Open source has empowered everyday people to build extraordinary things—launch platforms, grow a brand, offer real solutions, earn side income, even achieve full financial freedom. But here’s the catch: as powerful as it is, open source isn’t for everyone. So how do you know if it’s right for you? That’s exactly what this article is here to help you find out.
If you have been following this series of articles then you will know that open source has helped me immensely—showcasing my VFX work, launching and sell online courses, landing vendor contracts, and building a full-scale enterprise learning tech stack (get the full story on how open source has helped me here).
It has been my experience that if you want to unlock the benefits of open source, there’s really just one requirement: you are—or aspire to be—a tech-savvy DIY (do-it-yourself) kind of person.
What Does it Mean to Be a “Tech-Savvy DIY” Builder?
Wondering if you’ve got what it takes to start your passion project with open source? Here are the key qualities I see as a tech-savvy, do-it-yourself builder:
- Comfortable with technology: You’re comfortable navigating computers, software, and digital tools without much hand holding.
- Self-taught learner: You’re a self-taught learner who regularly digs into forums, YouTube tutorials, and documentation.
- Basic troubleshooting skills: You're able to diagnose and fix common software or system issues without professional support.
- Installs and configures apps: You’ve installed or configured software before (on your computer or even a server).
- Not a coder, but not afraid of code: You can copy/paste or lightly tweak code (like CSS, config files, or snippets) without fully writing it.
- Adopt new tools quickly: You're eager to test new platforms, plugins, or services if they serve a useful purpose.
- Willing to put in the work: You’re willing to put in effort to learn, especially when it means building something meaningful.
- Has big dreams: Most importantly, you want to build something meaningful—something that lasts and maybe even changes your future.
Maybe you already see yourself in these qualities—great! You're ready to dive in.
If not, that’s totally okay. You don’t need to check every box right now. All you need is the desire to learn and the willingness to try. With AI as your assistant, the barriers to becoming a tech-savvy DIYer have never been lower.
Become a Tech-Savvy DIYer—with AI by Your Side
With AI, you can take on projects you once thought were out of reach—because now, you’re not doing it alone. AI is like having a personal research assistant, programmer, and writing partner—available 24/7 to help you learn, create, and problem-solve.
Think of it this way: a farmer with a plow can manage about 5–10 acres. Give that same farmer a tractor, and they can handle thousands. That’s the kind of productivity boost AI gives you when taking on your open source project.
AI can help you get unstuck. I often type prompts like, “I just got this error: [paste error]—how do I fix it?”and get step-by-step solutions. If you need to generate some code, AI will iterate that code with you until it is exactly what you need. AI can be your personal assistant, drastically increasing your effectiveness and capability while launching your open source passion project or business idea.
OpenAppGuide.com is on Your Side Too
AI has lowered the barrier to becoming a tech-savvy DIYer—and OpenAppGuide.com helps with that too. It's a project I stated that offers free training to tech-savvy DIYers that want to build something with open source. With step-by-step tutorials and ready-to-use project blueprints, OpenAppGuide gives you the structure and guidance to turn your ideas into real open source projects—whether it’s a product catalog, membership site, knowledge base, or social platform.
What project excites you most?
Vote now at OpenAppGuide.com/vote and help shape the next training project. Your vote helps decide what gets built next—and could be the first step in your next career breakthrough.
