Title: GSoC

Google is sponsoring the [2012 Summer of Code](http://google-melange.appspot.com/gsoc/homepage/google/gsoc2012), 
the [The Apache Software Foundation](http://www.apache.org/) (ASF) is 
planning to participate again this year and is accepted as a [mentoring organization](http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/org/google/gsoc2012/apache). This page is your entry point to the ASF GSoC
programme.

<a name="GSoC-Students:readthis"></a>
# Students: read this

* Learn [about GSoC](http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/document/show/gsoc_program/google/gsoc2012/faqs#whatis)
* Decide if you are [eligible](http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/document/show/gsoc_program/google/gsoc2012/faqs#student_eligibility)
 for GSoC?
* Review [Advice for Students](http://code.google.com/p/google-summer-of-code/wiki/AdviceforStudents)
 to make sure you really want to apply to GSoC.
* Watch Philip Johnson's [GSoC video presentation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBRRR0BQyz0)
 for students.
* Examine the list of [available ASF GSoC projects](http://s.apache.org/gsoc2012ideas)
** Note that you can search the issue tracker for GSoC projects by
filtering using the "gsoc2012" label, this allows you to narrow down the list
to the projects you are interested in.

<a name="GSoC-ApplyingforGSoC"></a>
### Applying for GSoC

Details are announced now and we are in the project discussion phase. We encourage you to discuss you application with the project community.

In order to apply we ask that you create a list of deliverables,
quantifiable results for the Apache community, a detailed description /
design document, an approach, an approximate schedule and something of a
background text. We also need you to let us know what other commitments you
have for the period of GSoC, for example, do you have any exams or a part
time job? In other words - sell yourselves, as if this was an actual job. 

In drawing up your proposal you should work with your chosen projects
community. One of our evaluation criteria is that you have already engaged
with the community to ensure that you understand the needs of the project
and the commitment you need to make to your mentors.

Once open applications are made through the [GSoC site](http://socghop.appspot.com/)

<a name="GSoC-ContactingtheASF"></a>
## Contacting the ASF

The ASF is not just one project, it is a federation of projects, see the
lists at http://apache.org/ and http://incubator.apache.org/. Each of our
projects has its own community of users, contributors and committers. GSoC
students will usually be interacting with just one of these communities. 

Each of the proposed subjects (link to be provided if we are confirmed as a
mentoring organisation) applies to a single ASF project. You will need to
engage with that project community.

<a name="GSoC-ProspectiveASFmentors:readthis"></a>
# Prospective ASF mentors: read this

We are looking for as many interesting projects as we can come up with. For
more info about mentoring, please read our [guide to being a mentor](guide-to-being-a-mentor.html)
.

Prospective mentors should join the code-awards@apache.org mailing list,
this is where mentor specific issues are dealt with, and where
announcements will be made. If you want to track the programme
administration you should subscribe to dev@community.apache.org.

Once the ASF is confirmed as a mentoring organisation mentors must register
with the GSoC webapp, and request to become a mentor for the ASF
organization. Make sure that the email address you use for that (it's often
your @gmail.com address by default) is '''registered in
committers/MailAlias.txt''' so that we can match it to your ASF account.
You should also register your '''GSoC Link Id to
committers/GSoCLinkId.txt'''.

All ASF projects are invited to submit their ideas to their issue tracker,
please be sure to add the labels "gsoc" and "mentor" so that we can
automatically include them in our list of subjects. If your project does
not use JIRA please contact dev@community.apache.org.  

<a name="GSoC-ASFGSoCTimeline"></a>
# ASF GSoC 2012 Timeline

Below is a timeline of events for The Apache Software Foundations
involvement in GSoC. Unless otherwise stated deadlines are 11:59 UTC on the
date indicated.

