[Soc2006] Mentor List/Project Scope?

[Neal Norwitz]

On 5/2/06, Thomas Wouters <thomas at python.org> wrote:
>
> > The Soya3d stuff is a great example, I haven't found anything until Arc
> > Riley's email indicating that this was a project that the PSF was
> > interested in and had mentors behind.  It would be useful to have a list
> > or even a guideline from the PSF, so others of us who might not realize
> > a project has a mentor behind it won't suggest the PSF is not the right
> > place for it.
>
> I don't pretend to speak for the PSF (at least, not anymore :) but I don't
> think the PSF should reject any Python-related project off-hand. Soya3D is
> listed on the ideas page (
> http://wiki.python.org/moin/SummerOfCode ). This suggests
> (to me, at least) that one or more of the applied mentors can mentor it (or
> at least that someone thought there'd be a mentor for it.) Whether those
> mentors got accepted, I don't know, but I doubt we rejected very many ;-)

I don't pretend to speak for the PSF, Google, or SoC program--only
speaking for myself.  (Nevermind that I'm involved with all those
parts.)

We have been pretty lenient so far in accepting mentors.  The PSF is
acting somewhat as an umbrella organization in this case.  There was a
big discussion at the members meeting whether the PSF should be more
like the ASF (Apache) in this respect.  Many people were interested in
the PSF becoming such an organization in the future, even if not right
now.  For various reasons, we (the PSF) have fallen into this position
of being an umbrella.  I think it's good for the PSF, the projects,
and Google.  I wish it was good for me, but it just overloads me even
more.  So the more people can help, I appreciate it.

SoC is about experimentation and learning.  I wish every project was
incredibly successful; however unrealistic that may be.  We should
give everyone an opportunity to participate and succeed.  I don't mean
that every application should be accepted, just that we should push
all the students to do the best job possible--on the application and
on the project if accepted.

I'm not really sure where to draw the line for what projects should or
should not be accepted.  I think the people on this list should help
to define where the line is.  I hope this issue is discussed further.

n