It’s *January 8, 2026*, Raghav. You have arrived at the perfect time. The Google Summer of Code (GSoC) 2026 cycle is officially kicking off *this month*.
Since you are a 2nd-year student learning Python, Linux, and Git, you are in a "prime" position to secure a slot if you act now. Here is your immediate, fully detailed roadmap. ------------------------------ 1. The GSoC 2026 Critical Timeline You are currently in the *pre-announcement phase*. Here is what the next few weeks look like for you: - *Jan 19, 2026:* Organizations (Orgs) begin applying to Google. - *Feb 19, 2026:* *Accepted Orgs are announced.* This is your "Green Light" day. - *March 16 – March 31, 2026:* Official Contributor Application/Proposal period. *Your Goal:* By February 19th, you should already have at least *2-3 merged Pull Requests* in a potential GSoC organization. ------------------------------ 2. Beginner-Friendly "GSoC Orgs" (Python & Linux Focus) Since you are using *penuX* as a training ground, look for these larger Orgs that frequently participate and align with your current skills: *Organization* *Why it fits you?* *Difficulty* *Zulip* Incredible Python codebase; best documentation for beginners. Moderate *The Honeynet Project* Perfect for someone interested in *penuX* (Security + Linux + Python). Moderate *Django Software Foundation* If you want to master web-based Python automation. High *FOSSASIA* Often has Python-based Linux utility projects. Beginner ------------------------------ 3. Practical Steps for penuX (Your Portfolio Builder) Since you are targeting github.com/netanelcyber/penuX <https://www.google.com/search?q=https://github.com/netanelcyber/penuX&authuser=1>, use it to master the "GSoC Workflow" before the high-pressure March period begins. *The "Standard GSoC Contributor" Workflow:* 1. *Environment Setup:* Ensure you can run the tool in a *Linux Virtual Machine* or a *Docker container*. 2. *The "Fix-it" List:* - *Argparse Migration:* If any script uses sys.argv, refactor it to argparse. This is a classic "good first issue" that mentors love because it improves usability. - *Error Handling:* Add Python logging instead of print() statements for Linux system errors. - *Unit Testing:* Most beginner projects lack tests. Write a simple pytest for one of the utilities. 3. *The Git Habit:* Practice "Atomic Commits." Instead of one big update, push small, logical changes (e.g., docs: update install instructions followed by refactor: optimize network scan loop). ------------------------------ 4. How to Talk to Mentors (The 2026 Standard) In 2026, mentors are looking for "AI-Assisted Human Intelligence." Don't just paste AI-generated code. Use this interaction template: "Hi [Mentor Name], I'm Raghav, a B.Tech student. I've been exploring the penuX / [Org Name] codebase and noticed that the installer.sh could be improved by adding a check for Python 3.12+ dependencies. I've drafted a fix in a local branch—would you prefer I open an issue for discussion first, or go straight to a PR?" *Why this works:* It shows you have the environment set up, you have a specific technical idea, and you respect their workflow. ------------------------------ Your Immediate Next Step Go to the *penuX* repository and look at the requirements.txt or setup.py. *Would you like me to analyze a specific script from that repo and give you a refactoring task you can use for your first official Git contribution?* בתאריך יום ה׳, 8 בינו׳ 2026 ב-20:26 מאת נתי שטרן <[email protected]>: > It’s awesome to see you taking the initiative to dive into open-source > while in your 2nd year, Raghav! > Since you've mentioned my repository, penuX, I can give you a more > tailored breakdown of how you can use it as a stepping stone for your GSoC > 2026 goals. penuX is focused on Penetration Testing automation and Linux > utilities, which aligns perfectly with your interest in Python and Linux. > 1. Beginner-Friendly Paths in penuX > If you are looking at the netanelcyber/penuX repo, here is how you should > start: > * The "Script to Tool" Transition: Many scripts in the repo are > Python-based automation for Linux tasks. A great first task for a student > is refactoring. Look for scripts that lack proper error handling > (try-except blocks) or need better command-line arguments (using argparse). > * Documentation & Examples: Open-source projects live and die by their > docs. Read through the README. If you find a command that doesn't work as > described on your Linux distro, updating that documentation is a valid and > highly valued "first contribution." > * Linux Compatibility Testing: Since you are learning Linux, try running > the tools on different distributions (Ubuntu vs. Arch vs. Fedora). > Reporting compatibility issues is a great way to get involved without > writing 100 lines of code immediately. > 2. Strategic Advice for GSoC 2026 > Since you are a 2nd-year student, you have the "luxury of time." Use it > wisely: > * Master the "Atomic" Commit: Don't send one giant Pull Request (PR) that > fixes ten things. Send small, focused PRs. It makes it much easier for > maintainers like me to review and merge your work. > * Join the Discussion: If there’s an Issue you don’t understand, don't > just say "I want to work on this." Instead, ask: "I'm interested in this > issue; I noticed that line 45 might be causing the bug, should I try fixing > it using the subprocess module?" This shows you’ve actually read the code. > * Study the PSF (Python Software Foundation) History: Look at the > organizations that were part of GSoC 2024 and 2025. Many of them (like > Honeynet Project or Scapy) overlap with the security/Linux focus of penuX. > Contributing here first will build the "Proof of Work" you need for your > GSoC application. > How to start right now? > To get your hands dirty with Git and the repo, I recommend this first step: > * Fork the repo to your own GitHub account. > * Clone it to your local Linux machine. > * Explore the scripts/ directory and see if you can add a simple Python > utility that automates a task you find yourself doing often in the terminal. > Would you like me to walk you through how to create your first Pull > Request (PR) specifically for the penuX repository? > > > <https://netanel.ml> > > בתאריך יום ה׳, 8 בינו׳ 2026, 20:10, מאת Raghav Bhola via Python-list < > [email protected]>: > >> Hello everyone, >> >> My name is Raghav, I am a B.Tech,2nd year student from India currently >> learning Python, Linux, and Git. I have recently joined this mailing list >> to get familiar with the Python community and open-source contribution >> practices. >> >> I am preparing for Google Summer of Code 2026 and would like to start >> contributing to Python-related projects. Could you please guide me on: >> 1. Which beginner-friendly repositories or sub-projects I should explore >> first? >> 2. Any advice on how to interact effectively with mentors and the >> community? >> >> I look forward to learning from all of you and contributing meaningfully. >> >> Best regards, >> Raghav >> >> -- >> https://mail.python.org/mailman3//lists/python-list.python.org >> > -- <https://netanel.ml> -- https://mail.python.org/mailman3//lists/python-list.python.org
