It’s time to don your shades and sandals! Apache Cassandra shall be taking part within the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) in 2022 once more after a profitable challenge in 2021, and this system this yr has some modifications we’re excited to announce.
GSoC is a Google-sponsored program that promotes open supply improvement and allows people to submit challenge proposals to open supply mentor organizations. Applicants whose proposals are accepted receives a commission to work on their challenge throughout the Northern Hemisphere’s summer time. The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) has been a GSoC mentor group for the previous 17 years. It acts as an umbrella group, which signifies that candidates can submit challenge proposals to any subproject throughout the ASF, together with Apache Cassandra.
Last yr I used to be a mentor, and I discovered that having the ability to swap hats and take a look at this system from a distinct perspective was invaluable. Back in 2013, I participated in my first GSoC as a scholar, so it’s not removed from the reality to say that I’m an excellent instance of how properly GSOC can work! Once I dipped my toes into open supply, I used to be instantly hooked. Even if you don’t achieve committer standing in your first GSoC challenge, the publicity to the world of open supply will assist to get you there finally.
Big modifications to GSoC eligibility
Previously, this system was open solely to post-secondary college students, resembling college college students or current graduates. This yr, nevertheless, it is going to be open to anybody 18 years outdated or older who’s an open supply newcomer.
GSoC acknowledges that this system can profit anybody at varied phases of their profession, together with individuals altering careers, those that are self-taught, these returning to the workforce, and extra. The objective is to create a place to begin for anybody who will not be certain find out how to get began in open supply or unsure whether or not open supply communities would welcome their contributions.
You can discover extra particulars about this system on the official GSoC web site, together with data on stipends.
Apache Cassandra GSoC challenge concepts
Currently, we now have two challenge concepts with appointed mentors, however you’re welcome to suggest different tasks.
Add support to EXPLAIN (CASSANDRA-17380)
Mentor: Benjamin Lerer
This is a challenge for including performance to CQL in order that it helps EXPLAIN statements, which offer customers with a technique to perceive how their question shall be executed and a few data on the quantity of labor that shall be carried out. For extra particulars, see Cassandra Enhanced Proposal (CEP) draft 4.
Produce and verify BoundedReadCompactionStrategy as a unified general-purpose compaction algorithm (CASSANDRA-17381)
Mentor: Joey Lynch
This challenge focuses on performing validation and making the mandatory code modifications to introduce a brand new compaction technique in Cassandra. You’ll want prior information in Java programming, and algorithm optimization skillsets can be helpful too. Previous expertise with Cassandra is useful however not required. Compaction is a considerably remoted a part of the codebase that may be independently examined and even revealed as separate jars as compaction methods are pluggable.
How to become involved
If you have an interest in contributing to Apache Cassandra throughout GSoC, please be part of the #cassandra-gsoc room on Slack and introduce your self! Potential mentors gives you preliminary directions on find out how to get began and counsel some warm-up duties.
Getting began with Apache Cassandra improvement
The finest technique to get began in case you are new to Apache Cassandra is to get acquainted with the challenge’s documentation and arrange an area development environment. You will have the ability to mess around with a domestically operating occasion by way of cqlsh and nodetool to get a really feel for find out how to use the database. If you run into issues or roadblocks throughout this train, don’t be shy about asking questions on #cassandra-gsoc.
Google Summer of Code suggestions
There are many good sources on the internet on getting ready for GSoC, notably the ASF GSoC Guide and the Python group notes on GSoC expectations. The finest GSoC members are self-motivated and proactive. Following the information above ought to enhance your possibilities of getting chosen and delivering your challenge efficiently. Good luck!