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Before you apply to The Linux Foundation Mentorship program, we strongly recommend you to read this guide. You will learn how to prepare and why this mentorship program can be beneficial for you to mention just a few topics included in this guide.
So, let's get started.
Note: To learn about the Mentorship platform, navigate to section of this document.
Eligibility Rules
The following eligibility rules apply to all mentee applicants.
Be at least 18 years old by the time the mentorship program starts.
Not be a prior or an active participant in another Linux Foundation mentorship program.
Be eligible to work in the country and jurisdiction where you will be participating in the Mentorship program.
Not reside in a country or jurisdiction where participation in the mentorship is prohibited under applicable U.S. federal, state or local laws or the laws of other countries
Seeking to participate on your own behalf as an individual
Not be subject to any existing obligations to third parties (such as contractual obligations to an employer) that would restrict or prohibit your participation in a mentorship program.
Meet all criteria set by the program to which a mentees is applying, i.e. any custom prerequisites and requirements.
The mentorship program helps you build skills and contribute to open source projects in a structured way. Hereâs what you can expect at each stage of the program.
Apply to Programs: Submit your application through your Linux Foundation account for the mentorship programs you are interested in.
Initial Review: Your application will be reviewed over at least two weeks.
Complete Prerequisites: Be sure to finish all prerequisite tasks during the review period. Applications without completed prerequisites will not be accepted.
Check Application Status: You can monitor your applicationâs progress in your account dashboard.
Need help applying? See [How to Apply].
Notification of Results: If you are chosen, you will receive a notification by email or a phone call.
Onboarding Steps: You will be required to complete a contract and follow HR steps to officially join the program.
Begin Your Journey: Work closely with your mentor on the project plan and learn about open source collaboration.
Practical Involvement:
Make your first contributions by handling a few starter tasks, such as documentation edits.
Gradually take on more responsibility as you progress.
Active Community Role: Attend meetings, take part in discussions, and contribute to achieving project milestones and goals.
Scheduled Evaluations: Mentors will check your progress at several points during the program (usually three or four times).
Evaluation Focus:
Completion of tasks and milestones
Engagement with your mentor and the wider community
Steady progress according to your project plan
Payment Timeline: You may receive stipends after completing your second and final evaluations.
Eligibility: Payments depend on satisfactory progress and completion of objectives.
Amount: The stipend amount varies depending on the specific mentorship program.
Finish All Tasks: complete all milestones, assigned tasks, and any required exams.
Submit Feedback: Fill out a feedback survey at the end of the program.
Receive Your Certificate: After meeting all the requirements, you will receive a digital Letter of Completion.
Take the first step towards your open source future with the mentorship program!
The Linux Foundation Mentorship Program offers a structured, hands-on learning experience for individuals interested in open source software development. Mentees, whether students or experienced programmers, pair with mentors to learn and contribute to open source projects, all while being compensated for their work.
The primary goals of the Linux Foundation Mentorship Program are:
Skill Enhancement: Help mentees learn and enhance their technical skills, inspiring them to become long-term active contributors.
Cultural Understanding: Teach aspiring developers about open source culture and collaboration norms, guiding them to participate more effectively in the community.
Project Improvement: Strengthen projects and communities within the Linux ecosystem by enhancing security and release quality.
Duration: 2 weeks (Not applicable to all projects)
Duration: 6 weeks
Duration: 2 weeks
Duration: 2 weeks
Duration: 12 weeks (40 hours per week)
Duration: 24 weeks (20 hours per week)
To apply to the Linux Foundation Mentorship Program, follow these steps:
Complete Prerequisite Tasks: Ensure you complete any required prerequisite tasks.
Evaluate Skills: Have your skills evaluated to ensure they align with the program's needs.
Apply: Submit your application through the provided form.
During the program, mentees will work closely with mentors to contribute to open source projects. This involves:
Learning best practices in open source development.
Collaborating with other developers using tools like Git and GitHub.
Enhancing existing projects or developing new features.
