"VALS Semester of Code" after "Google Summer of Code", or "Do you have a opensource project? “Free developers are coming to you!”

If you are the author, co-author or active developer of an opensource project, then, most likely, you have already heard about the Google Summer of Code program (if not, there is a good article on Habré ). The program has been held for 10 years in a row, every summer, and most recently (August 18) its 10th season, Google Summer Code 2014 , ended, in which as many as 190 organizations (including the KolibriOS project ) took part.

Encouraged by the example of Google, envying the success of the United States , the European Union agency Virtual Alliances for Learning Society (abbr. VALS ) decided to cut down its Summer of Code with blackjack and whores , and called it VALS Semester of Code . In contrast to GSoC, the participating students here will write code not during the summer holidays, but during the semester, and they will not be paid with money, but with elephant academic credits .

You can participate in the program as a student only if you are lucky enough to study at one of these universities in the EU, so 99% of students reading Habr will have to disappoint. But for organizations, I have good news: VALS Semester of Code accepts open-source organizations from around the world, and without any competition. In other words, if your organization was denied participation in Google Summer of Code (as KolibriOS was denied last year , or Radare2 is not ), or if you found out about GSoC too late and did not have time to apply, then it's time to participate in the VALS Semester of Code.
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The only requirement is to register on their website before 3:00 am on September 12, Moscow time , i.e. just a little more than 2 days remained until the end of registration ( Yes, I know that it would not hurt to publish this news earlier, but I only read the participation rules half a day ago, so, as they say, “better late than never” ). A description of the registration process in English can be found at this link . KolibriOS is already on the list , and challenges the Ice Bucket Challenge waiting for ReactOS .

UPD : According to numerous requests, the deadline for submission of applications from organizations was extended until 3:00 am on September 17, Moscow time .

Dates for VALS Semester of Code:

• August 1 - September 17: Open-Source projects are registered on the site and publish their ideas.
• September 17 - November 14: Students submit applications for published ideas.
• September 17 - November 21: Projects select applications from students
• Friday, November 28: Final announcement of [selected applications]

Unlike Google Summer of Code, there are no fixed deadlines for selected applications. Instead, mentors, students, and academic supervisors should set a contractual deadline. VALS recommends a project length similar to GSoC (i.e., about 3 months) .