How to become a Bitcoin developer?

[quantumV]

Hello everyone! Im a teenanger that likes prgraming and cibersecurity, and I was thinking about contributing for Bitcoin.
I know about programing, like Python, I created a smart contract with Solidarity at Etherum, and I have a github where I put my projects, they are very basic, but I really like software development, and I came to ask around here, what knowledge I need to be a Bitcoin developer, I know that It will be a process of years and of learning a lot, but I would love to be a Bitcoin developer, if someone around here knows info about this, to tell me, I would appreciate it very much, here I will leave you my Github profile in case you are interested, greetings!

https://github.com/quantumvortex369

[odolvlobo]

JoinMarket is written in Python. You can contribute to that project.

[rdluffy]

I hope you succeed, good luck! 

You can get started here on Bitcoin's Github: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin
And here specifically is a guide to how you can contribute: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md

I don't know what your level of Bitcoin knowledge is, but it might be interesting for you to join this forum board here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=4.0

Run Bitcoin core if it's possible for you and also read the BTC whitepaper
https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf

I suggest you to read also this book: https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook
Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos

[Silentcursor]

There was an onging Bitcoin development comeptition shared by a member here Competition to Break Bitcoin's Cryptography and win 1 BTC. Feel free to join.

The deadline has passed but while i open the project link - https://www.qdayprize.org/register. It says the competition is still on.

The deadline to make the submissions is 5 April 2026. All submissions will be shared publicly.
Those interested in participating can sign up here: https://www.qdayprize.org/register

What do you think, what key length will these white hats be able to crack?

Sources and further reading:
https://www.qdayprize.org/
https://x.com/qdayclock/status/1912534686569755044

[headingnorth]

You might consider helping out with Bitcoin Knots, an alternative to Bitcoin Core.
Many believe Core has been hijacked and possibly compromised by rogue devs.

https://luke.dashjr.org/programs/bitcoin/files/bitcoin-knots/www/

[nutildah]

You'll need a couple things that I can think of right off the bat:

 - an extensive, intricate understanding of Bitcoin & cryptography, and
 - an implementable idea for how to make the software better (some kind of improvement).

You might consider helping out with Bitcoin Knots, an alternative to Bitcoin Core.

This makes a lot of sense. They could probably use more developer brainpower as compared to Core.

Many believe Core has been hijacked and possibly compromised by rogue devs.

This makes no sense at all. Care to name a few of these "many," aside from yourself, of course?

[headingnorth]

Many believe Core has been hijacked and possibly compromised by rogue devs.

This makes no sense at all. Care to name a few of these "many," aside from yourself, of course?

Matt Kratter, BTC Sessions, Bitcoin Mechanic, Luke Dashjr to name a few. I won't get into too much detail here.
There's an ongoing debate about it in the development forum: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5539943.0

For a less technical overview you can start here if you wish:

Bitcoin Core Manipulation EXPOSED
www.youtube.com/watch?v=43o6pxER2VY

Is It Safe To Run Bitcoin Core?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U48siRTllsA

[quantumV]

JoinMarket is written in Python. You can contribute to that project.

Thanks a lot! I will try to contribute to the proyect

[nutildah]

Matt Kratter, BTC Sessions, Bitcoin Mechanic, Luke Dashjr to name a few. I won't get into too much detail here.
There's an ongoing debate about it in the development forum: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5539943.0

That's not "many", and none of them are saying Core has been "hijacked." I've been reading that thread from the start and what I see are a bunch of "the sky is falling"-type comments from non-developers, and a far more reasonable & nuanced assessment from those who are actual developers.

Really the panic & the fud should be saved for when the PR actually gets merged, and the negative effects are having a consequence on the network.

[apogio]

List of Python open-source software that you could contribute in:

1. bitcoinlib
2. electrum wallet
3. specter desktop
4. joinmarket
5. electrumx
6. HWI

These jumped off my mind immediately but browsing github you will fund many more.