JRuby in Google Summer of Code...proposals open TODAY!

JRuby has been accepted to the Google Summer of Code 2012!

Student proposals can be submitted starting TODAY, and we really want to make a good showing for both JRuby and Ruby. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, pass this on to anyone you think would be a good student or mentor!

This content is also available at http://jruby.org/gsoc.

We’re looking for good mentors and students to come together and help make JRuby even more awesome. JRuby has great potential to expand Ruby and to improve the state of Ruby development, and at the same time it represents a number of interesting and unique challenges.

Ideas

Ideas for JRuby’s GSoC fall into a few categories:

Working on JRuby itself

JRuby always has challenges keeping up with CRuby/MRI on features, and it’s through user contributions that we’ve managed to maintain such a high level of compatibility. There are also many interesting technical challenges implementing JRuby, like optimization, monitoring, debugging, and integrating with the Java platform. We welcome students interested in helping improve JRuby.

Working on libraries and tools for JRuby

Because JRuby runs on the JVM, many libraries from CRuby/MRI don’t work, either because they depend on features the JVM can’t support (like fork(2)) or because they use native extensions. This can make it more difficult for users to migrate to JRuby. We welcome students interested in helping fill out JRuby’s support for common CRuby/MRI libraries.

Building on the JVM, its languages, and its libraries

The JVM is a huge platform with many languages and libraries that all have unique features and interesting solutions to software problems. JRuby can leverage those features through its Java Integration capabilities, but often they need extra work to really have that “Ruby feel”. We welcome students interested in helping JRuby leverage the features of the JVM and the languages and libraries it hosts.

How to Get Involved

Students and mentors should join the JRuby development mailing list

Students

If you are a student and interested in working on a JRuby GSoC project this summer, join the mailing list above and let us know what project you have in mind. When the call for GSoC proposals opens, submit your idea!

GSoC will be open for student proposals on March 25th (US time).

To apply, visit the the JRuby GSoC Page. If you don’t have a GSoC profile, there’s a big Register link to create one. Once you have a GSoC profile, you can apply.

Students should have the following skills:

Solid knowledge of Ruby. JRuby knowledge is a plus but not necessary.

Good work ethic. We want students that will carry projects to completion.

Strong interest in the problem domain for their project. For example, if you want to work on JRuby’s compilers, you should have an interest in compilers.

We don’t know how many GSoC slots we’ll get, but the more proposals we have the more likely we’ll get slots. Submit proposals as soon as possible!

Mentors

If you are a mentor and would like to help a student work on some project this summer, now is the time to apply at the GSoC page. We are looking for folks that will be able to educate and encourage students during the summer and help keep them to a solid schedule.

Mentors will be accepted any time during the proposal process.

To apply, visit the the JRuby GSoC Page. If you don’t have a GSoC profile, there’s a big Register link to create one. Once you have a GSoC profile, you can apply.

Mentors should have the following characteristics:

Some experience mentoring junior developers, either professionally or academically.

Strong knowledge of Ruby, and solid knowledge of JRuby.

Knowledge of the Java platform and/or the JVM are recommended, since many students will be new to them.

Highly accessible. Students will participate from all over the world and frequent, consistent communication is the best way to guarantee success.

Last chance!

GSoC proposals close TODAY at 19:00UTC, 12:00PDT!

We can (and will) continue to discuss the proposals – and we can continue to revise them – during the two-week review period, so last-minute entries are acceptable.

If you’ve been waiting for the last minute…THIS IS IT. Get your proposals in ASAP!

http://jruby.org/gsoc

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