Speaker
Description
In early 2026, I applied for Google Summer of Code with the GNOME Foundation - and I didn't get selected. For many students, that rejection is the end of the story. They close the laptop, move on, and never contribute to open source again.
I chose a different path. Instead of waiting for a program to give me permission to contribute, I opened GNOME's GitLab, found a project that needed help - Gitg, the official GNOME Git repository browser - and started submitting merge requests on my own.
That was almost a year ago. Since then, I have:
- Driven the GTK3 to GTK4 migration for Gitg through dozens of focused micro-commits
- Got the chance to represent the GNOME Foundation at OOSC 4.0 in IIITA, India, organized by OpenPrinting and The Linux Foundation.
- Modernized over 40 UI components, replacing deprecated event handlers, container packing methods, and display APIs
- Learned Vala from scratch - a language I had never written a single line of before
- Built a genuine working relationship with the project maintainer
- Been selected as a Linux Foundation LiFT Scholar for my open-source work
This talk is not a technical deep-dive into GTK4 APIs. It is an honest, practical story about what happens when you refuse to let a rejection define your open-source journey.
What the Audience Will Learn:
- Why GSoC rejection doesn't matter - and why self-directed contribution is often more valuable
- How to find your first GNOME project — navigating GitLab, reading issue trackers, and identifying where help is needed
- The micro-commit strategy - why mass rewrites fail and small, 10-line merge requests succeed
- Building trust with maintainers - how to go from "random outsider" to "trusted contributor" through consistency and patience
- Sustaining motivation for a full year - how to keep contributing when there's no stipend, no deadline, and no one telling you what to do
Talk Description
I didn't get into GSoC. Instead of giving up, I started contributing to GNOME on my own - and nearly a year later, I'm still here. This talk is for every student who has been rejected and thinks the door is closed.
Author(s) Bio
I am a computer science undergraduate and an active contributor to the GNOME Foundation. Over the past year, I have been driving the GTK3 to GTK4 migration for Gitg, modernizing over 40 UI components through focused micro-commits. I am a Linux Foundation LiFT'26 Scholar and have ranked globally in the Meta Hacker Cup and TCS CodeVita. I am passionate about proving that you don't need a formal program to make a meaningful impact in open source.
| Category | Encourage new contributors |
|---|---|
| Twitter and/or Mastodon Handle | https://x.com/DivyanshuRaj81 |
| Where are you located? | Bareilly, India |
| Do you need travel sponsorship from GNOME Foundation in order to join our event? | Yes |