Risk-value assessment of applying for SoC

[Flava]

Hi mailing list,

Because I'm busy this time of year and I don't want to waste anyone else's time either, I want to list my credentials and humbly ask if I should even bother applying. I'm concerned about this question because my only formal training in OS internals is an OS class I'm taking right now over MINIX. So far this semester, we've written a command-interpreter, trap handler, and a file system. That's the only experience I have in this area. However, I'm a quick learner with very good abstract thinking skills, a solid grasp on C, and a strong desire to learn OS internals. I've also been a Linux user for about 4 years. This is definitely my first choice for Summer of Code but if the hammer's going to be dropped on me I would like it to happen as soon as possible. Thank you guys for your time!

[Samuel J. Greear-4]

On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 6:41 PM, Flava <hasselhaugh@...> wrote:

Hi mailing list,

Because I'm busy this time of year and I don't want to waste anyone else's time either, I want to list my credentials and humbly ask if I should even bother applying. I'm concerned about this question because my only formal training in OS internals is an OS class I'm taking right now over MINIX. So far this semester, we've written a command-interpreter, trap handler, and a file system. That's the only experience I have in this area. However, I'm a quick learner with very good abstract thinking skills, a solid grasp on C, and a strong desire to learn OS internals. I've also been a Linux user for about 4 years. This is definitely my first choice for Summer of Code but if the hammer's going to be dropped on me I would like it to happen as soon as possible. Thank you guys for your time!

For the majority of projects -- I doubt you would be proposing to port DragonFly to ARM or something like that -- the kernel is no different than any other very large and complex program, there really isn't anything mythical, magical or scary about it just because it's a kernel. Based on your stated experience, if you are motivated there is no reason you could not do a successful GSoC project for DragonFly BSD.

That said, we do expect you to do enough due diligence / research on your own to put together a well-informed and thorough proposal for whatever project you might want to do (keep in mind the projects on the project page are just ideas, you can diverge/alter or come up with your own, although you should discuss your own ideas with us for feasibility). We are happy (eager, even) to help you answer any _specific_ questions you might have as part of this discovery process.

Best,

Sam

[Justin Sherrill]

On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 8:41 PM, Flava <hasselhaugh@...> wrote:
> Hi mailing list,
> Because I'm busy this time of year and I don't want to waste anyone else's
> time either, I want to list my credentials and humbly ask if I should even
> bother applying. I'm concerned about this question because my only formal

Samuel's points are all correct.  I'd add that the application
process, where you have to write out exactly what you are going to do,
and the schedule for doing it, can help a lot.  Breaking the large
task down into smaller parts will give you a much better idea of how
easy (or not easy) it will be to do.

I don't see projects fail from lack of skill; when projects fail it's
almost always because the student fell behind for a week or two and
then never quite catches up.  If you can make a schedule and stick to
it for everything you know you can do, it will pass.

Get an application together and put it in for feedback, and see where
it goes.  If this isn't for you, the application process will tell you
that better than anything.