Google Summer of Code

Overview

BRL-CAD has been ACCEPTED to participate in the 2011 Google Summer of Code!

Since 2005, Google has run an awesome open source software development program specifically for students called the Google Summer of Code (GSoC). Under this program, Google funds students to write code for open source projects during the northern hemisphere's summer timeframe:

• The student writes up a project proposal to an open source organization such as BRL-CAD.
  • Sometimes their project idea caters to something that the open source organization suggests and sometimes it's an idea entirely of the student's conception.
• Proposals are then reviewed, evaluated, and ranked by the open source organization's mentors.
• Google allocates a certain number of slots to each participating organization
  • That, in turn, determines how many student developers work with that organization.

Getting Started Checklist

Whether you're applying or accepted, we've itemized everything you need to do into a simple CHECKLIST. We're here to help you become new open source developers, so don't be shy if you have any questions.

Preparing an Application

If you're a student interested in working on a project proposal for BRL-CAD, refer to our application guidelines. It's full of submission details, do's and don't hints, and more.

The Selection Process

GSoC is not a job. If you think this is just a summer job, then GSoC is probably not for you. It's only like a job in terms of planning your time commitment over the summer.

GSoC is about getting people involved and contributing to open source over the long-term. As such, we heavily weight our application selection process towards students that are interested in remaining involved in BRL-CAD and open source software development long after GSoC has ended.

Additionally, submissions are graded based on perception of the submitter's abilities to complete the task within the program timeframe, general consensus on the technical approach being proposed, and overall interest in having such modifications made to BRL-CAD. Particular notice is made of students that are responsive to questions and readily interactive in the IRC channel or on the mailing list. Communication is a great thing.

Just about every GSoC organization receives considerably more project proposals than can be accepted. Each proposal is reviewed, evaluated, and critiqued. Of those applications, only a small subset are selected so keep in mind that the selection process is rather competitive and difficult. This cannot be stressed enough...

It remains rather hard for most projects to narrow down the submissions but in the end we all only have so many slots to work with and the line eventually has to be drawn. Every application gets read multiple times and reviewed in detail. We appreciate everyone that submits a proposal to work on BRL-CAD.

Thanks for your interest and we look forward to working with new BRL-CAD developers!

BRL-CAD participation in GSoC

You can check out promotional flyers that have been prepared in the past on our GSoC flyers page.

GSoC 2011

After a year off focusing on a major development initiative, BRL-CAD once again has been accepted to participate in the Google Summer of Code! For this year, we will be accepting no fewer than two students and no more than six students. We generally get several dozen applications, less that ten of which tend to be of the quality we're looking for. Regardless, chances of acceptance for highly passionate students is very high.

GSoC 2009

For the second year in a row, BRL-CAD is participating in the Google Summer of Code. BRL-CAD was accepted as a participating organization and took upon five students, four of which successfully worked their projects and integrated with the development team.

GSoC 2008

The Google Summer of Code 2008 was announced on February 25, 2008. BRL-CAD was accepted as a participating organization and took upon four students, all of which successfully worked their projects and integrated with the development team.