GSoc 2026: Query about applications

[Joseph Tay]

Hi,

I'm interested in applying for GSoC under Dart for 2026, but have a few queries:

1. The GSoC guidelines state that proposing a project that is not one of the existing  project ideas from an organization could be allowed depending on organization, and may actually even be more interesting for reviewers. Is proposing an original project that is not one of the predefined project ideas allowed under Dart? If it is, is it recommended to do so? I am thinking of one such project idea, but it'd be good to know if it will get a lower priority for not being one of the existing project ideas, or if it even is allowed at all.

2. It is a little unclear what a working code sample in a secret gist for the proposed project should be. Is it just part of the code of the entire project? I'm not sure how this is expected to run if the code is not just a simple script entirely contained in 1 file and depends heavily on other things. For instance, if the proposed project is about fixing a bug or enhancing code generation in the Dart compiler, what should go in the gist? I don't think the Dart team expects or wants the entire Dart compiler to be compressed into a single file while still being runnable in the gist submission, in this extreme example. I'm a little confused as such, hopefully this can be clarified.

3. The Dart GSoC guide suggests sending drafts. Do I just submit the drafts as a google doc in this group, with the gist as a link inside that doc? Who do I give view and comment permissions to specifically?

Thanks for taking the time to read my queries, have a nice day!

-Joseph

[dacoharkes]

Hi Joseph!

Sorry for the slow response! Most mentors are only monitoring emails related to their proposed projects.

RE 1:

I don't think we've ever run a applicant-proposed project idea. Mentors propose projects in their own area of expertise, and if you propose a different project we might not have a mentor in that area. If we do have a mentor in that area they now have to decide which of the projects to mentor. And usually their own ideas already have some scoping in mind that makes it good fit for GSoC. So, your own project only has a small chance of being accepted. So, I wouldn't recommend it.

RE 2:
If you have a PR that fixes a bug, just submit it for review! =D

If your code snippet is on a large repo, just make a fork of the repo or upload it privately to GitHub and give the prospective mentors access.

RE 3:

You can submit drafts to prospective mentors' email addresses. (I'll add the missing ones.)

Kind regards,

Daco