Hello there👋,

I am Saroj.

And today we will be looking at 15+ open-source communities to level you up as an individual, Upgrade your profile, and Get some bright light of appreciation Or event to start your journey in the tech.

What will be covered in this article🤔🤔?

Open-source organization and their very brief intro, What they offer, Why they offer, And Whom they offer. So, fasten your seatbelts and let's get started.

1. Free source foundation (FSF):

An opportunity to work with organizations that sponsor the GNU projects and help publish GNU General Public License (GPL), and fight for software freedom.

Learn More: https://www.fsf.org/volunteer/internships

Work as an intern for 12 week period during the summer, noon or the fall in the area of your interest.

For :

• open-minded and tolerant of others,

• able to work as part of a team, and

• interested in the ethical ramification of computers.

Especially, in-person internship for applicants who can work in downtown Boston is preferred but remote applicants are also considered.

Stipend :

May provide documents to help with funds or school credits other than that, applicants who submitted through Outreachy only will get paid. i.e. $7000 for 3 months internship.

Main goal :

No software idea must be patient.

2. Processing Foundation Fellowship.

It is a program in which the fellows are encouraged to explore the processing projects, work on the existing processing projects (Processing, p5.js, Processing.py, Processing for Android, ml5.js) that meet the given tracks or topics or think of an idea, project that will help the community using processing projects, like better improving the accessibility to differently-abled people. It focuses on promoting software knowledge and encourages the development of self-initiated projects that can have an impact. They also support proposals that centre investigations, experiments, and learning. They support the self-initiated projects proposed by members of their community, by providing support with mentorship, infrastructural, technical, and practical resources as well as community connections.

Learn More: https://processingfoundation.org/fellowships

For :

Artists, designers, activists, educators, engineers, researchers, coders, and collectives — and many combinations of these — in projects that conceive new directions for our software, our community, and open-source software for artists.

Stipend:

USD 5,000 paid at the start of your fellowship, and the remaining USD 5,000 upon its completion.

Main goal :

promote processing projects that are focused on community.

3. Hacktoberfest

Digital Oceans annual event that encourages people to contribute to open source throughout October. Hacktoberfest is all about giving back to those projects from those people working in open source who often don’t have budget and staff to do more than just keep the project alive. It is also about sharping skills, celebrating all things open. That being said it is for all beginners and experts in the industry. It heavily encourages people to join open source.

Learn More: https://hacktoberfest.com/about/

For:

coders, designers, writers, Advocacy

Stipend :

A t-shirt or a plant is planted on your name, and certain participating companies also provide other swags and other offerings, it should not matter just look for quality and learning experience swags and awards should not be the outcome but the consequences.

Main goal :

Promote open source culture and show respect to the open source community.

4. Fossassia Internship

foss assia is an organization developing open-source applications and open hardware projects with the global community and is based in Asia.

Learn More: https://fossasia.org/

For :

Those who can provide deliveries are mentioned below.

• Daily scrum email to project mailing list answering three questions: What did I do yesterday? What is my plan for today? Is there anything preventing me from achieving my goals, e.g. blockers?

• Work according to to pull requests and issues (submit code on Github and match it with issues)

• Daily code submissions (software, hardware)

• Documentation: Text, YouTube videos

• 1 technical blog post a month with details on solving a problem in a FOSSASIA project (Monthly - 1: by Monday of the second week)

• Design items (in open formats, e.g. XCF, SVG, EPS)

Stipend :

• Monthly remuneration depending on the scope of internship, qualification and project

• Other Benefits of the program include Shirts, Swag, and certificates.

• FOSSASIA can provide free accommodation for interested participants during that time who want to work offline in the office i.e. in Cantho Vietnam.

Main goal :

The main goal of this program is to provide access to open technologies, science applications and knowledge that improve people's lives.

5. Reinforcement Learning Open Source Fest

A four-month global online program fest. In which selected students will work in a research programming project.

Learn more: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/academic-program/rl-open-source-fest/

For:

Students enrolled on any colleges, universities, Master's programs, PhD programs, and undergraduate programs.

Stipend :

$10,000 paid directly to the individual student or the student’s academic institution.

Main goal :

To bring together a diverse group of students from around the world to collectively solve open-source reinforcement learning problems and advance state-of-the-art research and development alongside the RL community while providing open-source code written and released to benefit all.

6. The Linux Foundation

A program ( Platform ) that connects mentors and mentees to increase diversity and inclusion and inject new talents into open source.

Learn More: https://mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org

For :

All the people who seek professional advancement in open source as well as students except for those who are from the restricted country.

Stipend:

You are not directly paid wages for your contribution but many projects offer stipends from crowdfunding or other sources and other compensation to encourage mentees to participate in the project.

Main Goal :

To connect mentees and mentors through open-source projects and help people in their open-source advancement.

7. CNCF Mentoring

CNCF is a program that takes part in various mentoring programs like GSOC, GSOD, LFX Mentoring, and Outreachy. Great place to spend time learning, coding, documenting, participating, and contributing.

Learn More: https://github.com/cncf/mentoring

For:

Anyone interested in cloud native technologies and open source projects in the ecosystem.

Stipend:

Depends upon the mentoring program but offers good value, and resources.