Successful participation in the program can lead to several career benefits:
Job Security: Accepted mentees have a higher likelihood of securing jobs with companies participating in the program.
Networking: Connect with professionals in the open source community, expanding your network.
Learning: Gain practical experience in real-world projects, enhancing your resume.
The Linux Foundation Mentorship Program is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in open source software development. By providing hands-on learning and professional guidance, the program empowers participants to grow their skills, contribute to meaningful projects, and ultimately build a successful career in the tech industry.
For more information or to apply, visit the .
Talent Pool Development: Provide a skilled and diverse talent pool of prospective employees trained by experts to companies in the related technology ecosystem.
Community Growth: Add well-trained and educated, diverse talent to projects, encouraging them to write code for open-source software products for the benefit of the entire community and its users.
Sign Contract and HR: Once selected, sign the mentorship contract and go through the HR process.
Join the Program: Begin the 12-week full-time or 24-week part-time training program.
To get the most out of your mentorship experience, it is important to develop certain habits and skills. Hereâs what makes a great mentee:
Try to Find Answers: Before asking questions, search for solutions on your own. Use resources like Stack Overflow, Medium, or other public forums.
Ask Peers: Check with other mentees in your communication channels.
Sharpen Your Questions: Even if you cannot find the answer, researching first helps you better understand the problem and ask more specific questions.
Benefits: This approach strengthens your research and analytical abilities.
Engage with the Community: The mentorship program encourages you to connect not only with your mentor but with the wider open source community.
Follow the Rules: Always follow the communityâs code of conduct and act with professionalism when communicating.
Know Professional Boundaries: While socializing is allowed, maintain a professional attitude and avoid crossing personal boundaries.
Company Interactions: Any communication or activity you have directly with a company is only between you and the company.
Mentorship Scope: These external interactions are separate from the mentorship program and do not involve The Linux Foundation.
By following these guidelines, you will make the most of your mentorship experience and grow as a member of the open source community.
Any interactions you have with a company are strictly between you and the company, and are not part of or connected to the Mentorship program, nor do such interactions involve the Linux Foundation.
Not Selected for Mentorship? Hereâs What to Do Next
You worked hard. You created your profile, found an interesting project, and completed all the prerequisite tasks. Not being selected can be disappointing, but itâs not the end of your journey.
Request Feedback: Reach out to program coordinators or mentors and ask for constructive feedback on your application. Understanding what to improve helps you in future applications.
Explore Other Programs: Look at other available mentorship programs. Your skills and interests may be a perfect match elsewhere.
Stay Connected: Continue participating in the community. Join discussions, attend events, and keep learning from peers.
Keep Trying: Many successful mentees were not selected on their first attempt. Persistence pays off, so donât give up.
Remember, every step you take builds your skills and brings you closer to your goals. Stay motivated and keep pursuing opportunities!
You can have a look at some useful resources:
Mentor Guide : You can also take a look at the .
List of Organizations: You can see a list of organisations that participated in previous years, by visiting the project site.
Yes, we understand. If you havenât been involved in an open source project before it can be intimidating initially. But donât worry, the entire community is here to help you at each step as you learn.
Sit back and Observe
Before you interact with the community members, itâs always advisable for you to observe how the community members are interacting within themselves, for example what communication channels are they using, how are they bringing up issues whenever they face any, how to send current progress, and so many. Seeing how other community members interact will help you adjust and learn the social norms in the community.
Donât wait for an invitation, take initiative
Our tools and meetings are open by default, so jump in and introduce yourself, ask questions and share ideas:
Establish routine
Minimize distractions
Nurture relationships
Effectively manage time
Set mini (daily or weekly) goals
Regular and frequent check-ins with mentor(s) to stay on track
Be mindful of timezones and othersâ communication preferences
To successfully graduate from this mentorship program, you need to be focused, and actively engage with your mentor, and if applicable other mentees. Be professional with your communication when you ask or post anything in the communication channel. Not just that, you need to be specific while asking questions from your mentors. Apart from these, following are some points to keep in mind:
Communicate: Keeping the line of communication open between you and your mentor(s) will build trust, respect, and a positive relationship that facilitates the successful completion of the project.
