[Soc-coordination] GSoC + OPW + small tasks requirement

[Olly Betts]

On Sun, Apr 07, 2013 at 06:57:33PM +0200, Mònica Ramírez Arceda wrote:
> I have two questions: 
> * Would mentors agree that mentees ask them to do a previous small task
> related to their project?
> * What do you think about implementing this requirement to GSoC process?

I think it's a good idea to require applicants to perform some sort of
"qualifying task" - for example, fixing a bug or implementing a simple
first step towards the project.  The other orgs I've been involved with
for GSoC (SWIG and Xapian) both have such a requirement, and from
discussions at the mentor summit it seems a lot of other orgs do too.

The general experience (which matches my own) is that it is really helps
tell if applicants are committed and have the ability to do the project
they've proposed.

Cheers,
    Olly