Learning curve

[Rado]

I have a question to the people that have already participated in
Google Summer of Code.

Was there a big learning curve during the project?

I will elaborate on that a little. My primary goal is not money, but
LEARNING from people that really know what they are doing. While, I am
very excited about the projects and all, I don't want to be given a
task without any guidelines.
I guess, what I am trying to ask is: Do you have to be a PERFECT
programmer to participate in Google Summer of Code?

Thank you

[PulkoMandy]

> I guess, what I am trying to ask is: Do you have to be a PERFECT
> programmer to participate in Google Summer of Code?

No.
You have to be able to work alone as your mentor could be working on a
normal job or simply in a very different place of the world with timezone
shift, meaning you can only cross him about once a day and you have to
prepare your mails carefully. But there are a lot of people in open source
projects willing to help you.
The skillset is then somewhat different than what you'd need on a regular
job. I don't think there is so much technical things needed. Know the
language you'll use, and you can learn the rest. It's made to help you
dive into a project.

--
Adrien Destugues / PulkoMandy
http://pulkomandy.ath.cx

[Akarsh Simha]

Hi

I had 6 bug-fixes against the project I worked with (KStars) before
summer of code. After my friend suggested I should apply for a GSoC, I
was hesitant, because I was totally unsure of my ability to handle a
BIG task like the ones that you usually take up as projects during
GSoC - I hadn't even written a new feature for KStars before.

First of all, applying for GSoC made me write a new feature for KStars
during the application week, because I wanted to gauge my abilities.

Then, I had an excellent co-mentor who guided me really well. GSoC
2008 was a big transformation from a newbie developer to a capable
developer. I really didn't know much before starting my GSoC, but am
now mentoring this year :). I also became the maintainer of KStars.

This is my GSoC experience - I think the learning curve is fairly
steep, but it is of tremendous value. Yes, you will work with people
who really know their stuff. And yes, you will be given a lot of
guidelines if you get a good mentor (which is more frequently the
case). You don't have to be a perfect programmer. I wasn't.

Regards
Akarsh

PS 1: Sorry if this sounded incoherent. It's pretty late here and am
sleepy.

PS 2: Thanks Google!

Regards
Akarsh

[Robby O'Connor]

What everybody said is correct. In order to actually be selected you
should have the skills necessary to complete your project. If you don't
have it, don't apply. That said, you should be able to work
independently with a little bit of help from your mentor. I learned a
lot this summer.

You don't have to be PERFECT, but you have to be able to demonstrate
that you can complete your project in a timely manner (you don't have
that much time -- approx 3 months -- so expect Summer of Code to be your
full time job -- that means NO OTHER JOB!)

--rob

[§ÎVå kÚmî EðÚÞûgÅÑt¿]

can you guys when is the application process for the "google summer of code " begins

E Siva Kumar
B.Tech. II Year
Electrical Engg.
IIT Roorkee

[Akarsh Simha]

On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 06:51:31PM +0530, §ÎVå kÚmî EðÚÞûgÅÑt¿ wrote:
> can you guys when is the application process for the "google summer of
> code " begins
> E Siva Kumar
> B.Tech. II Year
> Electrical Engg.
> IIT Roorkee

Some time in March 2010, I presume?

(And BTW, I think you should improve your email writing + English
skills. You come from an IIT, don't you?)

Regards
Akarsh

[Nandeep Mali]

To add to that the thread was hijacked.

And is the GSoC program confirmed for 2010? I guess one should wait
until the official announcement and keep a lookout on the website. As
it says there: "Folks interested in news about the program may want to
subscribe to the Google Open Source Blog for regular updates."

---
n9986