Summary

The web content lists ten high-paying open-source software internships, ranging from $1000 to$ 20,000 for 10-12 weeks of work, with programs like Google Summer of Code and Outreachy offering opportunities for contributors to engage in open source projects while receiving financial support.

Abstract

The article presents a curated list of ten open-source software internships that offer substantial stipends, enabling interns to contribute to various projects while being compensated. These internships, which include prestigious programs like Google Summer of Code (GSoC) and Google Season of Docs (GSOD), are designed to support both coders and technical writers. The stipends are adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity, ensuring fair compensation across different countries. Notably, the article emphasizes that these opportunities are not available to residents of certain countries under U.S. embargo. The programs have specific application timelines and offer a range of payouts, with some, like the HyperLedger Foundation Mentorship Program and the Major League Hacking Fellowship, providing additional mentorship and learning experiences. The article also points out that some internships, such as Xorg’s Endless Vacation of Code, require proactive engagement from applicants to find projects and mentors. The list includes a diverse set of opportunities, including those focused on specific areas like reinforcement learning and Bitcoin development, and concludes with an invitation to subscribe to a newsletter for more updates and resources.

Opinions

The author suggests that these internships are not only financially rewarding but also provide valuable experience and entry into the open source community.
There is an emphasis on the inclusive nature of these programs, with Outreachy specifically targeting individuals subject to systemic bias and underrepresentation.
The author implies that the stipends are competitive and reflect the importance of documentation and code contribution in the open source ecosystem.

Top 10 paid open-source software internships that pay $1000 — $20,000

Here are 10 amazing internships that pay between $1000 — $20,000 for 10–12 weeks of contributing to open source.

Notes before you start reading

I have found a larger list of over 100 open-source internships. Sign up for my newsletter[off medium] to receive a link.
Most of the payments are adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity. This measures how much money you need to survive in your country.
Most of them don’t accept residents (locals or internationals staying there) of countries embargoed by the U.S. The countries are: CRIMEA — REGION OF UKRAINE, CUBA, IRAN, NORTH KOREA, and SYRIA

Google Summer of Code [GSOC]

Google Summer of Code is a global, online program focused on bringing new contributors into open source software development. GSoC Contributors work with an open source organization on a 12+ week programming project under the guidance of mentors.

Link: https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/

Status: Closed for 2023

Payout:

Medium projects: Minimum (1500 USD) and maximum (3300 USD).
For large-sized projects: Minimum (3000 USD) and maximum (6600 USD).

Google Season of Docs [GSOD]

Google Season of Docs provides support for open source projects to improve their documentation and gives professional technical writers an opportunity to gain experience in open source. Together we raise awareness of open source, of docs, and of technical writing.

Link: https://developers.google.com/season-of-docs

Timeline: https://developers.google.com/season-of-docs/docs/timeline

Application Link: https://developers.google.com/season-of-docs/docs/tech-writer-guide You have to write a letter of interest to the organizations yourself.

Status: Open till the 10th of May.

Payout: minimum (2400 USD) and maximum (6600 USD).

Outreachy Internship

Outreachy provides internships in open source and open science. Outreachy provides internships to people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technical industry where they are living.

Link: https://www.outreachy.org/

Application Link: https://www.outreachy.org/apply/

Status: December edition is open from early August to late August 2023.

Payout: $7000

Note: Get ready to contribute to the codebase even before applying to this internship.

HyperLedger Foundation Mentorship Program

The Hyperledger Mentorship Program is aimed at creating a structured hands-on learning opportunity for new contributors who may otherwise lack the opportunity to gain exposure to or entry into the Hyperledger open source development community.

Link: https://wiki.hyperledger.org/plugins/servlet/mobile?contentId=2392261#content/view/2392261

Application Link: https://wiki.hyperledger.org/display/INTERN/How+to+Apply

Status: Open till 15th May.

Payout: $3300 — $6600

Major League Hacking Fellowship

A fully remote, 12-week internship alternative where participants earn a stipend and learn to collaborate on real open source projects with peers and engineers from top companies.

Link: https://fellowship.mlh.io/

Status: The summer B edition deadline is 30th May.

Payout: Up to $5000

Microsoft Reinforcement Learning Open Source Fest

RL Open-Source Fest is a global online program focused on introducing students to open-source reinforcement learning programs and software development while working alongside researchers, data scientists, and engineers on the Real World Reinforcement Learning team at Microsoft Research NYC.

Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/academic-program/rl-open-source-fest/

Status: Closed for 2023.

Payout: $10,000

Xorg’s Endless Vacation of Code

For the last several years, X.Org was a participating mentoring organization in Google’s most excellent Summer of Code (GSoC) program. That program provides approximately US$5000 to students to spend their summer developing code for an open source project. Each student proposes a project and is matched with an organization mentor who guides and evaluates the work.

Link: https://www.x.org/wiki/XorgEVoC/

Status: Open through the year.

Payout: $5000

Note:

Non-students will not be paid. One reason is that it will complicate their non-profit status.
You have to find projects and mentors yourself.

Linux Foundation Mentorship Program

The LF Networking (LFN) intern/mentorship program is aimed at creating a structured hands-on learning opportunity for new developers who may otherwise lack the opportunity to gain exposure to open source software development and entry to the LFN projects’ technical communities.

Link: https://wiki.lfnetworking.org/display/LN/LFN+Mentorship+Program

Status: Closed.

Payout: Up to $6000

Bitcoin Student Intern

Bitcoin Talent Co. has partnered with Summer of Bitcoin to offer internship opportunities in the Bitcoin industry exclusively for students pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies from universities in North America and Europe.

Link: https://www.bitcointalent.co/bitcoin-student-intern-application-2023

Status: Open till May 26th.

Payout: Specified by each company but up to $3000 in bitcoin.

Pros & Cons:

Full-time employment is possible after the internship.
Exclusively for students pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies from universities in North America and Europe.

Github Accelerator Program

Started in 2023. With the GitHub Accelerator, we want to pioneer new ways for developers to simply and sustainably work in open source full-time — built on developer’s terms. It is a 10-week program.

Link: https://accelerator.github.com/

Status: Closed

Payout: A whopping $20,000 for 10 weeks.

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