wtf is hacktoberfest2019?

This repository is a practice ground for people who have never contributed to open source before. It was created for Hacktoberfest 2019, an annual event where DigitalOcean and GitHub reward people for making pull requests (code contributions) to open source projects during October. The idea is simple: beginners can add their name and GitHub profile link to a webpage, and in return they get practice with the contribution workflow. The process is deliberately straightforward. You copy the repository to your own account, edit a file called index.html by adding your name and a link to your profile, and then submit that change as a pull request. That is essentially the full cycle of open source contribution in a low-pressure environment. The README also walks through every step, starting from creating a GitHub account and registering on the Hacktoberfest site. Beyond being a practice repo, it doubles as a directory. The README lists dozens of open source projects that welcome new contributors, ranging from big names like Mozilla and React to smaller community efforts. Each entry comes with a short description of what the project does and where to find it. This gives beginners a curated starting point for finding real projects to contribute to after their first practice pull request. The repo is really aimed at someone who wants to break into open source but feels intimidated. The maintainer explicitly asks people not to contribute just for the T-shirt but to genuinely learn the process. It is a confidence-building exercise rather than a production tool.