Introduction - GSoC (Shreeya S Methuku)

[Shreeya Methuku]

Hello everyone,

I’m Shreeya — a third-year computer science student working at the intersection of machine learning, data systems, and research-driven software.

I’ve been spending time reading through NumFOCUS projects and past GSoC discussions, and something became clear to me early on: the most impactful contributors here don’t start by asking “How do I get selected?” , they start by asking “How do I become useful?”

That’s the mindset I’m trying to build.

My background is primarily in Python, ML workflows, and data-centric systems., ranging from time-series forecasting and interpretable ML to building modular ML platforms and reproducible pipelines. I enjoy problems where engineering discipline meets scientific curiosity, and I care deeply about readable code, strong abstractions, and long-term maintainability .

I’m planning to apply for GSoC this year, but right now my goal is simpler:
to understand how contributors actually grow within NumFOCUS projects.

I would genuinely value guidance on questions like:

• How do newcomers typically move from “reading the code” to making their first meaningful contribution?

• What signals tell maintainers that someone is ready for deeper responsibility?

• Are there overlooked ways beginners can add value beyond fixing beginner-tag issues?

Thank you for maintaining a community that values thoughtfulness as much as technical skill. I’m excited to learn from all of you.

Warm regards,
Shreeya
www.linkedin.com/in/shreeya-s-methuku
https://github.com/shreeya-methuku