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Have you heard of Summer of Code?

• amichail 20y ago
  Yes, but that would not be getting people to work for free.
  • dpapathanasiou 20y ago
    Ok, strictly speaking, SoC is not free. But SoC stipends are tiny, almost free. Also, remember that Google vets each proposal, so they're funding those projects they'll be able to leverage in code, people (SoC is a great recruiting tool), or both. The result of SoC is not so different from what you've suggested.
    • jey 20y ago
      Also, remember that Google vets each proposal, so they're funding those projects they'll be able to leverage in code, people (SoC is a great recruiting tool), or both. False. Google only approves the Open Source projects which apply for SoC slots, but it seems to me that any established Open Source project can get SoC slots. It's the Open Source project's leaders who choose which of the project proposals to actually fund, not Google.
      • dpapathanasiou 20y ago
        It's the Open Source project's leaders who choose which of the project proposals to actually fund, not Google. No, it's the other way around; each code project submits a proposal to Google, and Google decides which project to accept or not (I'm part of a user group which submitted SoC applications this year). The user group ("mentoring organization" in Google's terms) does have to file an application, once, at the beginning, so that Google can verify them, but after that, each project proposal from that user group/mentoring organization is subject to Google's approval. Just being an established Open Source project does not mean automatic entry to the SoC.
        • jey 20y ago
          I was part of Google SoC in 2005, and it was Miguel de Icaza of the Mono Project who reviewed and decided to accept my application. NOT Google. Google just gives each project a certain number of slots to fill. So at least in 2005, it was the Open Source project that picked which applicants to fill their slots with. How would Google be able to judge the worth and merits of each proposal to the OS project anyway? :) I also did not mean that being an established Open Source project meant that the project automatically gets SoC slots. But it does seem to me like established Open Source projects can pretty easily get slots for SoC. In other words, Google isn't too picky, nor are they only looking for contributors to the projects that Google finds useful.
          • dpapathanasiou 20y ago
            So at least in 2005, it was the Open Source project that picked which applicants to fill their slots with. My only exposure to SoC is this year, so it sounds like the process has changed. Currently, the "mentoring organization" has to be accepted by Google (not sure why really), but after that, each student proposal also gets scrutinized by Google as well -- I guess it's how they keep all those new hires busy ;) But it does seem to me like established Open Source projects can pretty easily get slots for SoC. That's probably true, though I did hear anecdotal evidence about a large number of Apache projects not getting funded for whatever reason -- it's surprising, since you would think that Apache in particular would be important to them, unless they're already beyond using Apache themselves.