FAQ

Where to I apply? How do I apply?
- Details coming soon / GSOC -->. https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/
- See also timeline below and GSOC general application. Specific terms we expect covered → Apache Fineract(R) GSoC Candidate Application TEMPLATE
I am interested in being a candidate, how do I get started?
- You may join the dev list serv and introduce yourself.
  Important: Please join Matrix.https://matrix.to***/#/#apache-fineract-gsoc:matrix.org. remove the ***
- Sorry if we don't respond.
I am trying to help as a Mentor, where do I go?
- Please respond on the dev list. See the qualifications listed on the GSOC pages below first.
- Matrix for mentors as well.
How many candidates will we accept?
- Unknown. It will depend on the ASF GSOC program.
- We are hoping to have at least four.
Should I use the #fineract or #GSOC channel at Mifos for conversation?
- The #fineract channel on Mifos slack is available for general conversation and will have lots of content but...
- the #GSOC channel on Mifos slack is only for mifos programs
- To avoid confusion — We're now on Matrix. remove the *** from this: https://matrix.to***/#/#apache-fineract-gsoc:matrix.org.
Should I get something ready?
- You are free to start thinking about ideas or to work on a proposal... but we may also decide to only allow certain types of proposals. TBD
- To add some context, there is TOO much functionality which is not maintained... and not enough of non-functional stability - thus we need more tests, more documentation, more security improvements, and perhaps some outside components...
What are you looking for in a candidate?
- That will depend on the mentors... but generally, we want "self starters" who are already knowledgeable in certain domain areas.
- The goal we have internally is to start to build the GSOC program with the goal of "onboarding people" who will likely stay.
Will my contributions be accepted into the dev branch and a release?
- We are not necessarily looking to add functionality via the GSOC program, so creating a branch to check into and to offer a POC, is a likely outcome.
How do I....
- Sorry, we cannot help with individual responses. We will try to provide general guidance and there are my public resources... use those first. see the many places on the website and int he Jira ticket for onboarding, and the FAQ, etc.

High Level Concept

Why are we doing this?

The "Problem statement"

The Google Summer of Code (GSOC program) is a long standing effort, sponsored by Google, to onboard new developers to a variety of open source projects. Historically, the ASF (Apache Software Foundation) has had a very active set of projects across dozens of different PMCs.

At Fineract, we've seen some outside efforts to involve and onboard new devs to this community. We can build on this and do a better job of onboarding them here. (The potential challenge is that the existing efforts onboard them primarily to an outside collaboration or vendor.)

The GSOC program is aimed specifically at students, enrolled in a program.

How do we judge success?

The goals are that new devs have a positive experience and learn something about how to contribute to an open source project. They become capable of contributing to the project in some way. They, hopefully, continue to engage in the project.

We do not assume that the ability to have their PR accepted is a requirement for this program. In some scenarios, it may be that the work is done as a Proof of Concept (POC).

What is GSOC?

https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/faq

"Since 2005, the Google Summer of Code program has brought together over 23,000 new contributors/students with over 1,000 open source organizations under the guidance of 21,000+ mentors."

It is not an internship, not a recruitment into Google, not for existing contributors. Please read the FAQ

https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/faq

Process

GSOC Schedule (approximate)

SEE FULL SCHEDULE BELOW

December of previous year - advertise for Mentors / start the ball rolling - choose a coordinator

https://developers.google.com/open-source/gsoc/timeline (GSOC timelines)

January second week - Generate and finalize a list of ideas for development

January third week - align the ideas and inform the GSOC coordinators at the ASF

Feb first week - The ASF finalizes application to GSOC

March second week - Applications open for contributors

April - Applicants evaluated and selected by the project / approved by GSOC

May third or fourth week Start of projects

June/July/Aug - mentoring

Late August- projects completed and shared

see ==> https://groups.google.com/g/google-summer-of-code-announce?pli=1

Linking to the broader ASF GSOC efforts

See https://community.apache.org/gsoc/guide-to-being-a-mentor.html

NOTE: Mentors working with the Fineract GSOC coordinator create JIRA tickets in the Apache Fineract project with tags GSOC and GSOC2026 .

These will then show up in the ASF Jira and can be seen by the GSOC Coordinator at Community Development (CommDev) for submission to the GSOC application due in late January.

Onboarding Mentors

https://community.apache.org/gsoc/guide-to-being-a-mentor.html

e.g. mentors must subscribe to the email list <mentors-subscribe@community.apache.org>

see full list of information on that page

Important links

https://opensource.googleblog.com/2026/02/introducing-the-185-organizations-for-gsoc-2026.html

https://google.github.io/gsocguides/mentor/selecting-students-and-mentors

Tickets for 2026 (work in progress)

Project Timeline for Contributors (GSOC 2026)

Here are the key dates for GSoC 2026, the full timeline is available on the GSoC website:

Tasks	Dates	What to do as a contributor
Org research	19 Jan – 19 Feb 2026	Browse orgs, read websites/docs, and identify 2–3 projects that interest you.
Idea & discussion phase	19 Feb – 15 Mar 2026	Join project mailing lists/chats, ask questions, and start small contributions (docs, tests, bugs).
Proposal drafting	1–15 Mar 2026	Research the project deeply, draft a design outline, and share it with mentors for feedback.
Application Opens	16–31 Mar 2026 Opens at: 18:00 UTC Closes at: 18:00 UTC on 31st	Finalize your proposal, submit it on the GSoC site, and keep in touch with your mentor.
Waiting period	1–25 Apr 2026	Keep contributing small issues, respond to mentor questions, and stay active in the community.
Selected Project Announcement	30 Apr @ 18:00 UTC	Accepted GSoC contributor projects announced
After selection	30 Apr – 4 May 2026	Confirm acceptance, read organization rules, and set up your dev environment and tools.
Community bonding	1–24 May 2026	Weekly: read docs, fix starter issues, familiarize with procedure for raising PRs, and finalize project plan with your mentor
Coding begins	25 May – 5 June 2026	Start implementing first tasks, open PRs frequently, and document decisions.
Weeks 3–6 Office hours/Mentor check-in	6 June – 1 July 2026	Implement core features, write tests, and participate in community calls/chats
Midterm Evaluation window	6–10 July 2026	Summarize progress, note challenges, and submit your midterm evaluation and work.
Weeks 7–12 (standard) Office hours/Mentor check-in	11 July – 16 Aug 2026	Polish code, improve docs, fix remaining issues, and prepare for final review.
Final week (standard)	17–24 Aug 2026 at 18:00 UTC	Submit final code, run tests, update docs, and complete your final evaluation.
Extended projects (if any)	24 Aug – 2 Nov 2026 Submission latest at 18:00 UTC	Continue coding as agreed, keep weekly updates, and submit final work and evaluation by 2 Nov.