Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a global program focused on introducing students to open source software development. Students work on a 10 week programming project with an open source organization during their break from a post secondary academic program. Fedora has had great participation and we would like to continue to be a mentoring org this year too.

We are currently looking for mentors and projects. Process of how to apply is described at the end of this blog after a brief info and new changes in GSoC program.

If you want to mentor a project, think carefully about several things:

• Do you have enough time to work on this with the intern during the entire timeline? You will be helping someone else when they get stuck. You don’t want to become a blocker because you’re busy.
• It is harder to find success when you are completely certain of how an idea needs to be implemented; finding a intern with the skills and interest to implement a specific solution is a lot harder than finding a intern with enough skills to respond to a use case need. Also, Interns learn more when they help design and guide the project. In other words, provide guidance and direction but let the intern do some of the “driving.”
• Where you can have looser ideas, you may be able to find a student who works as a sort-of intern who can implement a solution to a use case you have. In past experiences, students going after a use case are more likely to get somewhere with self-direction and support from you.
• Who can help you?

If you’re interested in working with a student on a specific project you should post your idea to the Mentored Projects issue tracker. Your issue should be tagged GSoC and use the Google Summer of Code template. We strongly encourage you to find a second person to help with mentoring and to solicit feedback on your proposal

Can I be a mentor without a project?

Yes! You can be a general mentor. This is a person who works with all students regardless of their project. To become a general mentor please open an issue in the Mentored Projects issue tracker offering your help. Please tag the issue with the GSoC tag.

New changes in GSoC

1. Reduced Time Period for Coding: The average time period for every project is announced as a 175-hour project over a 10-week coding period
2. Eligibility: Students who were eligible for GSoC last year are eligible this year plus
   1. Enrolled in post-secondary academic programs (including college, university, masters program, PhD program and/or undergraduate program, or licensed coding school, etc.) as of May 17, 2021; or,
   2. Have graduated from a post-secondary academic program between December 1, 2020 and May 17, 2021.
3. Reduced Evaluation: From this year, the number of evaluations is also reduced from 3 to 2.

Read a detailed post on the Google Open Source blog. Also, check GSoC 2021 timelines here.

How to propose a project/request to be a general mentor?

If you’re interested in mentoring or you have a project to mentor, you should post your idea to the Mentored Projects issue tracker. Your issue should be tagged GSoC and use the Google Summer of Code template. We strongly encourage you to find a second person to help with mentoring and to solicit feedback on your proposal.

If interested, please open an issue with given information before Feb 28th of 2021.