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Steps After Choosing a Project

Once you have selected a project, here’s what you should do next:

1️⃣ Communicate With the Organization

  • Join the project’s Slack, Discord, mailing lists, or Matrix.
  • Introduce yourself briefly: who you are, your skills, and interest in the project.
  • Ask initial questions politely if something is unclear.

2️⃣ Understand the Project Deeply

  • Read the README, CONTRIBUTING.md, and documentation.
  • Explore the codebase, issues, and past PRs.
  • Identify what the project does and what problems it is solving.

3️⃣ Make a Prototype or Draft

  • Build a small demo or prototype related to your project idea.
  • It can be a minimal working version showing your approach.
  • Even a basic prototype shows mentors you understand the project.

4️⃣ Set Up a Meeting With Mentors

  • Contact mentors after your prototype or early idea is ready.

  • Explain your plan clearly:

  • What problem you want to solve

  • How you plan to implement it
  • What your timeline looks like
  • Ask for feedback and suggestions.

5️⃣ Prepare for Contribution

  • Pick small issues related to your project: bugs, documentation fixes, or setup improvements.
  • Start contributing before submitting your proposal to show trustworthiness.

6️⃣ Refine Your Proposal

  • Incorporate mentor feedback into your formal GSoC proposal.
  • Link your prototype or early contributions in the proposal.
  • Make sure the plan is clear, feasible, and well-structured.