Summer of Code: Conclusion

(Summer comes)

Originally I have planned to write a "things not to do" post, but now I've dropped the idea. Positive advice is better than negative one, and people that do those things are not going to read it anyway.

So let's conclude Summer of Code posts. If I had to sum up everything with one word, it'd be "communicate."

This blog is going to take a break, until I get a new idea what to blog about. That might be my Ph.D. topic – efficient spatial indexing. Or something else.

Good luck with your applications!

Summer of Code: Summer comes

(CV and qualifications in the application)

So the application is completed and submitted and, a few weeks later, the acceptance notification day comes. Then one of two things happens: either your application was rejected, either it was accepted.

It it was rejected, do not let these news sadden you too much. The positive thing you are carrying away from all this effort is the practice in writing technical project applications. This is a very useful skill and makes you much better prepared for the next such contest.

If it was accepted, congratulations; now get busy with the project! Some advice for the summer:

• So this is your full-time job now, just with very flexible hours. See [4] for an example of time commitment requirement.
• Communicate with your project. Hard to overstate, hard, although possible, to overdo. In particular, do not write to mentor only when it's more appropriate to write to the mailing list – most of the technical questions should go there.
• Communicate with your mentor, especially if something went wrong or you have doubts about the project:
• If you feel that project scope is too big.
• If you think that the project deliverables need to be adjusted.
• If you experience some strange difficulties involving the organization, for example, if getting source code repository access takes ages.
• If you feel that discussions with other project developers are unproductive in some, maybe even bad, way.
• Don't be afraid to do so. Remember that your mentor wants you to succeed and will do what he can to help you.
• Check-in code often to your branch. It's much better to post small incremental patches than to work silently for two months and then de-lurk with one big code change. In addition to the usual source code version control advantages, the organization will see your progress and you will get feedback earlier - when you actually can act on it.
• Do not expect to follow your project plan to the letter. It is almost guaranteed that things will change. When you see it coming, discuss the necessary change with your mentor and make it. Repeat as needed. Do not stick to the original plan just for plan's sake.
  

That's almost it! Conclusion next.

Summer of Code: CV and qualifications in your application

(Writing the application)

An important part of the application is the one where you talk about yourself instead of your proposal. Here your goal is to show that you are actually able to do what you promise to do.

• If you do not have previous experience with the project codebase, suggesting that you will "work really hard" or that the feature "will be totally awesome!" might not cut it [1]. In such case playing with the code (see above) is important.
• In similar spirit, "I use this application every day!" is not enough, especially if the application in question is a very popular one, (e.g. Firefox) [1]. There is nothing wrong with stating that, but make sure that this is not your only qualification.
• Good personal references/recommendations help.
• Previous projects help, especially in the related area.
• Do not copy paste your CV from some other application if you fail to tailor it for the one you are applying for [1].
  
• Be prepared to back your experience claims in CV with specific examples and descriptions, for example, of the projects done.
  
• Needless to say, lying and padding is bad.

Yet your effort to write the application is ultimately more important than your CV. If you have limited time and have to choose between gathering personal references and spending time on a technical part of the application, choose the latter.

Next: summer comes.

SoC GCC podcast

When Leslie Hawthorn learned that I'm doing internship at Google, she made me and Ian Lance Taylor record a podcast about Summer of Code and GCC. Daniel Berlin, my mentor from the last summer, was also invited, but managed to escape.

The result is here.

Thanks to Leslie and Ian! And Danny too :) The SoC posts will resume now.

Summer of Code: Writing an Application

(Introduction and table of contents)

By now the preparations are done and it's time to write. Here is a list of assorted writing tips, in no particular order.

• Copying project description from proposed project list does not cut it.
• Choose a short but descriptive title, that will create enough interest to read the whole proposal.
• Whatever the idea, make sure to state it briefly and clearly (surprisingly, some people fail to do so [1]).
• List deliverables clearly and specifically, both optional and required, and designate them as such.
• Read dev docs, code, play with the code, try to actually implement something in order to help fill in technical details of your application.
• Some projects might require you to provide a specific schedule, even though you might have only a vague idea here (But how do you know that your project is going to take three months then?). Playing (see above) with the code should help there, and don't be afraid to change timeline later as needed. Make sure to communicate that!
  
• Do not leave template text in [1]. If you want to give credit to template author, do it clearly in your own words.
• Use the provided form for application as much as possible. Do not just include a link to external web page here. If 7500 symbols are not enough, shorten [1].
• Include brief references to support your claims - links to e-mail archives, specific chapters in the development documentation, etc.
  
• Should be obvious, but check your spelling and grammar.
  

The part of application that outlines your qualifications, including CV, deserves separate treatment. That's coming next.

Summer of Code: Planning to write an application

(Introduction and table of contents)

So, by now you have a rough idea what your project proposal will be about. Here are a few things to consider before you start writing. First, expect to commit significant time for it (I spent about a week full-time) and it's best to start early. Starting writing early means more iterations, more feedback that is more thorough – it's all good for you.

Does that seem like a lot of work? That's the whole point – in summer you are going to have even more work, after all [5]. Also that means that you should go for quality, not quantity: do not try to write three or more applications that are actually good. It might be possible, but it's very hard to pull off.

Before you start actual writing, it is helpful to look at previous accepted applications. Search for them with Google, or follow the links from [7].

Also it'd be very helpful if you arranged with somebody to review your application once it's written. Usual ways to seek help here involve talking to staff at your faculty, in the case they know you and have time to spare, or at any NGOs you are affiliated with or have friends at – usually they are very good at this sort of thing. The reviewers do not have to be familiar with your project area, and it even might be better if they weren't - an outsider's perspective can be very valuable.

Next: writing tips.

Summer of Code: Choosing an interesting project idea

(Introduction and table of contents)

First of all you have to choose an organization you want to work to with. I don't have much to say here. I guess you just have to go to the list of organizations and pick the one you like the most.

After that you have to choose a project idea to work on. For that, it's best to start early: you will have to do a lot of iterative communication, and the more iterations you will complete, the better your application will be.

Now what to look for in idea itself? First and foremost, ambitious ideas are good, especially if they are not in the proposed project list. Tell it to the project and it may even end up on that list [3]. That's a strong case for your application, and you haven't even started writing it yet. Second, original ideas, outside the current "hot" thing, show that you are an independent thinker. Furthermore, your idea should be not merely "nice", but something that the project genuinely needs.

At the same it's a good idea to start reading development docs and some code for the project. This will help to see if the idea is feasible - especially if it's not in the list of the suggested projects - and to get general feel about the project. Even more important is to contact project developers: ask for feedback for your project idea, find yourself a mentor, file a bug, submit a simple patch - get involved!

Finally, learn about organization specific things: see if there are particular requirements for applications in you organization. And do not be afraid to ask how one or another option would be evaluated and which route you should pursue. Organization might have a sound reason to prefer one perfectly good approach over another perfectly good one, so don't get burned just because both approaches seemed good to you.

Next: planning to write the application.