TY - JOUR
T1 - Google summer of code
T2 - Student motivations and contributions
AU - Silva, Jefferson O.
AU - Wiese, Igor
AU - German, Daniel M.
AU - Treude, Christoph
AU - Gerosa, Marco A.
AU - Steinmacher, Igor
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2020/4
Y1 - 2020/4
N2 - Several open source software (OSS) projects participate in engagement programs like Summers of Code expecting to foster newcomers’ onboarding and receive contributions. However, scant empirical evidence identifies why students join such programs. In this paper, we study the well-established Google Summer of Code (GSoC), which is a 3-month OSS engagement program that offers stipends and mentorship to students willing to contribute to OSS projects. We combined a survey (of students and mentors) and interviews (of students) to understand what motivates students to enter GSoC. Our results show that students enter GSoC for an enriching experience, and not necessarily to become frequent contributors. Our data suggest that, while stipends are an important motivator, students participate for work experience and the ability to enhance their resumés. We also discuss practical implications for students, mentors, OSS projects, and Summer of Code programs.
AB - Several open source software (OSS) projects participate in engagement programs like Summers of Code expecting to foster newcomers’ onboarding and receive contributions. However, scant empirical evidence identifies why students join such programs. In this paper, we study the well-established Google Summer of Code (GSoC), which is a 3-month OSS engagement program that offers stipends and mentorship to students willing to contribute to OSS projects. We combined a survey (of students and mentors) and interviews (of students) to understand what motivates students to enter GSoC. Our results show that students enter GSoC for an enriching experience, and not necessarily to become frequent contributors. Our data suggest that, while stipends are an important motivator, students participate for work experience and the ability to enhance their resumés. We also discuss practical implications for students, mentors, OSS projects, and Summer of Code programs.
KW - Google summer of code
KW - Motivation
KW - Newcomers
KW - Open source software
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076507705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85076507705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jss.2019.110487
DO - 10.1016/j.jss.2019.110487
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85076507705
SN - 0164-1212
VL - 162
JO - Journal of Systems and Software
JF - Journal of Systems and Software
M1 - 110487
ER -