Schedule weekly check-ins to review progress, blockers, and upcoming tasks.
Clarify communication channels/norms with your mentor(s), project team, and broader community: email, chat, calls, wiki, and etc.
Be aware of communication challenges across time zones and language/cultural differences. Be on time for scheduled meetings and be respectful of your mentorâs time (remember your mentors are volunteers).
Donât be afraid to ask questions, be upfront about gaps in skill and knowledge.
Inform your mentor(s) of vacation or breaks in advance and plans to make up for lost days.
Connect: Gaining a broader understanding of the open source community, industry, and potential career paths can help generate new ideas and make you a more effective and long-term contributing member of the community.
Take the initiative to network with other professionals beyond your immediate team that you come in contact with either remotely or F2F at hackfest, meetup, bootcamp, or conferences and so on.
Use project mailing list to reach out to and connect with the current cohort of peer mentors.
Explore projects and understand how the open source community is organized, for example Working Groups and Special Interest Groups, and how you may be able to participate or contribute.
â Document: Documenting your progress, agreed-on project plan, weekly goals/tasks, milestones, changes/modifications helps keep yourself on track and others you work with on the same page.
Develop a project plan at the start of the program and refine/revist/document changes as things progress
Maintain a log to track your progress and consider using the log as the basis of discussions during your weekly check-ins with mentor(s)
Work on project documentations as part of deliverables so that code can be used by others and to continue the development momentum
Give Feedback: At the end of the program you are asked to provide a feedback and answer several questions that will be used in blog posts about the Linux Foundation Mentorship program.
Mentee evaluations are conducted three or four times throughout the duration of the mentorship program in order to provide mentees with feedback on their progress. Depending on the program, your mentor may choose to have 1:1 check-ins, virtual meetings or written evaluations.
Only after receiving a satisfactory evaluation, mentees can submit an Expensify report to receive stipends.
Note: Mentees are also asked to share their experience, provide feedback and suggestions at the end of the mentorship so that Linux Foundation can make improvements to program. \
Blog Posts: You can find information related to the Linux Foundation Mentorship program on these blog pages:
Following are some blog posts written by mentees, sharing their experience:
The Linux Foundation maintains open-source and open community projects where participants choose to work together, and in that process experience differences in language, location, nationality, and experience. In such a diverse environment, misunderstandings and disagreements happen, which in most cases can be resolved informally. In rare cases, however, behavior can intimidate, harass, or otherwise disrupt one or more people in the community, which Linux Foundation will not tolerate.
A Code of Conduct (CoC) is useful to define accepted and acceptable behaviors and to promote high standards of professional practice. It also provides a benchmark for self evaluation and acts as a vehicle for better identity of the organization.
This CoC applies to any member of the Linux Foundationâs project community â developers, participants in meetings, teleconferences, mailing lists, conferences or functions, etc. Note that this code complements rather than replaces legal rights and obligations pertaining to any particular situation.
The Linux Foundation is committed to maintaining a positive work environment. This commitment calls for a workplace where participants at all levels behave according to the rules of the following code. A foundational concept of this code is that we all share responsibility for our work environment.
Treat each other with respect, professionalism, fairness, and sensitivity to our many differences and strengths, including in situations of high pressure and urgency.
Never harass or bully anyone verbally, physically or sexually.
Never discriminate on the basis of personal characteristics or group membership.