<a name="GSoC-StudentApplicationandSelection"></a>
## Student Application and Selection

<table>
<tr><th>Date</th><th>Activity</th></tr>
<tr><td>February 4:</td><td>Program announced.</td></tr>
<tr><td>February 27: 19:00 UTC</td><td>Mentoring organizations can begin submitting applications to Google.</td></tr>
<tr><td>March 9: 23:00 UTC</td><td>Mentoring organization application deadline.</td></tr>
<tr><td>March 12-15:</td><td>Google program administrators review organization applications.</td></tr>
<tr><td>March 16: 19:00 UTC</td><td>List of accepted mentoring organizations published on the Google Summer of Code 2011 site.</td></tr>
<tr><td>March 17-25:</td><td>Would-be student participants discuss application ideas with mentoring organizations.</td></tr>
<tr><td>March 26: 19:00 UTC</td><td>Student application period opens.</td></tr>
<tr><td>April 6: 19:00 UTC</td><td>Student application deadline.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Interim Period:</td><td>Mentoring organizations review and rank student proposals; where necessary, mentoring organizations may request further proposal detail from the student applicant.</td></tr>
<tr><td>April 20:</td><td><ol>
<li>All mentors must be signed up and all student proposals matched with a mentor - 07:00 UTC</li>
<li>Student ranking/scoring deadline. Please do not add private comments with a nonzero score or mark students as ineligible (unless doing so as part of resolving duplicate accepted students) after this deadline - 17:00 UTC</li>
<li>IRC meeting to resolve any outstanding duplicate accepted students - 19:00 UTC #gsoc</li>
</ol></td>
</tr>
<tr><td>April 23: 19:00 UTC</td><td>Accepted student proposals announced on the Google Summer of Code 2012 site.</td></tr>
</table>

<a name="GSoC-GSocisunderway"></a>
## GSoc is underway

<table>
<tr><td>Community Bonding Period</td><td>Students get to know mentors, read documentation, get up to speed to begin working on their projects.</td></tr>
<tr><td>May 21:</td><td><ol>
<li>Students begin coding for their GSoC projects;</li>
<li>Google begins issuing initial student payments provided tax forms are on file and students are in good standing with their communities.</li>
</ol></td></tr>
<tr><td>Interim Period:</td><td>Mentors give students a helping hand and guidance on their projects.</td></tr>
<tr><td>July 9: 19:00 UTC</td><td>Mentors and students can begin submitting mid-term evaluations.</td></tr>
<tr><td>July 13: 19:00 UTC</td><td><ol>
<li>Mid-term evaluations deadline;</li>
<li>Google begins issuing mid-term student payments provided passing student survey is on file.</li>
</ol></td></tr>
<tr><td>Interim Period:</td><td>Mentors give students a helping hand and guidance on their projects.</td></tr>
<tr><td>August 13:</td><td>Suggested 'pencils down' date. Take a week to scrub code, write tests, improve documentation, etc.</td></tr>
<tr><td>August 20: 19:00 UTC</td><td>Firm 'pencils down' date. Mentors, students and organization administrators can begin submitting final evaluations to Google.</td></tr>
<tr><td>August 24: 19:00 UTC</td><td><ol>
<li>Final evaluation deadline</li>
<li>Google begins issuing student and mentoring organization payments provided forms and evaluations are on file.</li>
</ol></td></tr>
</table>

<a name="GSoC-Winddown"></a>
## Wind down

<table>
<tr><td>August 27:</td><td>Final results of GSoC 2011 announced</td></tr>
<tr><td>August 31:</td><td>Students can begin submitting required code samples to Google</td></tr>
<tr><td>October 20 &amp; 21:</td><td>Mentor Summit at Google: Representatives from each successfully participating organization are invited to Google to greet, collaborate and code. Our mission for the weekend: make the program even better, have fun and make new friends.</td></tr>
</table>


<a name="GSoC-UsefulLinks"></a>
# Useful Links

 * [Summer of Code home](http://socghop.appspot.com/)
 * [Official Google Summer of Code 2012 Timeline, FAQs](http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/events/google/gsoc2012
 * [2012 FAQs](http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/document/show/gsoc_program/google/gsoc2012/faqs)
 * [GS0C discussion list](http://groups.google.com/group/google-summer-of-code-discuss)
 * [Python notes on expectations](http://wiki.python.org/moin/SummerOfCode/Expectations)
 * \#gsoc on Freenode