[kunalb]

I'm an amateurish PHP dev; so I can't suggest specific projects to get into. BUT I've found the best way to go about getting into any open source project probably would be:

- Choose a project you've used if you can. (I went with WordPress for example)

- Decide whether you want to try helping out with the core project or you would prefer to make an add on

- Make sure you follow the docs, get the build for the project ready -- or at least try to following what the project's docs tell you to. Do your personal best to get a hang of the source--particularly the area where you're aiming at. Try your hand at writing some code.

- _Now_ reach out to the core developers and the community (IRC, mailing lists, forums)-- discuss any problems you faced getting your dev set up ready, writing/testing code or any concepts you didn't understand (don't ask stuff that can be answered with a lmgtfy), your idea. Ask for a simple bug to fix if you haven't managed to find anything.

- Develop it further -- get feedback from devs and end users -- release/submit a patch. Based on feedback, iterate and release the next version/new patch. Repeat!

[edit] Corrected formatting