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Open Source as Programming Exp. for College Students?
texatut asks: "With the computer industry in a slump, many college CS students nearing graduation are looking at pretty meek prospects. While 'formally' educated, few actually have concrete experience dealing with development of software. Many would like to have something concrete to put down on their resume or application to graduate school. However, starting their own project is a hard and time-consuming task. Obviously, the Open Source community is a perfect place for us to get our hands dirty. My question is, are there any resources that can help people with varying levels of experience connect with development teams in a way that would benefit both the project and the students?"
"Frank, sourceforge needs more hits... we'll need to buy a few banner ads"
"Nah, I've got a better idea, why not post an Ask Slashdot question where the most obvious answer is 'sourceforge'? Like 'where can I find a bunch of open source developers?'"
"Great.. I'll get right on it.."
If I was trying to help a college student ...
...
get a real job. I would suggest
Get some real coding experience, preferably paid, but volunteer if needed. People pay more attention to paid experience. Nothing wrong with open source for experience (its just another form of volunteer work), biggest problem compared to other vol. work suggested below is that it does not have a local presence, but it tends to use more hot skills than some of the local work.
Call local software companies and and if you can have any fixed-bid job that can be done off-site, and do a good job on them, including being done on time.
Volunteer some programming work for the church, or the local youth center, or whatever you prefer -- just make sure it's real programming experience. Do a good job, and have that person vouch for your work. Some volunteer organizations are run by people with lots of solid business contacts.
Join some local programming user-groups to match your interests. There is likely to be Linux, Windows, Java, C, Delphi, etc. groups in your area. Volunteer to help, make presentations, etc. Make contacts with these people.
More generally
Be flexible, if the job involves knocking off some VB screens, do it well. The boss remembers that you did a good job, more than he remembers you did a good job with some VB screens.
Learn more and work harder and faster than the next guy. Listen more than you talk.
Be friendly. Brush you teeth. Use mouthwash if necessary. Take regular showers. Wear clean clothes without holes.
Use common sense.
Aren't young minds supposed to come out of college with all these fresh ideas with the potential to revolutionize the world?
Most CS programs are producing drones...no brilliance, no passion.
If I were in position to hire any of these guys, I would rather send the work to India where fierce competition and the course work produce better drones that get the work done for less.
Please think, think, think! Use your brains.
And don't give the excuse that these kids need experience, b'se the best time to get a cool idea is now before your mind gets corrupted by the old way of doing things.
Here is a challenge, make me an IDE I can sing pseudo code to and compile my project while in bed.
Or if I'm out skiing and find a solution to a nagging problem, I want to yank out a cell-phone, talk to my IDE (no typing here) and get the job done right there and then.
Get the idea?
Now can you do that for me please?