Hi folks, Google are running their Summer of Code programme again this year, and if we want to take part again we need to apply this week. If we’re accepted again as a mentoring organisation, then students will be able to apply to work with us up until the 3rd April.

I’m volunteering to be an admin again, and I’ll deal with making the
application for Debian as an organisation. Obey Arthur Liu is going to
help as well this year, using his experience as one of our sucessful
students last summer. Beyond that, some more admins would be useful to
help out later on. If you’d like to help, let me know ASAP! [3]

Blatantly stealing from Arthur’s previous mail to -project:

We will try this year to improve on the performance of the previous
years, starting first with more and more dedicated manpower. If you
have some time to spare to help manage our Summer of Code bid this
year, we can make it a much better experience for the students and for
Debian.

Help is immediately needed in many areas. Some examples:
- Map out which areas in Debian could benefit from a Summer of Code
project and connect the right people with the right project’s ideas
- Ideas, Ideas, Ideas for Summer of Code projects

By mid-March, we will need:
- Dedicated documentation to present Debian to the prospective student
- Publicity material to promote the Summer of Code at Debian
- Ideas, Ideas, Ideas for Summer of Code projects

Further in the spring:
- Mentors, people to review proposals, do interviews
- Ideas, Ideas, Ideas for Summer of Code projects

In the summer:
- Mentoring students
- Testing and feedback for projects
- Internal communication with the community

As you can see, there is much work ahead. It’s time to pitch out your
favorite pet project
Remember! The Summer of Code has become a prominent outreach forum for
open source organizations. It puts a spotlight on each of them to
provide a well-rounded and deep experience of open source development.

Right now, you can help with the Wiki[4], join us on IRC on
#debian-soc on irc.debian.org or join the mailing-list at
soc-coordination[3] on alioth.

[1] http://code.google.com/opensource/gsoc/2009/faqs.html
[2] http://code.google.com/opensource/gsoc/2009/faqs.html#0_1_when_apply_162944764698281_6310561741195196
[3] http://lists.alioth.debian.org/mailman/listinfo/soc-coordination
[4] http://wiki.debian.org/SummerOfCode2009

Thanks!
– Steve McIntyre, Cambridge, UK. steve@einval.com “When C++ is your hammer, everything looks like a thumb.” — Steven M. Haflich