Google's Summer of Code Headed Down Under

Stony Stevenson alerts us to news that Google is hinting at the possibility of an Australian version of the Summer of Code program. We've discussed the results of the Summer of Code program in the past. Quoting iTnews: "The global program had attracted students from 90 countries around the world, including Australia, said Hawthorn. But as the timing clashed with winter term time in the southern hemisphere, it's been tough for local students to participate. Stopping short of confirming the program, Hawthorn said Google is looking into finding the human resources - as opposed to the financial resources - to make it happen."

Comments

Hrm, double the Summers, double the code...

[Anonymous Coward]

Seems like a win-win for Google; more people they can scout, the world gets more potentially useful/helpful software. What not to like?

This is great

[MichaelSmith]

Anything which broadens the horizons of our students beyond the windows IDE they get told to use is a good thing. I employ some interns in my team and I would not be averse to allowing them time to work on SOC projects during working hours, as long as there was some demonstrated benefit to us down the track. And with free software there usually is.

Re:This is great

[erikdalen]

In our first week in computer science in university we had classes in how to use emacs. I however prefer vi. So at least in Sweden they don't teach any windows stuff in computer science at the universities.

Re:This is great

[siwelwerd]

I learned vi as a freshman. It was an honors class though, so maybe the regular class learned emacs, I don't know.

Re:This is great

[hdparm]

Kids, this is flamewar pushed to the academic level!

Since australians could apply before

[LiquidCoooled]

I wonder if they will restrict this new version to just people from the Southern Hemisphere?
Australians could take part in the original version, so everyone should be able to take part in this one.

Maybe, it would be nice to simply open it up to a general google sponsorship program which did not have specific summer/winter timeslots.

I think Corey whatsiface should apply and write a Party scheduling application.

Re:Since australians could apply before

[knutkracker]

which did not have specific summer/winter timeslots Yes, but "Google ongoing non-specific timeframe of code" doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Re:Since australians could apply before

[kestasjk]

Australians could take part in the original version, so everyone should be able to take part in this one. As a computer science (& physics) student in Australia I think you underestimate how difficult it is to participate in the SoC program here. The SoC program is supposed to be as long as a summer holiday, but during your summer holiday we have our winter holiday, which is as long as your winter holiday.
I don't think you can do an SoC project in a winter holiday. I actually had a big coding job during my last winder holiday, and it's a pretty tight time frame. It ended up lasting half way through the next semester which was a big pain to deal with.

But I'm very interested in this. I definitely know some pieces of open source software that I'd love to work on. The summer/winter thing was a big barrier so having a southern hemisphere SoC is great.

Winter Of Code

[Sulix]

Personally I think that this is a step in the right direction. Those of us in the southern hemisphere have had to put up with problems that the difference in school term times cause. Things like NaNoWriMo usually end up in the middle of exams, Summer of Code is in winter, we lack White Christmases yet still sing Jingle Bells, and Google could (if this actually materializes) really boost participation from us southern hemisphere students. Anything that helps the development of open source projects (and reduces the boredom of southern hemisphere students) can only be positive.

Re:Winter Of Code

[Mantaar]

It's not that deeply connected to the southern/northern hemisphere thing. Really, even over here in Germany, participation in SoC is made quite hard by the fact that you'll just end up having less time because the program starts in May and ends in August. Well, my vacations start in the end of July and end in October. That means that it's almost impossible for me to take part in SoC because it has to happen during the summer semester - which, here in Germany, is shorter and therefore packed with a lot of work so the teachers can get through their material.

Re:Winter Of Code

[deniable]

...and people toasting anything over an open fire will be getting a visit from the cops. Sorry, the arsonists are pissing me off this summer.

What I see Google doing is making a more flexible schedule and allowing year round participation. Still call it 'Summer of Code' because that's how it started, but allow more flexibility. I can see similar problems for the Africans, the South Americans and we can't forget the Kiwis, especially if we get a WETA / Google cross-over.

GOOG is going down under as well..

[mwasham]

Missing earnings and Microsoft buying Yahoo.. So far they are down to $514.00 in before market trading. I think the Google juggernaught just realized how vunerable they are. The first thing that goes in a down economy is the excess advertising budget.

Re:GOOG is going down under as well..

[jrumney]

...and Microsoft buying Yahoo.

Microsoft expanding their monopoly into new areas? I can't see it getting past the regulators myself.

Re:GOOG is going down under as well..

[superash]

Microsoft expanding their monopoly into new areas?

What monopoly?
Except for Windows which is the only one in which they have an upper hand, and in which Linux and Mac are fast reducing the gap, I cannot see any other area where they are a threat.

1. Browser - Usage of Firefox is rocketing up.
2. Game console - Pleeease, its Wiiiiii all the way!
3. Mail - Hotmail, what is that? gimme Gmail!
4. Search Engine - Live ?? jfgi!
5. Hardware ( keyboard, mouse etc etc) -- Logitech roXXs !