❓ Frequently Asked Questions - IssueMatch

[AvishkarPatil]

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📝 FAQ - IssueMatch Project

🛠️ Development

Q: How do I set up IssueMatch locally?
A: Follow these steps to set up the development environment:

1. Clone the repository:
   git clone https://github.com/AvishkarPatil/IssueMatch.git
   cd IssueMatch

2. Backend Setup:
   cd backend
   pip install -r requirements.txt
   python manage.py migrate
   python manage.py runserver

3. Frontend Setup:
   cd frontend
   npm install
   npm start

4. Environment Variables: Copy .env.example to .env and configure your GitHub API tokens

5. Database: Default uses SQLite for development, PostgreSQL for production

Q: What tech stack does IssueMatch use?
A: IssueMatch is built with:

• Backend: Python Django REST Framework
• Frontend: React.js with TypeScript
• Database: PostgreSQL (production), SQLite (development)
• APIs: GitHub REST API & GraphQL API
• Authentication: OAuth 2.0 with GitHub
• Deployment: Docker containers (optional)

Q: How do I run tests?
A:

• Backend: python manage.py test
• Frontend: npm test
• Full test suite: npm run test:all

🤝 Contributing

Q: What should I work on first?
A: New contributors should start with:

• Issues labeled good first issue - beginner-friendly tasks
• documentation labeled issues - help improve docs
• frontend or backend based on your expertise
• Check our project board for current priorities

Q: How does the issue matching algorithm work?
A: IssueMatch uses a smart matching system that considers:

• Skill Tags: Programming languages and frameworks you know
• Experience Level: Based on your GitHub contribution history
• Interest Areas: Topics and project types you prefer
• Issue Complexity: Difficulty level assessment using labels and description analysis
• Availability: Time commitment preferences
• Past Success: Learning from your previous successful contributions

Q: What's the code review process?
A:

1. Submit PR using our template
2. Automated tests must pass
3. Code review by maintainers
4. Address feedback if needed
5. Merge after approval

Q: How do I report bugs or request features?
A: Use our GitHub issue templates:

• Bug Report: For unexpected behavior
• Feature Request: For new functionality ideas
• General Task: For improvements or questions

🔍 Project

Q: What is IssueMatch's main purpose?
A: IssueMatch solves the problem of finding relevant open source issues to contribute to. It's a platform that:

• Matches contributors with issues suited to their skills and interests
• Reduces search time by using intelligent algorithms
• Improves contribution success rate through better matching
• Helps maintainers find suitable contributors for their issues
• Builds community by connecting developers with projects they care about

Q: Who can use IssueMatch?
A:

• New developers looking for their first open source contributions
• Experienced contributors seeking interesting projects
• Project maintainers wanting to attract suitable contributors
• Students needing projects for learning or assignments
• OSCI participants looking for program-suitable issues

Q: How does IssueMatch differ from GitHub's native search?
A: IssueMatch provides:

• Personalized recommendations based on your profile
• Skill-based filtering beyond just programming languages
• Difficulty assessment to match your experience level
• Success prediction based on historical data
• Community features for collaboration and mentorship

Q: Is IssueMatch free to use?
A: Yes! IssueMatch is completely free and open source under MIT License.

🔧 Technical

Q: What APIs does IssueMatch use?
A:

• GitHub REST API for repository and issue data
• GitHub GraphQL API for efficient data queries
• OAuth 2.0 for secure authentication
• Custom recommendation engine for matching logic

Q: How does authentication work?
A: IssueMatch uses GitHub OAuth for secure authentication. Your GitHub profile helps personalize issue recommendations.

Q: Can I contribute without coding?
A: Absolutely! We need help with:

• Documentation writing and editing
• UI/UX design feedback
• Testing and bug reporting
• Community management
• Tutorial creation

📞 Support

Q: Where can I get help?
A:

• GitHub Discussions for community help and questions
• GitHub Issues for bugs and feature requests
• Email: me.avishkarpatil@gmail.com for direct contact
• OSCI Community for program-related support

Q: How quickly are issues resolved?
A: We aim to respond within 24-48 hours. Resolution time depends on complexity and priority level.

Q: Can I become a maintainer?
A: Active contributors who demonstrate expertise and community engagement can apply for maintainer status after consistent contributions.

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This FAQ is regularly updated based on community feedback and project evolution. Last updated: August 2025