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: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.

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.