What exactly is Google Summer of Code?
Google Summer of Code is a global project created by Google. It is focused on introducing students to open-source software development. During each edition contributors work on programming projects with an open-source organization. Projects cover a wide range of fields, including Cloud, Operating Systems, Graphics, Medicine, Programming Languages, Robotics, Science, Security and many more.
Participants in GSoC
The program gathers around 200 organizations and thousands of ambitious students from all over the world. Since its inception in 2005, GSoC has brought together more than 18 000 students and 17 000 mentors from over 112 countries. Until now, it has produced 40 000 000 lines of code for 746 open-source organizations.
Organizations that participated in 2021
Organizations that participated in 2020
Organizations that participated in 2019
Topics from earlier editions of GSoC
- software composition analysis, software packages, scanning;
- fuzzing, secure development, instrumentation;
- distributed systems;
- compilers, AI, legal, smart contracts, blockchain;
- virtual reality, graphics, rendering, 3D tools, 3D animation;
- metrics, analytics, dependencies, diversity and inclusion;
- science and medicine, electronic medical records;
- machine learning, data science, scientific computing, numerical computing, technical computing;
- visualization, Linux, maps, cluster, Google Earth;
- mathematics, physics, symbolic mathematics;
- astronomy, solar physics, high energy astrophysics, astrophysics;
- office suite, desktop application, end user application.
GSoC’s participant requirements
- 18 years of age or older;
- be eligible to work in the country of your residence for the duration of the program;
- residence country can’t be currently embargoed by the USA.
New rules
As the next edition of Google Summer of Code is coming and we are participating in this event as administrators, we want to introduce you to a few changes in the program. We hope that thanks to these changes more of you will be able to take part in this valuable project.
- Starting from 2022, the program will be open to all newcomers of open-source that are 18 and above. It will no longer be focusing solely on university students. With folks around the world changing careers, returning to the workforce, learning on their own (outside of academic programs), organizators see an opportunity to reach a plethora of excited individuals, who want to learn more about open-source and be a part of our amazing GSoC communities.
- GSoC Contributors will also be able to choose from multiple project sizes:
- ~175 hour (medium);
- 350 hour (large).
If someone is unable to invest 30 hours per week for 12 weeks straight, but still would like to be a part of these communities, there is now a chance to do it.
- GSoC Team is building increased flexibility around the timing of projects – there is an option to extend the standard 12 week coding time frame to a maximum of 22 weeks. Such change will allow participants with more hectic schedules to engage in the project, despite their everyday duties and responsibilities. For some, spreading out the work is a more realistic option than rushing the process in order to meet a tight deadline. Additionally, the participants will be able to take a break, if necessary, since working for 12 consecutive weeks won’t be as crucial as it was before.
Want to apply?
We’ll be soon explaining the application process for Google Summer of Code 2022 in detail on our blog. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated!
If you want to know more about past editions of this program you can find all articles about GSoC here.
GSoC page: here