---
title: Finding inspiration on GitHub
shortTitle: Find inspiration
redirect_from:
  - /be-social
  - /articles/be-social
  - /github/getting-started-with-github/be-social
  - /github/getting-started-with-github/quickstart/be-social
  - /get-started/quickstart/be-social
  - /get-started/quickstart/finding-inspiration-on-github
intro: 'You can find inspiration for your own projects and learning on {% data variables.product.github %} and connect with a community.'
permissions: '{% data reusables.enterprise-accounts.emu-permission-interact %}'
versions:
  fpt: '*'
  ghes: '*'
  ghec: '*'
topics:
  - Profile
  - Accounts
  - Repositories
---

## Introduction

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}{% data variables.product.github %} is a vast open-source community. {% endif %}You can explore {% data variables.product.github %} to find interesting repositories, topics, code, people, and organizations that can inspire your own work, or support your own learning.

Once you've found something that interests you, you can:
* **Star** the repository or topic, so you can easily find it again later.
* **Follow** people or organizations, so you can stay updated on their activities.
* **Download** useful repositories or code, and customize it for your own use.
* **Contribute** to another user's project, by opening a pull request.

Once you star repositories or follow people, you will see updates on their activities on your {% data reusables.user-settings.personal_dashboard %}.

## Visit Explore {% data variables.product.github %}

1. Navigate to {% data variables.explore.explore_github %}.
1. Browse popular repositories and topics.
1. Click **{% octicon "star" aria-hidden="true" %} Star** next to repositories and topics that interest you, so you can easily find them again later.
1. Navigate to your {% data variables.explore.your_stars_page %} to see all your starred repositories and topics.

## Search for a topic or project on {% data variables.product.github %}

1. Navigate to https://github.com/search.
1. Type a keyword or query into the search bar. For example, try "green software tools." For more detailed information about searching for specific topics, repositories, or code, see [AUTOTITLE](/search-github/getting-started-with-searching-on-github/about-searching-on-github).
1. Use the left sidebar to filter the results. For example, to browse all repositories in the "green-software" topic, search "green-software", then filter by "Topic".
1. Star the repositories that match your interests, such as [{% data variables.product.github %}'s Green Software Directory](https://github.com/github/GreenSoftwareDirectory).

## Following people and organizations on {% data variables.product.github %}

Following people and organizations is another good way to stay updated on projects and topics that interest you.

### Following people

{% data reusables.profile.navigate-to-user-profile %}
1. Under the user's profile picture, click **Follow**.
1. Optionally, to unfollow a user, click **Unfollow**.

### Following organizations

1. Navigate to the organization page you want to follow.
1. In the top-right corner, click **Follow**.

   ![Screenshot of @octo-org's profile page. A button, labeled "Follow", is outlined in dark orange.](/assets/images/help/profile/organization-profile-following.png)

1. Optionally, to unfollow an organization, click **Unfollow**.

## Next steps

* {% data reusables.support.connect-in-the-forum-bootcamp %}
* In the next tutorial, [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/start-your-journey/downloading-files-from-github), you'll learn how to download files from {% data variables.product.github %} for your own use, and learn the differences between downloading, cloning, and forking repositories.

## Further reading

* [AUTOTITLE](/account-and-profile/setting-up-and-managing-your-personal-account-on-github/managing-user-account-settings/about-your-personal-dashboard){% ifversion fpt or ghec %}
* [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/finding-ways-to-contribute-to-open-source-on-github){% endif %}