# Getting Familiar with OpenRefine **URL:** \ **Category:** Outreachy-GSoC\ **Created:** [March 11, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602 "2023-03-11T22:25:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lydiaofficial](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/lydiaofficial/32/320_2.png) [@Lydiaofficial](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Lydiaofficial)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/1 "2023-03-11T22:25:57Z")
I wrote a blog post on getting familiar with OpenRefine as a new user or contributor and shared everything I’ve learned in one week on how to use it to clean up messy data and as well as my experience as an Outreachy contributor. You can read all about it here; > **[Getting Familiar with OpenRefine](https://lydiaofficial.substack.com/p/getting-familiar-with-openrefine?sd=pf)** > > Contributing to an Open Source platform as an Outreachy applicant. ---
**Author:** ![Ebere](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/ebere/32/326_2.png) [@Ebere](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Ebere)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/2 "2023-03-13T00:39:01Z")
@Lydiaofficial great job. That is a great write up! Weldone 👏 ---
**Author:** ![Lydiaofficial](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/lydiaofficial/32/320_2.png) [@Lydiaofficial](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Lydiaofficial)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2023, 5:00am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/3 "2023-03-13T05:00:32Z")
Thank you so much, @Ebere 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Ebere](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/ebere/32/326_2.png) [@Ebere](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Ebere)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 7:07am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/4 "2023-03-15T07:07:06Z")
Hey Lydia, hope your night was great. Please have you started doing your final application for the projects you registered for? ---
**Author:** ![Ebere](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/ebere/32/326_2.png) [@Ebere](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Ebere)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 7:07am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/5 "2023-03-15T07:07:52Z")
If yes, what are steps taken ---
**Author:** ![Lydiaofficial](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/lydiaofficial/32/320_2.png) [@Lydiaofficial](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Lydiaofficial)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 8:41am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/6 "2023-03-15T08:41:01Z")
Hi Ebere, no I am yet to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Ebere](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/ebere/32/326_2.png) [@Ebere](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Ebere)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 8:49am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/7 "2023-03-15T08:49:48Z")
Ok. On the part where the question of Timeline of the project was asked. What do you think the timeline should be? ---
**Author:** ![Lydiaofficial](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/lydiaofficial/32/320_2.png) [@Lydiaofficial](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Lydiaofficial)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 9:23am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/8 "2023-03-15T09:23:52Z")
This is a Google doc template of mine from last year that will help. > **[Lydia Amadi Chinyere - Final Outreachy Application](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hAdlFlDnXY0-j14jsYlEpLHJ_15kUThbeMfYlif0EDc/edit?usp=drivesdk)** > > Mentors: Yo Yehudi and Ismael Kherroubi Garcia Applicant: Lydia Amadi Chinyere Project: Re-brand OLS Name and Materials Past experience with this community: My very first and only experience with the OLS community began in October when I got an... ---
**Author:** ![Ebere](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/ebere/32/326_2.png) [@Ebere](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Ebere)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/9 "2023-03-15T18:50:46Z")
You’re too kind. God bless you for this.Thank you ---
**Author:** ![Lydiaofficial](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/lydiaofficial/32/320_2.png) [@Lydiaofficial](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Lydiaofficial)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/10 "2023-03-15T19:38:59Z")
Oh don’t mention at all. Pleasure is mine.🙏 ---
**Author:** ![fatima\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@fatima\_this](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/fatima_this)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 12:44pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/11 "2023-06-25T12:44:01Z")
That was a resourceful read. I am trying to enter this community as a developer and all your write-ups on the tools being implemented by the site is quite enriching. As a beginner to open-source, I feel overwhelmed at how to even introduce this project in my proposal. Would it be possible for you to share your application that helped you land the Outreachy project this year. ---
**Author:** ![Lydiaofficial](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/lydiaofficial/32/320_2.png) [@Lydiaofficial](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Lydiaofficial)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/12 "2023-06-25T19:51:26Z")
Hello @fatima_this , I did feel overwhemled in my first few weeks and it's totally okay as it's a new environment and a totally different product from what newbies like us are used to. That being said, I do not mind at all and would love to help. ---
**Author:** ![fatima\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@fatima\_this](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/fatima_this)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 8:08am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/13 "2023-06-26T08:08:27Z")
Thank you for the support. ---
**Author:** ![Martin](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/martin/32/7_2.png) [@Martin](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/Martin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 9:25am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/14 "2023-06-27T09:25:01Z")
@fatima_this thank you for your interest in contributing to OpenRefine. We published two guides for first-time contributors. You can find them here - [OpenRefine/CONTRIBUTING.md at master · OpenRefine/OpenRefine · GitHub](https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) - [Contributing | OpenRefine](https://openrefine.org/docs/technical-reference/contributing) Feel free to open new topics on this forum if you have questions. We are looking forward to your contributions. ---
**Author:** ![fatima\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@fatima\_this](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/fatima_this)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 7:42am UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/15 "2023-07-01T07:42:59Z")
I have been going through the necessary texts and they have been a great help. If it's not too much trouble, could I inquire whether OpenRefine will be reapplying for the Winter 2023 Outreachy Program? ---
**Author:** ![antonin\_d](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/user_avatar/forum.openrefine.org/antonin_d/32/32_2.png) [@antonin\_d](https://forum.openrefine.org/u/antonin_d)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.openrefine.org/t/getting-familiar-with-openrefine/602/16 "2023-07-01T12:13:02Z")
It's unclear yet: we generally decide whether we participate shortly before applications for organizations are due (end of August for this round). The limiting factor is whether we find motivated mentors.