How to Succeed in a Kotlin Open‑Source Mentorship Program
Introduction
Making your first open‑source contribution can feel daunting, but structured mentorship programs make it approachable and rewarding. The Kotlin Ecosystem Mentorship Program (KEMP) pilot demonstrated exactly how a guided, real‑world collaboration can help developers break into open source. Four pairs completed the two‑month program, and one lucky pair won a trip to KotlinConf 2026. This guide extracts the key steps from that successful pilot, showing you how to prepare, find a mentor, collaborate effectively, and make contributions that matter. Whether you are a mentor or a mentee, these steps will help you replicate the experience and build confidence in the Kotlin ecosystem.
What You Need
- Basic Kotlin knowledge – familiarity with the language and common Kotlin patterns.
- Git and GitHub skills – cloning repos, creating branches, opening pull requests, and reviewing code.
- Slack or similar chat platform – asynchronous communication is the backbone of remote collaboration.
- A project to contribute to – ideally a Kotlin library or tool that interests you (e.g., BitChat, Calf, FlowMVI, heron).
- Time commitment – about 4–6 hours per week for two months.
- Open mindset – willingness to learn from feedback and work independently after initial guidance.
Step‑by‑Step Guide
Step 1: Find the Right Mentorship Program and Apply
Programs like KEMP are announced through Kotlin official channels, community Slack, and social media. Keep an eye on the Kotlin Community page. The pilot received 80 mentee applications and 29 mentor applications – high interest means selection is competitive. Write a clear application that highlights your existing Kotlin experience, your motivation, and the type of project you want to work on (e.g., Android UI, tooling, multiplatform libraries). If you want to be a mentor, showcase your expertise and a specific project where you can guide a newcomer.
Step 2: Kick Off with a Clear Alignment Call
Once matched, schedule a kickoff call. In the KEMP pilot, successful pairs started with a call to align expectations. Discuss project scope, communication style, and timelines. Use this call to set up a shared understanding of the codebase and the first task. Ruslan, a mentor, noted that after the initial alignment, his mentee Clare could work independently. The call should cover: repository structure, development environment setup, coding conventions, and which issues to tackle first.
Step 3: Embrace Asynchronous Collaboration
Most mentorship programs, including KEMP, rely on asynchronous communication (chat, GitHub issues, pull request comments). After the kickoff, continue discussions in Slack or the project’s chat channel. Share progress, ask questions, and provide feedback without needing real‑time meetings – this mirrors real open‑source workflows. Clare and Ruslan used chat and GitHub effectively, allowing Clare to work at her own pace while still getting timely guidance.
Step 4: Focus on Meaningful, Well‑Defined Contributions
Don’t just fix typos – aim for contributions that improve user experience, accessibility, or developer tooling. Clare worked on UI/UX improvements for the BitChat Android client: voice note styling, camera/audio controls, dark/light theme support, visual hierarchy, and press feedback. These are concrete, user‑facing changes that demonstrate real value. Similarly, Kaustubh contributed dependency updates and CI/CD automation to Calf; Anshul fixed a bug and wrote a migration guide for FlowMVI; Yu Jin improved input handling in heron. Each contribution was part of a larger project and solved a genuine need.
Step 5: Submit Pull Requests and Iterate
Submit your work as a GitHub pull request. Clare submitted and merged two PRs (#680 and #682). Be prepared to receive review comments and make revisions. Use the PR description to explain what you changed and why. This iterative process is where much of the learning happens – you practice code review, communication, and problem‑solving. Link your PRs back to the mentorship program’s Slack channel or repository for visibility.
Step 6: Reflect on the Experience and Share Learnings
After your contributions are merged, take time to reflect. Clare said her biggest takeaway was understanding how open‑source collaboration actually works. Write a short retrospective – what was challenging, what helped, what you would do differently. This reflection not only solidifies your learning but also provides valuable feedback to the program organizers. Many programs, including KEMP, collect participant stories to inspire future cohorts. Your experience could become a case study for others.
Tips for Success
- Start small, think big. Pick an issue with a clear scope, but aim for a contribution that has visible impact – users will appreciate it.
- Communicate early and often. Don’t wait days to ask a question. A quick Slack message can save hours of confusion.
- Learn the project’s contribution guidelines – they often include testing requirements, commit style, and review timelines.
- Use the program’s community channel to connect with other participants. KEMP had a dedicated Slack channel where pairs could share tips.
- Mentors: be responsive but encourage independence. Ruslan praised Clare’s ability to work independently after the initial alignment – that balance is key.
- Mentees: embrace the “why” behind the code. Understanding design decisions and project conventions will make you a better contributor long term.
- Celebrate your wins. Whether or not you win a prize, completing a mentorship program is a milestone. Add your merged PRs to your portfolio.
These steps and tips are drawn directly from the KEMP pilot results. The program received strong community interest, and the organizers plan to continue it. By following this guide, you can prepare to be one of the successful pairs in the next cohort, contributing to the Kotlin ecosystem while building lasting open‑source collaboration skills.