Title: GSoC 2014 Author: Jen Published: January 29, 2014 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/) [Jen](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/) 6:20 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 Tags: [gsoc ( 78 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/gsoc/), [mentorship ( 8 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/mentorship/)    # GSoC 2014 It’s that time of year again, when all good* coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. developers start thinking about whether or not they’re up for mentoring a GSoC student this year. Many in this group know the drill, but there quite a few involved core contribs active this cycle who haven’t been involved with GSoC before, so here’s the deal: * Google pays for a program that gives college students summer jobs creating open sourceOpen Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source** must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. code under the mentorship of an organization (like WordPress). * We apply to be a mentoring organization and put up a list with a bunch of potential summer project ideas and identify who the mentors might be. * If we’re chosen to participate, we get a certain number of slots to fill, and students submit applications to work with us. * All the potential mentors rate/rank the proposals, and decide if there’s someone they’d like to mentor. * In game of chance-meets-requests dizzy enough to rival medical school matches, we put together our wish list for mentor-student matchups. 2 mentors per student, to provide coverage and make things more collaborative. * We hope that none of our top picks also applied to other orgs who accepted them, and wind up with our student roster. * We provide volunteer mentors to work one-on-one with the kids on projects that they applied to do over a 3-month period. * Open source code is released into the wild. I’ll be putting together our application to be a mentoring organization this week, so it’s time to start thinking of project ideas we could suggest on the Ideas page that we need for the application (the more ideas the better) and who wants to be a mentor. The application deadline is February 14, so I’d like to get the Ideas list in solid shape (along with mentor bios) by Feb 10 (a week from Monday). If you have an idea or are interested in being a mentor, please leave a comment on this post. At the end of the dev chat after 3.9 business is out of the way, we can discuss some of the ideas and I can answer any questions people have about mentoring. Related: I’m also going to be posting soon about starting up a regular mentorship program, [as outlined here](https://make.wordpress.org/community/2014/01/29/mentorship-wednesday-ill-be-writing-up-posts-today/). But that can wait for another day. *Where good means both skilled and kind and generous with their time. [#gsoc](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/gsoc/), [#mentorship](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/mentorship/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?share=bluesky) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?share=x) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?share=linkedin) 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9c184f96bd47233afcf0623851f129c13009d7886753f40867c9d4b5856ec080? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 2. [Jen Mylo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/) 6:22 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 3. Also, will need a few people to identify tickets that no one’s working on that would be good ones to use for the “submit a patchpatch A special text file that describes changes to code, by identifying the files and lines which are added, removed, and altered. It may also be referred to as a **diff**. A patch can be _applied_ to a codebase for testing.” requirement of the application. 4. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5783a2d9b93f04f6d0a1ddabddcfd71f15136d7eaea7a87f9962d3f93f780224? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 5. [Ian Dunn](https://profiles.wordpress.org/iandunn/) 6:59 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 6. Is it only open for CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress., or can MetaMeta Meta is a term that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress., Mobile, etc also propose projects? 7. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1a7df76f4f6519a5618c32428b277a5c7a89798394965b67e50528ca57c1b5a8? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Andrew Nacin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nacin/) 7:10 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 * Any. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5783a2d9b93f04f6d0a1ddabddcfd71f15136d7eaea7a87f9962d3f93f780224? s=32&d=mm&r=g) - [Ian Dunn](https://profiles.wordpress.org/iandunn/) 7:54 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 - Awesome. [@jenmylo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/), I’d be happy to mentor someone if you have any Community projects you think would be a good fit for GSoC. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9c184f96bd47233afcf0623851f129c13009d7886753f40867c9d4b5856ec080? