Google Summer of Code (GSoC) | Google | Every summer (May–Aug) | Students & beginners in open source (18+) | Stipend 💰, mentorship, chance to work on big open-source orgs, global recognition |
Google Season of Docs | Google | Annual (around April) | Technical writers, students, developers | Stipend, mentorship, contribute documentation to open source |
Outreachy | Software Freedom Conservancy | Twice a year | Underrepresented groups in tech | Paid remote internships, mentorship |
Linux Foundation Mentorship Program | Linux Foundation | Year-round (multiple rounds) | Students, beginners, developers | Mentorship in Linux kernel & related projects, stipend |
MLH Fellowship | Major League Hacking | 3 batches per year | Students/new grads | Mentorship, work on real projects, stipend, networking |
GitHub Externships (India only) | GitHub + Partners | Summer/Winter | Indian students | Work with startups & open-source projects, stipend |
Season of KDE | KDE Community | Annual (Dec–Feb) | Students & beginners | Mentorship, certificate, experience |
Hacktoberfest | DigitalOcean + GitHub | Every October | Anyone | Free swag 👕, open-source contributions, beginner-friendly |
FOSSASIA CodeHeat | FOSSASIA | Annual | Students & developers | Mentorship, swag, possible stipend, recognition |
Google Code-In (retired, but important) | Google | Used to run for pre-university students | High-school students | Swag, exposure, mentorship (now merged into GSoC focus) |
Bitcoin Summer of Code | Bitcoin/crypto open-source orgs | Summer | Students, blockchain enthusiasts | Mentorship, stipend, blockchain open-source exposure |