Depending on the mentorship program, a mentor will be assigned to you throughout the program, from the application process to course completion. It is your responsibility to actively engage with your mentor to ensure you complete all tasks during the application process for acceptance. Once accepted as a mentee, work closely with your mentor to ensure you are learning effectively, getting answers to your questions, and contributing to the project. Be proactive and reach out to mentors to schedule weekly check-in meetings. Use one of the first meetings to align on expectations, communication channels, norms, tools, and any vacation or academic scheduling conflicts. Set up your development environment and tools, and do some practice work. Start contributing to your project by writing clean code or clear instructions in the documents, and have them reviewed by your mentor in a timely manner. Ask for feedback or suggestions on your progress, and seek advice to excel. During the application process, work with your mentor on a project plan that includes project objectives, milestones, deliverables, methodology, and documentation. The project plan should be posted on the wiki for transparency and accountability at the beginning of your application to the program. Respect your mentorâs time. Your mentor is volunteering their time to help you grow, taking time out of their busy schedule. Therefore, regularly attend scheduled meetings, provide updates on your work status, and take full advantage of your mentor's guidance to learn. Remember that your mentor is the most valuable person to help you successfully graduate from the mentorship program.
How many mentorship terms are there per year?
The Linux Foundation provides mentorship programs throughout the year, each with specific term dates. To access detailed information about the program term dates, please refer to the programs you are interested in.
How long is a mentee engaged in the program?
The process can vary based on the program's guidelines but usually involves applying, participating, and contributing. Even after the program ends, mentees can stay involved with the community.
How much stipend do the mentees get?
It might vary based on the geographical location of the mentees. For details, see Mentee Stipends.
Seek, accept, and offer objective work criticism, and acknowledge properly the contributions of others.
Be honest about your own qualifications, and about any circumstances that might lead to conflicts of interest.
Respect the privacy of others and the confidentiality of data you access.
With respect to cultural differences, be conservative in what you do and liberal in what you accept from others, but not to the point of accepting disrespectful, unprofessional or unfair or unwelcome behavior or advances.
Promote the rules of this Code and take action (especially if you are in a leadership position) to bring the discussion back to a more civil level whenever inappropriate behaviors are observed.
Stay on topic: Make sure that you are posting to the correct channel and avoid off-topic discussions. Remember when you update an issue or respond to an email you are potentially sending to a large number of people.
Step down considerately: Members of every project come and go. When you leave or disengage from the project, in whole or in part, we ask that you do so in a way that minimizes disruption to the project. This means you should tell people you are leaving and take the proper steps to ensure that others can pick up where you left off.
It can be intimidating at first if you are new to the open-source world. However, always maintain the culture when working in that environment, as Bill S. Preston Esq saysââStick to the Open Source Culture: Be excellent to each other.â
It is synchronous by nature. Most collaboration occurs through email, forum posts, mailing lists, and pull requests.
Cooperation and consensus-building present the greatest challenge. Since others canât see your face or hear your voice, emotions can be lost and intent muddled.
Open-source development is truly global, encompassing all cultures, all languages, all time zones, and all continentsâyes, even Antarctica.
Several projects and foundations offer mentorship programs that may provide travel funding support to mentees who successfully complete the program. Such funding aims to help mentees attend conferences to present their mentorship results and learnings, as well as to network with others in the community. It's recommended that you check with each individual program to learn more about the support available and detailed requirements.
Is the mentee selection process transparent and in the open?
Yes, the Linux Foundation maintains transparency in the mentee selection process. Selection is based on the application materials they submitted and interview/additional assessment tasks if assigned by the mentor. If mentees meet the eligibility requirements, applications are submitted, and all the assigned tasks are completed, their applications will be reviewed.
Are mentees encouraged to make a career in open source development?
Absolutely! For mentees who successfully graduate, Linux Foundation promotes their work and contribution on social channels so that their profile comes into the eye of potential employers, and sponsors them to attend conferences so that they get a chance to present their work to the greater community and meet potential employers. Linux Foundation also encourages mentors to connect mentees with their contacts and networks and refer deserved candidates to participating companies.
Does the Linux Foundation give the mentee visibility into the community and corporations supporting open source development?
Yes, Linux Foundation offers mentees the opportunity to network with the open source project community and prospective employers at a conference! It also encourages mentees to blog about their experience and Linux Foundation amplifies their blog on its website and social media channels.
How much time did mentors expect to commit to mentoring?
There is no fixed number of hours set for mentors as long as they manage to help mentees smoothly progress throughout the mentorship program, starting from the application process to the end of the program. They should create a timetable to meet the set project plan.