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Jen Mylo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/) 8:41 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 * @iandunn: Definitely, just need to make sure that it’s something releasable, like a pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. vs building onto one of the sites. Maybe forms, finally? - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5783a2d9b93f04f6d0a1ddabddcfd71f15136d7eaea7a87f9962d3f93f780224? s=32&d=mm&r=g) - [Ian Dunn](https://profiles.wordpress.org/iandunn/) 9:04 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 - That could work. The idea of having the pre-defined forms for speakers/ sessions/etc is specific to WordCamp.org, but we could easily put the general architecture for a pre-defined form into the pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. itself, and then define WordCamp.org’s specific forms via a filterFilter Filters are one of the two types of Hooks [https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks](https://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API/Hooks). They provide a way for functions to modify data of other functions. They are the counterpart to Actions. Unlike Actions, filters are meant to work in an isolated manner, and should never have side effects such as affecting global variables and output. in a custom plugin. - The result from that approach would be the same as if the our forms were built into the plugin itself, but it would keep the coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. plugin independent so it could be released in the WordPress.orgWordPress.org The community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes as well as the central location for community conversations and organization. [https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/) repo and used by anyone. - We don’t necessarily have to release it in the wporg repo in order to open-source it, though. Most of WordCamp.org’s custom stuff is already open-sourced in the MetaMeta Meta is a term that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress. repo. Not sure if the GSoC guidelines just want it open-source, or if the spirit of it is to make it easily available/useable for others. 8. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/77bbf8e117820a076babbc42bee9b2b18d07a41190bc73e119e5267ac1548ba2? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 9. [Wojtek Szkutnik](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wojtekszkutnik/) 7:48 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 10. Always happy to help with mentoring if needed 🙂 11. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9c184f96bd47233afcf0623851f129c13009d7886753f40867c9d4b5856ec080? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Jen Mylo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/) 8:41 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 * Project ideas to go with that offer? 🙂 - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/77bbf8e117820a076babbc42bee9b2b18d07a41190bc73e119e5267ac1548ba2? s=32&d=mm&r=g) - [Wojtek Szkutnik](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wojtekszkutnik/) 8:11 pm _on_ February 3, 2014 - Anything related to PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher/JSJS JavaScript, a web scripting language typically executed in the browser. Often used for advanced user interfaces and behaviors. unit testing – my area of expertise, I would love to see more/better/faster unit testing in WP HTMLHTML HyperText Markup Language. The semantic scripting language primarily used for outputting content in web browsers. E-mails ;)) Touch-optimised adminadmin (and super admin) CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets. 12. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b518a5cf86a31ce1c2a64870b6e15a1e63e9827afc75f8fc12f7095d0cce7fb4? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 13. [Marko Heijnen](https://profiles.wordpress.org/markoheijnen/) 8:48 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 14. I would love to mentor. Hopefully this time I’m more lucky then last year. I can help with coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress., mobile or GlotPress. 15. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/9c184f96bd47233afcf0623851f129c13009d7886753f40867c9d4b5856ec080? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Jen Mylo](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jenmylo/) 9:20 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 * If you can write up some specific project ideas that you would like to mentor, that will help with the luck. Someone who applies for your idea would likely be given to the person who proposed it, vs running into a situation like last year where a handful of people all requested the same student. 16. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a195e320c3814c50cdc62ac06e44d0978e7be26c36782178e3bca7edf28b5792? