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Applying to Issues

Once you've found an issue you want to work on, here's how to actually get it assigned to you and get your work merged.

1. Apply​

Open the issue and click Apply for this issue. Write a short message saying why you're a good fit or how you'd approach it — this becomes a visible comment on the issue itself, so the maintainer (and anyone else looking at the issue) can see it.

You can apply to as many open issues as you like. Keep in mind more than one person can apply to the same issue, and the maintainer chooses who gets it — a clear, specific message about how you'd tackle the problem goes a long way.

Write a message that gets you picked

Maintainers are comparing applications, often several on the same issue. "I'll take this" tells them nothing. A sentence or two on how you'd approach it, or a link to similar work you've done, is what actually stands out.

Changed your mind, or found something better suited to you? You can withdraw your application at any time before you're assigned.

2. Wait for a decision​

The project maintainer reviews applications and will either:

  • Assign it to you — you're now the official assignee on GitHub, and you'll get a notification confirming it.
  • Pass on it this time — you'll get a notification, and you're free to apply to something else.

If the issue gets closed or resolved another way before a decision is made, the Apply button will show the issue is no longer open.

3. Do the work​

Once you're assigned, the work itself happens the normal GitHub way: fork or branch, make your changes, and open a pull request against the project, linked to the issue you were assigned. Grainlify doesn't add any extra submission step on top of this — a linked pull request is your submission.

4. Get merged​

When the maintainer merges your pull request, you'll get a notification. That contribution is now part of your public history — it's what your rank and leaderboard position are built from, and it's the best way to get noticed by maintainers looking for regular contributors.

Good to know​

  • You can't apply to an issue on your own project.
  • An issue only accepts applications while it's open and unassigned — once someone's assigned, it's off the table until a maintainer frees it up again.
  • Applying and getting merged build your reputation and rank on Grainlify. Earning redeemable points is a separate track — see How Rewards Work for how the two fit together.