5 reasons You should share Your code

Have you ever thought of sharing your code on GitHub?

You might think, “No, I am not a programmer”. But you do not need to be a programmer, and if you have written some scripts to automate tasks, solve problems, or create something cool you might be missing an opportunity.

I imagine you have a folder full of scripts that you use for your own purposes, but you never thought of sharing them with anyone else. Or you are hesitant to share your code because you think it is not good enough, or you are afraid of criticism.

Well, I am here to tell you that sharing your scripts can be one of the best things you can do for your personal and professional growth. Here are five reasons why you should share those hidden treasures with the world.

1. You will learn from feedback and collaboration

One of the main benefits of sharing your scripts, or other code, is that you will get feedback from others, who can help you improve your code, fix bugs, or suggest new features. You can also collaborate with other developers who share your interests or goals and work together on projects that are bigger than what you can do alone. By sharing your code on a public platform like GitHub  , you will expose yourself to different perspectives, opinions, and approaches that will enrich your knowledge and skills. You will learn how to use tools like version control, issue tracking, and code review, essential for any code development.

2. You will build your portfolio and reputation

Another benefit of sharing your code is that you will create a portfolio of your work, displaying your abilities and achievements. You can use your GitHub profile as a resume that demonstrates your skills, experience, and interests to potential employers, clients, or collaborators.

Furthermore, you can use your portfolio as examples of your work when applying for jobs, freelancing gigs, or grants. By sharing your code, you will also build your reputation as a person who is willing to contribute, learn, and share. You will gain recognition and appreciation from the community, and you might even get some stars, forks, or followers along the way.

3. You will contribute to the common good

A third benefit of sharing your code is that you will contribute to the common good by making your code available for anyone to use, modify, or build upon. You never know who might find your code useful, or what impact they might have. Your code might help someone solve a problem, save time, or learn something new.

Your code could inspire someone to create something amazing, or to share their own code. Your code could become part of a larger project that benefits society, science, or humanity. By sharing your code, you will be part of the open-source movement that values collaboration, innovation, and generosity.

4. You will discover new opportunities and challenges

A fourth benefit of sharing your code is that you will discover new opportunities and challenges that will motivate you to keep learning and improving. You might find new challenges to solve, new tools to use, or new domains to explore. You might find new people to work with, new communities to join, or new events to attend.

By sharing your code, you will open yourself to new possibilities and experiences that could enrich your professional career and personal growth.

5. You will have fun and satisfaction

A fifth benefit of sharing your code is that you will have fun and satisfaction from creating, sharing, and improving your code.

You might already be enjoying the process of writing, testing, and debugging your code, and I am certain You will be enjoying the process of sharing, receiving, and giving feedback, and seeing your code evolve and improve as well.

Enjoy the process of collaborating, networking, and interacting with peers who share your passion and enthusiasm. By sharing your code, you will experience the joy and fulfillment of being a creative and generous professional.

So, what are you waiting for? Start sharing your code and scripts today and reap the benefits of sharing your hidden treasures with the world.

Question of Ownership and Copyright

One challenge you might face when sharing your code is the question of ownership and copyright. You might wonder if your code belongs to the company you work for, or if you have the right to share it publicly.

Ownership and Copyright could depend on your contract, your employer’s policy, or the nature of your project. However, you should try to convince your manager of the benefits of open-source contributions, both for yourself and for the company.

Open-source software is not only a way of sharing code, but also a way of fostering innovation and collaboration. By making your code available and accessible, you can attract feedback, suggestions, and contributions from those peers who can help you improve your code, fix bugs, or add new features.

By sharing your code, you can demonstrate your expertise, values, and vision, this will benefit the company you work for and enhance their reputation.

Sharing code is one thing, adding your expertise to solve a problem, implementing the solution, or troubleshooting it, is the real value of your expertise.

Therefore, sharing your code is not only a personal choice, but also a strategic one. It can benefit both your career and your company’s goals.

Of course, you should always respect your company’s rules and regulations, and make sure you have permission to share your code. But you should also try to persuade your manager of the advantages of open-source, and how it can help you, your team, and your company grow and succeed.

Wrap-up

I hope this blogpost has convinced you to share your code and enjoy the benefits of sharing your code with the world. I hope you have found some useful tips and resources to help you get started.

Sharing your code is not only good practice, but also a rewarding and enjoyable task. Let me summarize the key benefits that I have discussed in this post:

• Sharing your code will improve your skills and knowledge by exposing you to feedback, suggestions, and contributions from other programmers.
• Sharing your code will display your work and achievements by demonstrating your expertise, values, and vision to potential employers, clients, or collaborators.
• Sharing your code will connect you with others who share your passion and enthusiasm for coding, and who can offer you support, guidance, or inspiration.
• Sharing your code will make a difference by contributing to the common good and solving problems that benefit society, science, or humanity.
• Sharing your code will have fun and satisfaction by creating, sharing, and improving your code, and by collaborating, networking, and interacting with other programmers.
• Sharing your code has many advantages, for yourself and for others. But sharing your code also comes with some challenges, especially when it comes to ownership and copyright. In the previous section, I gave you some tips on how to deal with this issue, and how to convince your manager of the benefits of open-source contributions.

By making your code available and accessible, you can attract and engage with peers who can help you improve your code, fix bugs, or add new features. You can also learn from other projects and use existing libraries or frameworks that can save you time and effort.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Create a GitHub account and upload your code to a public repository. Add a README file that explains what your code/script does, how to use it, and what dependencies it has. Add a LICENSE file that specifies the terms of use of your code. Add a .gitignore file that excludes unnecessary files from your repository.
2. Write clear, concise, and consistent code that follows the best practices and conventions of your programming language. Add comments and documentation that explain your code and make it easier to understand and maintain. Use meaningful and descriptive names for your variables, functions, and classes. Use indentation and spacing to make your code readable and organized.
3. Test and debug your code before sharing it. Make sure your code works as expected and handles errors and exceptions gracefully.
4. Share your code with the community and invite feedback and collaboration. Post a link to your repository on social media, forums, blogs, or newsletters that are relevant to your topic or audience. Ask for feedback, suggestions, or help.

To further learn and explore how to start building, shipping, and maintaining software, check out Learn the basics of GitHub  .

Keep learning and improving your code and skills. Explore other repositories related to your topic or language and see how other contributors write, share, and improve their code. Challenge yourself to implement new features, fix bugs, or optimize your code based on your own or others’ feedback.

Thank you for reading and happy coding!

–Jesper

Header image attribution: Created using Adobe Firefly