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 17. [Justin Shreve](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jshreve/) 9:28 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 18. I’m interested in mentoring this year (did you even have to ask? :)) 19. Some things I would be interested in (based on some previous ideas): 20. * New User Walkthrough. Specifically meter based “you are 10% setup, etc”. Think LinkedIn style. * A visual way to surface visual embeds / oEmebeds etc. Instead of needing to magically know that a Spotify or Twitter URLURL A specific web address of a website or web page on the Internet, such as a website’s URL www.wordpress. org needs to go on its line, support some kind of UIUI User interface (maybe in the media explorer) that allows you to insert content * Anything External APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways. Related. No specific project here. It depends on what is in coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. at the time (if it’s XML-RPC still or if REST is available yet) * General Mentoring 21. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1a7df76f4f6519a5618c32428b277a5c7a89798394965b67e50528ca57c1b5a8? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Andrew Nacin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nacin/) 9:41 am _on_ January 30, 2014 * I have a feeling 3.9 is gonna handle much of point #2 🙂 In fact, if you want to help, I’m sure @gcorne, [@helen](https://profiles.wordpress.org/helen/), [@azaozz](https://profiles.wordpress.org/azaozz/), and [@wonderboymusic](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wonderboymusic/) could use it! 22. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0a10310cc19e044b290fc90c79cd384b5117fb1ee3f41c8976c35122ba27e988? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 23. [Eric](https://profiles.wordpress.org/aerych/) 9:35 pm _on_ January 29, 2014 24. I’m game to mentor a mobile project this year. I’ll post some project ideas after I’ve had some time to brainstorm a bit. 25. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/323cf209e19dd825678e9ccc51bc3f745f96571f1c68af26ae7955c1fa9ad1f2? s=32&d=mm&r=g) 26. [Aaron Jorbin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jorbin/) 5:04 pm _on_ January 31, 2014 27. I would love to mentor once again. Some ideas that I have: 28. * Make the PHPUnit tests run faster * Increase the number of JavaScriptJavaScript JavaScript or JS is an object-oriented computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience. While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser. [https://www.javascript.com](https://www.javascript.com/) Unit Tests * CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets./JSJS JavaScript, a web scripting language typically executed in the browser. Often used for advanced user interfaces and behaviors. Optimization * Automated performance testing * Anything dev tools related. 29. * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/043b2a659fd7954f6d4ecab63363a7a9ed9f6e427a047b02cb20b32cd0f999e3? s=32&d=mm&r=g) * [Bryan Petty](https://profiles.wordpress.org/bpetty/) 5:31 pm _on_ February 4, 2014 * I think the biggest improvement we could make to the unit tests in regards to speed is to find a way to merge multisitemultisite Used to describe a WordPress installation with a network of multiple blogs, grouped by sites. This installation type has shared users tables, and creates separate database tables for each blog (wp_posts becomes wp_0_posts). See also **network**, **blog**, **site** tests into the base tests, and only run tests that are actually affected by single/multisite environment changes. * Right now, we run every single unit testunit test Code written to test a small piece of code or functionality within a larger application. Everything from themes to WordPress core have a series of unit tests. Also see [regression](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/gsoc-2014/?output_format=md#regression). a second time during the multisite run, but in reality, probably less than 25% of them are even affected by multisite. For example, we don’t need to re- run sanitize/escape tests a second time. * There’s certainly probably lots of places we could avoid @runTestsInSeparateProcesses, especially if we were to [deprecate/remove constants](https://gist.github.com/tierra/7095615). * Another option might be to find a way to cleanly reset the DB without calling wp_install() again (do one install, dump, and reload from dump directly on the next test with @runTestsInSeparateProcesses). * Other than that, then you just have optimizations on individual tests, which just becomes a mundane task that no-one wants to do, especially if patches are just ignored because they are so minor and not important. - ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1a7df76f4f6519a5618c32428b277a5c7a89798394965b67e50528ca57c1b5a8? s=32&d=mm&r=g) - [Andrew Nacin](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nacin/) 7:43 pm _on_ February 4, 2014 - Re-running the entire suite under multisitemultisite Used to describe a WordPress installation with a network of multiple blogs, grouped by sites. This installation type has shared users tables, and creates separate database tables for each blog (wp_posts becomes wp_0_posts). See also **network**,** blog**, **site** has flagged a lot of issues over the years. I think we’re along way from that point. Multisite just has too many odd side effects on coreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress.. Comments are closed. # Post navigation [← Please propose agenda items for the development meeting…](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/please-propose-agenda-items-for-the-development-meeting/) [Audio/Video 2.0 Update →](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2014/01/29/audiovideo-2-0-update/)