Applying to Outreachy and GSoC for Fedora and GNOME

The next 30 is going to be the deadline to apply to the Outreachy program and on April 3rd to the GSoC program. Lately in Peru a group of students were so interested in applying on it, since they have heard about the programs in FLOSS events such as LinuxPlaya 2017 and HackCamp2016, among other local events.

The companies that are participating in these programs fully reflect all available information; however, crucial questions are still on the air. This fact made me write a little post about these programs. So far, the Outreachy offers for FEDORA and GNOME:

Fedora

Fedora is a Linux-based operating system, which offers versions focused on three possible uses: workstation, server, and cloud.

Internship projects:

• Improve Bodhi, the web-system that publishes updates for Fedora (looking for applicants as of March 17) Required: Python; Optional: JavaScript, HTML, CSS

GNOME

GNOME is a GNU/Linux-based innovative desktop that is design-driven and easy to use.

Internship projects:

• Improve GTK+ with pre-compiled GtkBuilder XML files in resource data (looking for applicants as of March 12) Required: C, ability to quickly pick up GTK+

• Photos: Make it perfect — every detail matters (looking for applicants as of March 12) Required: C, ability to quickly pick up GLib and GTK+

• Make mapbox-gl-native usable from GTK+

  Required: C, GTK+; optional: C++, interest in maps

• Unit Testing Integration for GNOME Builder (looking for applicants as of March 7) Required: GTK+, and experience with either C, Python, or Vala

• Documentation Cards for GNOME Builder

  Required: GTK+, and experience with either C, Python, or Vala

First of all, it is compulsory to know what the programs are. Boths,  GSoC and Outreachy program ask to complete a requested free and open-source software coding project online during a period of 3 months, with a stipend of $5500. It is not required to complete that tasks before you apply, or to travel abroad to complete the internship, neither a Google recruiting program. To apply you must fulfill the requirements and other five points (that I also consider important as well):

1.- Be familiar with the project

In the case of GSoc for Fedora, please see the wiki of ideas published, for the GSoC GNOME, a wiki of ideas is also posted with the list of projects, and finally, the ideas for the Outreachy that are happy to receive contributors with very different programming skills.

I think that at least a year of experience as a user and as developer is important to mention. For example, in you decide to participate in the GNOME games project, it is important to prove that you have checked or interact with the code they use. It can done by posting it in a blog or by your git hub account. Fixing newcomers bugs related the GNOME games application is also an important plus to consider:: Additionally, the bugs for Fedora.

2.- Read the requirements and provide a proof of evidence

Before submit the proposal, it is important to attach a document to prove that you are currently enroll in a university or institute.
Another important requirement is the age, +18 and they also consider the eligibility to work in the country you live. Tax forms will be asked when you are selected.
You can upload individually more than one proposal could be submitted but only one will be accepted. You can participate in both programs too, the Outreachy program and the GSoC program. Only one will be accepted.

3.- Think about your strangeness and weakness

During the application is asked to prove an evidence of any other projects that you have participated. Maybe it is coincide in my case, but all the students that I found interested in Linux IT are also leaders in their communities or universities, and have participated in other interesting projects. A proof documented of those activities are also part of the process and in case you do not have videos, or posts, search for a letter of an authority (egg. dean of the faculty) to have the letter as a voucher of your committed to the society.

4.- Be in contact with your mentor

When you are about to finish the proposal, it is asked to add a calendar of the tasks and deadlines. In this case, it is better to set up the schedule of duties with the mentor approval. It is suggested to write a mail to introduce yourself with an attached tentative calendar to achieve the request posted in the wiki ideas of the project.

Each project has a list of mentor published, GSoC GNOME wiki shows them between parenthesis aside the name of the project as well as the GSoC for Fedora. The Outreachy mentor’s wiki list for GNOME and the mentor list for Fedora is also public online.

5.- Be responsible and organize your schedule

Be sure that you will accomplish the tasks you have planned in time.

Some students enroll in more than 6 courses at university that demand overtime than another regular student, others have a partial job while they are studying. Those factors must been foreseen before applying. Success in the GSoC program at the same time to pass the courses at the university with great grades is an effort that will open many doors locally and overseas in the academic and professional fields.

• You can find on the Web examples of previous year’s proposals of the Outrechy program,  GNOME GSoC and Fedora. If you have further questions, please review the official WebSite FAQ, and if you think something is missing here, you are more than welcome to comment additional tips.

Best wishes for students in Peru and around the world! 🙂