes and plugins into your first language. As a native speaker, you’ll translate the interface text that users see every day – buttons, menus, and settings that make WordPress work. Beginner-friendly: native speaker of the target language required. Translate at least 500 strings for this contribution.
Add Captions to WPTV Videos: Help make WordPress.tv videos accessible by translating existing subtitles. You’ll pick a video, caption it in your language, and submit it for review. Beginner-friendly: native speaker of the target language required
Communication and writing
Review Content on Learn WordPress: Review at least 10 published lessons or courses on Learn WordPress, and share constructive feedback. This helps keep educational content accurate, up to date, and useful for learners. Beginner-friendly: anyone who can read and write clearly in English can contribute.
Write or Update GatherPress Documentation: GatherPress is an open-source event and meetup plugin for WordPress. Help by improving user guides, developer documentation, or inline docs so organizers and contributors can understand how the plugin works.
Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
| CC0 | A public domain license that allows anyone to use, copy, and modify a work without restriction or attribution |
| Block pattern | A pre-designed group of blocks that can be inserted into any WordPress page or post as a reusable layout |
| Localization | The process of translating and adapting content for a specific language and region |
| Caption / subtitle | Text that accompanies a video, either transcribing the audio (captions) or translating it into another language (subtitles) |
| Translation string | A piece of text in WordPress that is available to be translated, such as a button label, menu item, or error message |
✅ Check Your Understanding
- Which contribution opportunity from this lesson best matches your current skills and the time you have available? What draws you to it?
- Look at the requirements for your chosen opportunity. What is the first concrete step you need to take this week to get started?