diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | community/gsoc/student_application_form.mdwn | 99 |
1 files changed, 83 insertions, 16 deletions
diff --git a/community/gsoc/student_application_form.mdwn b/community/gsoc/student_application_form.mdwn index 9821f72f..92e835aa 100644 --- a/community/gsoc/student_application_form.mdwn +++ b/community/gsoc/student_application_form.mdwn @@ -8,22 +8,89 @@ Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled [[GNU_Free_Documentation_License|/fdl]]."]]"""]] -Some of the questions might seem quite intimidating at first. But don't -despair. Most certainly you won't be able to answer all of them right away -- -this is intentional. The goal is *not* to prove that you already know -everything. Rather, we want to see that you are willing to do your howework: To -do some actual research to find the necessary answers. - -Most likely you won't be able to get all answers without contacting us -directly. (On [[IRC]] or using [[mailing_lists]].) This is intentional as well. -We want to see that you are able and willing to communicate with us, to get the -information you need. This is also a chance for us to get to know you a bit :-) - -Also keep in mind that you do not need to give perfect answers when you first -hand in your application. The application process allows us to give feedback; -to request further input on anything that we need. - -With these explanations, we hope the questions don't look so scary anymore :-) +Before we get to the actual application form, some important remarks about the +application process -- please read them carefully. + +Submitting the application form is only part of the deal: we expect a few other +things on top of that. Lacking these, the application is not complete, and we +won't consider it. + +One of the things we expect is that you contact us directly as soon as possible +(preferably even before you send the application form), on our developer +[[mailing_lists]] and [[IRC]] channel. Don't be afraid -- we won't bite :-) IRC +in particular allows for very informal conversations. + +(Note though that we are not all in the same time zone, and people generally +don't stare at the IRC screen all the time -- it can take quite a long time +until somebody replies: even several hours. Don't get discouraged by that: Just +be patient and hang on, or try again later.) + +Contacting us as soon as possible is crucial, as regular communication is the +single most important factor for a successful GSoC project. We need to see that +you are able and willing to talk to us regularily. Also it allows us getting to +know you much better than the application form alone could. + +You shouldn't be at a loss for reason to contact us. You ought to discuss your +project and application with us for exmple: You will gain a much better idea +about the project, our expectations etc. -- in short, you will be able to +submit a better application right from the beginnig, saving both yourself and +us some tedious roundtrips :-) + +Also, if you really want to get involved with the Hurd project, there are +surely many things you will want to know :-) All in all, you should have ample +causes to get in touch during the application period. Bonus points if you also +participate in discussions not directly related to your project. + +The other thing necessary to complete your application is making a change to +some part of the Hurd code, and submitting a patch with the change. (If you are +not sure what that means, ask us!) + +This is important, as it shows that you have everything set up to start hacking +on the project (source code, tool chain, testing environment etc.), and that +you have all kinds of qualifications necessary to successfully finish the +project: general programming abilities; working in the Hurd environment; +submitting patches and reacting to feedback; finding and/or asking for any +information you need; and so on. + +Don't get us wrong: We absolutely do *not* demand that you have and know all +this up front. After all, the idea of GSoC is to *introduce* you to free +software development in general, and to our project specifically :-) We are +willing to help you with anything you will need to create the patch -- you just +need to ask! + +We actively encourage you to contact us whenever you have any doubts. Don't be +afraid that we will think worse of you when you ask too much. On the contrary: +this is an occasion for you to show us that whenever there is something you +don't know yet, you are able to learn quickly, and know how to ask for help :-) + +As for the kind of change we want: Ideally, it would be some real improvement +(bug fix or new feature) in a part of the Hurd related to the specific project +you want to work on. (This is not always possible though -- in that case, a +useful change to some unrelated part of the Hurd would also do, or perhaps some +not strictly useful change to the part you will be working on.) + +The [[project_ideas]] page has more information on this. In either case, please +contact us, so we can discuss it, and together come up with something suitable. + +Note that we do not place any demands on the size of the change. Even a very +simple modification suffices to meet the minimum requirements -- after all, the +amount of time available for working on this before the end of the student +selection process is quite short; and you are not obliged to do a substantial +amount of work before you get accepted. (But if you feel more ambitious, that's +fine of course :-) ) + +Now to the actual questions in the application form. Please answer *all* +questions -- we are asking them for a reason. (Whether you answer them one by +one, or all in a larger piece of prose, is up to you.) + +If some of these questions look strange to you and/or you don't quite know what +to answer, don't despair. This is not some kind of exam -- we do not expect you +to have good answers for all of them up front. (In fact, we would be very +surprised if anyone did...) The idea is more that you learn the answers before +the end of the application process -- with our help. Please talk to us whenever +you are unsure about something. + +And now that you are prepared to face the enemy, here we go :-) * Please describe the task of the project you want to work on, in your own words. Be as specific as possible. It's not sufficient to rephrase the |