Understanding OSS Codebases and How I Got Into Google Summer of Code 2024

My Journey and How I Got Into Google Summer of Code 2024

I'll share my personal journey of how I began learning new technologies and eventually became a contributor to open source. This path led me to participate in Google Summer of Code (GSoC) 2024. I'll talk about my experience contributing to the Zulip project and the process I went through to understand its large and complex codebase.

Through this talk, I aim to inspire listeners by giving them a glimpse into my journey and providing actionable steps on how they too can get involved in open source programs like GSoC, LFX, and others.

Understanding Huge Codebase

I’ll provide a practical walkthrough of Zulip’s codebase, offering insights into how I navigated it and the approach I would take today if I were starting fresh. This section will focus on:

• Strategies for understanding and contributing to large projects.
• Key skills required for open source contribution—emphasizing that it’s not just about technical skills, but also communication, collaboration, and perseverance.