🤝
💻
🌍
🔬

About  /  Get Involved

Get Involved

Join a global community of developers, implementers, and health professionals working to improve laboratory systems worldwide.

Ways to Contribute

OpenELIS Global welcomes contributors of all skill levels. Whether you’re a developer, healthcare professional, or just passionate about global health, there’s a place for you.

💻

Code Contributions

Help build features, fix bugs, and improve the codebase. We use Java/Spring for the backend and React (Carbon Design) for the frontend.

Java
React
FHIR
PostgreSQL



View on GitHub →

🧪

Testing & QA

Help improve software quality by testing features, reporting bugs, writing automated tests, and validating laboratory workflows.

Cypress E2E
Bug Reports
User Testing

Report Issues →

📚

Documentation

Help make OpenELIS easier to use by improving documentation, writing tutorials, and creating training materials for implementers and users.

User Guides
API Docs
Tutorials

View Documentation →

🌍

Translation

Help make OpenELIS accessible worldwide by translating the interface into new languages or improving existing translations. No coding required!

New Languages
Review
No Code

Translation Guide →

💬

Community Support

Help other users on the forum, answer questions, share your implementation experience, and welcome newcomers to the community.

Forum Help
Mentoring
Outreach

Join the Forum →

For Developers

Start Contributing in 4 Steps

1

Fork & Clone

Fork the repository on GitHub and clone it to your local machine.

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/OpenELIS-Global-2.git

2

Set Up Environment

Install Docker and Docker Compose, then run the dev environment.

docker compose -f dev.docker-compose.yml up -d

3

Find an Issue

Browse open issues and find one labeled “good first issue” to start.

Good First Issues →

4

Submit a PR

Make your changes, run tests, and submit a pull request for review.

Contributing Guide →

Tech Stack

Java 21

Backend

Spring

Framework

React

Frontend

Carbon

Design System

PostgreSQL

Database

FHIR R4

Interoperability

Recognition Program

Developer Stages

We recognize and celebrate contributor growth through our Developer Stages program. Progress through levels as you contribute more to the project.

DEV 1

Newcomer

Getting started with OpenELIS contributions

✓ First PR merged

✓ Introduced yourself on the forum

DEV 2

Established Contributor

Regular contributor with proven skills

✓ Multiple significant PRs

✓ Helps others in the community

✓ Reviews pull requests

DEV 3

Advanced Contributor

Highly skilled community leader

✓ 1+ year of active contribution

✓ Mentors other developers

✓ Leads feature development

Summer Program

Google Summer of Code

OpenELIS Global participates in Google Summer of Code! Work on meaningful healthcare software with experienced mentors and get paid to contribute to open source.

What You’ll Get:

  • Stipend from Google ($1,500 – $6,600 depending on project size)
  • Mentorship from experienced developers
  • Real-world impact on global health
  • Path to becoming a Dev 2 or Dev 3 contributor

Past GSoC Projects:

JSP → React Migration

Modernizing the frontend

FHIR Client Registry

Healthcare interoperability

E2E Test Coverage

Quality assurance

OCL Integration

Test terminology standards

Ready to Make an Impact?

Join hundreds of contributors improving laboratory systems for millions of patients worldwide.

OpenELIS Global is stewarded by DIGI at the University of Washington