Open Source Programs
Karan Palan
1. GSoC
2. Outreachy
- Focuses on people facing under-representation, systemic bias, or discrimination in tech.
- Strong focus on non-code roles too (design, docs, community)
- Stipend ~$6k USD, fully remote, ~3 months
- Apply/More info - https://www.outreachy.org/
3. MLH Fellowship
- You submit a project first. Applying to MLH prep fellowship will help
- Pass coding + behaviour rounds in some cases
- You will be given a oss project of some company (ex. Meta, Gitlab etc) and some private work as well
- Daily standups and Sprints (like a real company)
- Apply/More info - https://fellowship.mlh.io/
4. Linux Kernel mentorship
- Must know C, Linux internals and Git
- Real linux kernal patches, strict reviews
- 6 month sprint, Twice a year
- Apply/More info - https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/lkmp, https://dev.to/siddarth2810/my-linux-kernel-mentorship-experience-4870
4. LFX
- Linux/CNCF/Hyperledger are the main orgs with most project
- Thrice a year
- Unpaid and Paid mentorships (1500-6000$)
- Apply/More info - https://lfx.linuxfoundation.org/tools/mentorship/
4. Summer of Bitcoin
- Submit application, get shortlisted for 3-4 qualification tasks
- Each task is a week long, provides lectures and notes to understand bitcoin
- After clearing all tasks, you can contribute and submit proposal
- Apply/More info - https://summerofbitcoin.org/
5. European Summer of Code
- Similiar to GSoC, but smaller, Europe project and AI focused
- Ref - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Hl4ts-LxoK0UFZ6xJwZN8OFzZfyOeAyNoEgwj0jdha0/edit?slide=id.g3c5d2e50a65_0_31#slide=id.g3c5d2e50a65_0_31
- Twice or more a year
- Batch 2 application ends on April 30 -https://www.linkedin.com/posts/european-summer-of-code_important-update-on-esoc-timelines-2026-activity-7440518584486989824-0ySC
- Apply/More info - https://www.esoc.dev/
6. C4GT (Code for GovTech)
- Similiar to GSoC, but most orgs are of Indian Public infrastructure (ex. digilocker)
- ~1 lakh stipend
- Info reg 2026 and projects - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/code-for-goodtech_dmp2026-codeforgoodtech-opensource-activity-7441826072993710080-oSAG?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAEYDhxoB6NsbIs1LSu343TgXX2Qzso8ne9Q
7. LiFT Scholarship (Linux Foundation)
- Not Oss contributions, Free training and certifications
- Useful for Kubernetes/Cloud and Linux certificates (They are actually valued)
- Info reg 2026 and projects - https://www.linuxfoundation.org/about/lift-scholarships
8. PSF (Processing Foundation Fellowship
- You submit a project idea (creative coding/art)
- Storytelling and design matters
- Funding supports individual creators/teams
- Unique compared to traditional OSS internships
- Info - https://processingfoundation.org/fellowships
9. Igalia Coding Experience
- Experience with C/C++
- Work on browsers (Chromium, WebKit, graphics stack)
- Stipend/Pay is variable
- Info - https://www.igalia.com/coding-experience/https://www.igalia.com/coding-experience/
10. Fossee Summer Fellowship
- Selection via task-based screening (NOT just resume)
- Work on Python, Scilab, OpenFOAM, etc.
- India-focused, academic-style OSS work
- Info - https://fossee.in/
11. GirlScript Summer of Code (GSSoC)
- No strict selection process, open participation + leaderboard-based rewards
- You pick issues from multiple projects
- Rewards: swag, certificates, sometimes internships
- https://gssoc.girlscript.org/
12. Social Winter of Code
- Rewards: swag, certificates, sometimes internships
- Similiar to GSSoC
- https://www.swoc.in/
Other Open Source Programs
- Redox Summer of code
- Hacktoberfest
- 24 pull requests
- JGEC Winter of Code
- IIIT Kalyani Winter of code
- Summer of KDE
- Build for Bharat Fellowship
- Github Octernship
- Github Campus experts
- Summer of Nix
Open source internships and Trending projects
- Trending OSS projects (ex. OpenClaw)