Creating Impressive Project Proposals in Open Source Programs

The content of your project proposal can either increase or decrease your chances of getting accepted into the open source program.

Even though most open source programs follow different formats of creating and submitting a proposal, there are some important points that should be added to your project proposal to make the mentors impressed and convivence that you are the right person for the role.

In this talk, I spoke to the audience about open source project proposals, and how to create an impressive project proposal.

Transcript

1. Interswitch - INTERNAL Creating Impressive Project Proposals in Open Source Programs
2. Interswitch - INTERNAL About me • Software Engineer at Interswitch Group. • Technical Writer at VideoLAN • Building: Developer Circle Uyo, She Code Africa and Open Source Community Africa. • I love Yellow.
3. Interswitch - INTERNAL Google Summer of Code Google Summer of Code is a global program focused on bringing more student developers into open source software development. Students work with an open source organization on a 3-month programming project during their break from school.
4. Interswitch - INTERNAL Outreachy Outreachy provides remote internships and supports diversity in open source and free software! Outreachy internships are 3 months long.
5. Interswitch - INTERNAL Google Season of Docs Season of Docs is an annual program organised by Google to bring technical writers and open source organisations together to foster collaboration and improvement of documentation in the Open Source space. Season of Docs lasts for 3 or 5 months.
6. Interswitch - INTERNAL How can you get accepted into any of these open source programs?
7. Interswitch - INTERNAL An Impressive Proposal.
8. Interswitch - INTERNAL What is a proposal? A proposal is a plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put forward for consideration by others. Your project proposal is what the mentors use to decide if you are the right person for the opportunity or not.
9. Interswitch - INTERNAL A short story.
10. Interswitch - INTERNAL How to create an impressive proposal Choose the right open source project. Research effectively. Start writing! Submit your proposal for review. Proofread your proposal again and AGAIN.
11. Interswitch - INTERNAL Choose the right project • Go through all the projects on the website. • Select at least 5 projects you are interested in. • Scan through the selected 5 again and reduce the projects to 2 projects. • Join the organizations' communication channel. • Indicate your interest in the project.
12. Interswitch - INTERNAL Research effectively • Do not wait to be spoon-fed. Carry out a lot of research about the project. • Discover and understand everything you need to know about the project. • Reach out to the proposed mentor of that project for help or ask other members of the community. • Write down anything you discover during your research.
13. Interswitch - INTERNAL Start writing on time! • Why the project is important. • Goals of the project. • Project timelines. • Your experience. (Quality over Quantity) • Why you are the right person for the role. • Why you would love to work in the organization.
14. Interswitch - INTERNAL Submit your proposal Expert in that field. Mentor.
15. Interswitch - INTERNAL Proofread your proposal Read the content of your proposal out loud while assuming you are the reader. This will help you spot words that can be rephrased. Only edit it when you are focused.
16. Interswitch - INTERNAL Submit your proposal
17. Interswitch - INTERNAL Get accepted
18. Interswitch - INTERNAL Thank you