Due to certain circumstances, mentorship programs for 2022, organized by the Linux Foundation, are not accepting mentee applications from Russia, Belarus, or the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR). However, mentees located within Ukraine but outside of the DNR and LNR can apply to the LF mentorship programs.
100% remoteâno need to relocate!
Fit your learning around your schedule, from anywhere in the world.
Receive personalized guidance from experienced open source developers.
Sharpen your skills in coding, testing, writing, project management, and much more.
Tackle real-world software development tasks as part of a vibrant community.
Earn a stipend, paid in two installments based on your progress and final program completion.
(Note: A few programs are unpaid and will be clearly stated in the Program Description.)
Connect with employers seeking talent for open source projects.
Gain exposure and receive potential referrals from mentors for job opportunities.
(Note: Job interactions and offers are outside the scope of the Mentorship Program and are solely between you and the employer.)
Work on real projects using the latest technologies.
Learn new tools, workflows, and best practices in open source.
Become part of a global open source community.
Expand your professional network by working closely with developers, community members, and industry leaders.
Build lasting relationships with mentors and peers.
"Life-Changing and Liberating"
âThe Linux Kernel Mentorship is life changing. Throughout my internship, I learned that the kernel community is incredibly helpful and kind, always willing to assist new developers. Working on open source projects was a liberating experienceâthere are no barriers. Anyone, regardless of nationality, creed, or company affiliation, can contribute. That openness is both beautiful and intellectually stimulating.â â Kelsey Skunberg, Linux Kernel Mentorship Program Mentee
"A Perfect Balance"
âBefore this internship, I mainly worked on theoretical blockchain and cryptography research at Purdue University. This internship gave me the perfect balance between development and research.â â Jason You, Mentee for Hyperledger Caliper Visualization
"From Intimidation to Inspiration"
âOpen source development was initially new and a bit intimidating for meâeven beyond the technical skills. However, presenting my project at a Hyperledger event was transformative. It introduced me to the Hyperledger community, opened up a world of possibilities, and allowed me to connect with project maintainers and exchange ideas. Suddenly, the open source Hyperledger ecosystem became accessible and exciting.â â Attila Klenik, Hyperledger Summer Intern Program Alum & Mentor
"A Pride-Taking Moment!"
Think of the moment when your first PR (pull request) gets committed upstream in an application that developers across the globe will use. What a proud moment! Isnât it?
"The Linux Kernel Mentorship program was a life-changing experience. Working on open source projects was incredibly liberating for me. There are no barriers in open sourceâanyone can contribute, regardless of nationality, creed, or company affiliation, which I find profoundly beautiful. I believe it is an intellectually stimulating experience for everyone." â Bharath Vedartham, Linux Kernel Mentee
Confidence and Growth
"I had the honor of participating in the Linux Kernel Mentorship Program. Throughout the mentorship, I developed a deep passion for working on open source projects and engaging with their communities. My confidence as a developer grew tremendously.
The application process laid a strong foundation for contributing to the Linux kernel, teaching me how to build patches, debug, run boot tests, and collaborate with open source communities.
I was able to grow these new skills throughout the program while working on my selected project." â Kelsey Skunberg, Linux Kernel Mentorship Program Mentee
From Newcomer to Mentor
"Open source development was new territory for me and, admittedly, a bit intimidating at first. My breakthrough came when I presented my project work at a Hyperledger eventâmy first close-up experience with the community.
It opened up a world of possibilities: I met maintainers, exchanged ideas, and had my questions answered.
This experience set me on the path to become more involved, eventually becoming a maintainer for Hyperledger Caliper. As a next step, I had the pleasure of mentoring a Caliper-related internship project this year." â Attila Klenik, Hyperledger Summer Intern Program Alum and Current Mentor
Inspired? Leap and discover where open source mentorship can take you!
Congratulations! You have successfully applied to the mentorship program. Now what? Your application will be reviewed, and the program admin will contact you with the next steps.
Note: You can check your application status by navigating to your account page.