Main Goal :

Promote cloud-native technology and open source by providing new opportunities to newcomers i.e. Mentees.

8. MLH Fellowship Program.

A fully remote, 12-week internship alternative where participants earn a stipend and learn to collaborate on real open-source projects with peers and engineers from top companies.

Learn More: https://fellowship.mlh.io/

For:

Students and also non-students who want to collaborate on real open-source projects.

Stipend:

They pay you the stipend according to the PPP ( Purchasing Power Parity ) of your location.

Main goal:

Help you level up and gain real-world knowledge and experience.

9. Google Summer of Code (GSOC)

A 12+ week program focused on introducing new contributors to open-source software development with the guidance of mentors from the participating organizations.

Learn More: https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/about

For:

Must be a student or beginner to open source programs, Experts in open source are not allowed.

Stipend:

According to the PPP of the location of residence, the base stipend is $6,000.

Minimum: $3,000

Maximum: $6,600

Main goal :

Help beginners and students get professional mentorship and start their journey in open source.

10. LFN Mentorship program

The program is aimed at creating a structured hands-on learning opportunity for new developers who may otherwise lack the opportunity to gain exposure to open-source software development and entry to the LFN projects' technical communities.

Learn more: https://wiki.lfnetworking.org/display/LN/LFN+Mentorship+Program

For:

Students who are new to open source. There is no mention of non-student participants, Wait for the information till their response.

Stipend:

According to the location of the participant, a minimum of $3,000 and a maximum of $6,600

Main Goal:

Provides a more defined path for LFN projects to connect with the next generation of student developers to inject more talent into their developer base.

11. Linux Kernel Mentorship Program

A structured remote learning opportunity for aspiring Linux kernel developers where experienced developers and maintainers mentor volunteer mentees and help them become contributors to the Linux kernel.

Learn More: https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/lkmp

For :

Individuals who are not active participants in another LF program. And are not bound to any existing obligations to third parties.

Stipend :

Calculated based on your location min $3000 and max $6600

Main Goal:

Improve the Linux Ecosystem, with talented new contributors and maintainers.

12. Outreachy

Internships in open source and open science.

Learn More: https://www.outreachy.org/

For :

Everyone but especially anyone who faces under-representation, and systemic bias or discrimination in the tech industry of their country.

Stipend :

$7,000 for 3 months of internship.

Main Goal :

To provide internships to people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technology industry where they are living.

13. Google Season of Docs

An opportunity to work with professional technical writers and help advance understanding of best practices in open source documentation.

Learn More: https://developers.google.com/season-of-docs/docs/get-started

For :

Technical writers who are not currently embargoed by the united states.

Stipend :

Participating organization's budget will decide the technical writer's compensation.

Main Goal :

Help technical writers contribute to open source and improve open-source documentation.

14. The X.org Endless Vacation of Code ( EVoC)

All year anytime four months program for developers and technical writers to contribute to x.org.

Learn More: https://www.x.org/wiki/XorgEVoC/

For:

Both students and Non-students are welcome except for Non-students who will not be paid.

Stipend:

initial payment of $500 + 2* $2250 = $5000.

Main Goal :

To provide opportunities to students and non-students by inviting them to contribute to x.org.

15. Summer of Haskell

An effort by Haskell.Org to reach out to students and encourage them to contribute to the Haskell community with the aid of experienced mentors.

Learn More :

https://summer.haskell.org/

For :

This program is open to all college students and newcomers to open-source Haskell contributions, age 18 years or older, in most countries.

Stipend :

According to the PPP of your country, $6,600 max and $3,000 min.

Main Goal :

To bring new contributors to the Haskell Foundation.

16. Hyperledger Mentorship Program

A structured hands-on learning opportunity for new contributors who may otherwise lack the opportunity to gain exposure.

Learn More: https://wiki.hyperledger.org/display/INTERN/Hyperledger+Mentorship+Program

For :

Everyone who meets their eligibility criteria.

Stipend :

According to the PPP of your country with the base stipend being: $6,000

Main Goal:

Inject more talent into the community.

17. Season of KDE

A program offering an opportunity for everyone to participate in both code and no-code projects in the KDE ecosystem.

Learn More: https://season.kde.org/

For :

Anyone who wants to contribute to KDE Ecosystem.

Stipend :

No stipend only swags and certificates

Main Goal :

To bring developers to contribute to the KDE ecosystem.

18. 24 Pull Requests.

24 Pull Requests' goal is to encourage contribution to open source projects during December.

The idea is simple: 'Send 24 pull requests between December 1st and December 24th', encouraging contributors to give back to open-source projects with little gifts of code throughout December.

learn More: https://24pullrequests.com/about

Final thoughts :

Open source is a great tool to grow up as an individual when it is done right, At least that is what I have heard or read so, far in my journey of becoming a self-taught software engineer.
If you want to join my journey, and connect with me say hi, in any of my socials including the comment section. I would be more than happy to expand my network and respond back.

This article took longer than anticipated, so if you like the short breakthrough of the communities then don't forget to follow me, give a like and comment your suggestions. And thank you, KunalKushwaha for the content majority of the communities are taken from his youtube video, where he explains about these communities in detail.

Check out the gist and star it if you like this article in Github containing the same information as above.

Gist URL

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With that

Being said,

Byy 👋👋