Open Sourcery is the University of Maryland's premier student organization dedicated to collaborative and open-source software development. We bring together driven students, from seasoned engineers to those just beginning their technical journey, to build real-world software, contribute to meaningful open-source initiatives, and develop industry-ready skills through hands-on experience.
We operate through GitHub-based open-source projects that range from short-term builds (under one semester) to long-term development initiatives lasting up to a full academic year. Every member is matched to project teams based on interest and experience level to maximize meaningful contributions and measurable growth.
Our approach emphasizes:
- Structured project matching and team formation
- Dedicated mentorship from experienced student developers
- Real-world development practices (version control, issue tracking, documentation)
- Long-term portfolio-building opportunities
Browse our active and archived repositories to see what we're building. Our projects reflect the diverse interests and technical skills of our community. Every project is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and ship real software.
We welcome contributors of all experience levels. Whether you're making your first pull request or leading a project team, there's a place for you here. Join us at:
- Hack Sessions: Our cornerstone events where teams gather to collaborate, ship features, and move projects forward in a focused and supportive environment
- General Body Meetings (GBMs): Stay connected with the broader community and hear about new initiatives
- Technical Workshops: Learn essential skills like Git/GitHub, open-source contribution workflows, and more
- Project Showcases: See what teams have built and get inspired for your next contribution
Ready to contribute? Check out our website (https://opensourcery.umd.edu/), join our Discord community, or reach out to a Lead Developer.
Open Sourcery provides meaningful experience, networking, and credibility. Our members acquire:
- Demonstrable project experiences and open-source/GitHub contributions
- Experience working in structured engineering teams
- Exposure to open-source collaboration standards
- A strong technical network within UMD and beyond
If you're serious about improving as a developer, contributing to impactful software, and joining a motivated technical community, Open Sourcery is where you belong.
Explore everything we offer, including our Discord, Instagram, and event calendar:
https://linktr.ee/umdopensourcery
Build real software. Work with real teams. We hope to see you with us! 🩵