SAIIER 2018:Innovative Open Source Developer Training
 Film Making Apprenticeship |
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 Mandala Practice |
| Innovative Open Source Developer Training | ||
Through this project, Blue Light was able to support an intern to actively participate in an Open Source project with a focus on its Blue Light implementation.
Description of project:
Aarnav Bos worked full time at Entity::Blue Light under the mentorship of Xavier Maysonnave. His focus was on OpenWisp, an open source solution to build and manage wifi networks. Every day a formal technical meeting of 30 minutes ensured the follow-up of the project. Once a week a meeting was organized with the other Blue Light team members.
Through this internship Aarnav participated actively with OpenWisp online communities, reporting defects, submitting patches and helping others on the project mailing list. This interaction will help Blue Light to work closely with communities who provide Open Source software used in our infrastructure.
Outcomes:
Aarnav delivered two components of the Hotspot project:
- Image builder
- Embedded captive portal
He participated under the umbrella of OpenWisp in a Google contest opened to young people between 12 and 17 years old. Xavier was a mentor during this Google contest. Thirteen projects were competing. In January Aarnav won a prize as he was the highest task performer in his project. He finished the first among 779 students. In June 2018, he is invited at the Google headquarters to an event where the Grand Prize winner will be rewarded.
As a summary Aarnav delivered two useful components and integrates well in a distributed open source project. He is now an active participant.
Reflections:
- The Google Code-In contest was a great event and very stimulating for Aarnav. Beyond the reward to be invited by Google in California, he joined an Open Source community and participates in project who benefits our community and the Open Source community. His work bridges the gap between communities.
- The initial budget was not fullfilled, and we struggled the all year round to provide the proper environment for Aarnav. He still does not have a suitable desktop to work.
- Projects are funded with GOI funds and as such projects have a fiscal year scope. We’ve been notified for a partial funding support at the beginning of July 2017 with a scope ending in March 2018. We lost two month of funding as Aarnav started to work in June 2017.
- We do not have any higher study environment in Auroville. It could be interesting to organize apprenticeship in a different way. Rather than a full time professional environment, it could be part time. The rest of time, an apprentice could take remote courses with universities. The courses should be defined collectively (by the apprentice, SAIIER and Blue Light).
Conclusion:
Aarnav has been hired at Blue Light as an apprentice until he turns 18. He is integrated in our team and will continue our projects.