Hello everyone,

TLDR; Wikimedia will soon be applying as a mentoring organization to Google Summer of Code 2021 https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com [1] and Outreachy Round 22 https://www.outreachy.org/ [2]. The application submission deadline for GSoC is February 20th, and Outreachy is March 7th. We are currently working on a list of interesting project ideas to include in the application. If you have some ideas for coding or non-coding (design, documentation, translation, outreach, research) projects, share them here: https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T270429 [3].

Timeline

As a mentor, you will be engaging potential candidates in the application period for GSoC between March 10th – April 13th, and for Outreachy between March 15th – April 16th. During this time, you will help candidates make small contributions to your project and answer any project related queries. You will be working more closely with the accepted candidates during the coding period between May-August.

Project ideas

We have started compiling a list of projects that you can take a look at here: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code/2021 [4], https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Outreachy/Round_22 [5]

If you don’t have an idea in mind and would like to pick one from an existing list, check out these projects: https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/tag/outreach-programs-projects/ [6]

Through GSoC, you can mentor only coding but with Outreachy also non-coding projects (including design, documentation, translation, outreach, etc.). Note that GSoC has some changes this year, including:

* Smaller project size ~175 hr project (previously 350 hr) * Shortened coding period T ~10 weeks long (previously 3 months) * Eligibility criteria redefined; the program is now open to candidates participating in a variety of academic programs (previously accredited university programs only)

Please keep these changes in mind while sharing your project ideas.

Some tips for proposing projects:

* Follow this task description template when you propose a project in Phabricator: https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/tag/outreach-programs-projects [6]. Add #Google- Summer-of-Code (2021) or #Outreachy (Round 22) tag to it. * Remember, the project should require an experienced developer ~15 days to complete and a newcomer ~3 months for Outreachy and ~10 weeks for GSoC. * Each project should have at least 2 mentors, and one of them should hold a technical background. * When it comes to picking a project, you could propose one that is: * Relevant for your language community or brings impact to the Wikimedia ecosystem in the future. * Welcoming and newcomer-friendly and has a moderate learning curve. * A new idea you are passionate about, there are no deadlines attached to it; you always wanted to see it happen but couldn't due to lack of resources! * About developing a standalone tool (possibly hosted on Wikimedia Toolforge), with fewer dependencies on Wikimedia's core infrastructure, and doesn't necessarily require a specific programming language, etc.

To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a mentor, visit our resources on MediaWiki.org: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Outreachy/Mentors [7], https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code/Mentors [8].

Cheers, GSoC 2021 and Outreachy Round 22 Administrators

[1] https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com [2] https://www.outreachy.org/ [3] https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T270429 [4] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code/2021 [5] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Outreachy/Round_22 [6] https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/tag/outreach-programs-projects/ [7] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Outreachy/Mentors [8] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code/Mentors