Celebrating Our First Open Source Bootcamp
A few months ago, our team started discussing a common challenge: While many Builders Pathways graduates had the technical skills, stepping into the world of Bitcoin open source seemed intimidating. We realized firsthand knowledge wasn’t always enough; real contribution often felt out of reach for those new to open-source development. That’s why we launched our very first open source bootcamp, to give aspiring contributors hands-on support, structure, and a welcoming entry point into this global ecosystem.
We invited 47 developers from our recently concluded pathways, and 38 accepted to join. Our participants represented Nigeria, Kenya, Bénin, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, and Brazil, with 30 men and 8 women from dynamic cities like Lagos, Abuja, Nairobi, Cotonou, Kampala, Accra, Blantyre, and Caucaia. This cohort was proof that open source speaks every language and thrives on diverse perspectives.
What We Did For The Four Weeks
Laying the Groundwork (Week 1)
We started with the basics, demystifying open source, sharing why it matters for Bitcoin, and getting everyone’s Bitcoin Core development environment set up and running.
Deepening Understanding (Week 2)
The group dove into Bitcoin’s inner workings, exploring its peer-to-peer network, transaction life cycle, and wallet structure. This was hands-on learning, turning complex topics into approachable knowledge.
Getting Practical (Week 3)
Each participant selected a Bitcoin project and began reviewing code, running tests, and learning how community collaboration really happens.
Making a Real Contribution (Week 4)
In the final stretch, developers picked starter issues, wrote and tested new code, and made their very first pull requests. By collaborating directly with maintainers, they experienced the feedback loop at the heart of open source.
Our Impact: Highlights in Numbers
Over the course of four weeks, our developers made a total of 103 code submissions, with 31 submissions in the very first week and 16 in the final week, showing both enthusiasm at the start and sustained momentum right to the end.
Our participants contributed to more than eight leading Bitcoin projects, including Bitcoin Core, Bitcoin Dev Kit, Polar, BlueWallet, Rust-Payjoin, BTCPay Server, BitPay Bitcore, and Rust Nostr. This broad engagement brought fresh perspectives and solutions to a diverse range of open source initiatives.
The team’s open-source impact was impressive, with 12 pull requests submitted across various projects, including a notable 3 PRs to Bitcoin Core. Alongside these, developers completed 6 code reviews and reported 5 new issues, helping to improve project quality and reliability beyond their own contributions.
Collaboration went far beyond code, many participants have been working closely with maintainers and other contributors, diving into discussions, testing, documentation, and problem-solving.
As a testament to their growth, 15+ developers are now on the watchlist for the Btrust Starter Grant, positioning them for continued impact within the Bitcoin ecosystem.
What Next?
We finished the bootcamp with a forward-looking team meeting, mapping out next steps and encouraging everyone to take what they’ve learned even further. Our new contributors are now ready, not just with technical skills, but with the confidence and community spirit needed to keep growing within the Bitcoin open-source world.
If you’re interested in joining the next open-source bootcamp cohort, be sure to stay tuned to our social media channels for updates and announcements. In the meantime, you can visit our website to explore our programs and resources, join our community and join our waitlist for our pathways. You’ll be the first to know when applications open for our next cohorts.
