Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Linux Kernel Mentorship Program
2.1.
Benefits for Mentees
2.2.
Benefits for mentors
2.3.
Advantages for the Linux Kernel community/project
2.4.
Advantages for the Linux Ecosystem
3.
Eligibility Criteria
4.
Apply to Linux Kernel Mentorship Program
5.
Stipend amounts
6.
Timeline for the Program
7.
FAQs
8.
Key Takeaways
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Linux Kernel Mentorship Program

Author Abhay Trivedi
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Source - linuxfoundation

Introduction

The Linux Kernel Mentorship Program offers aspiring Linux Kernel developers a structured remote learning opportunity. Experienced Linux Kernel developers and maintainers mentor volunteer mentees and help them become contributors to the Linux Kernel.

Linux Kernel Mentorship Program

The Linux Kernel Mentorship Program includes three 12 week, full-time volunteer mentee positions offered in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and two 24 week part-time volunteer mentee positions offered in the Spring, Summer, and Fall each year. The mentee positions expose program participants to at least two Kernel releases. The Kernel release cycle is 7-8 weeks.

Benefits for Mentees

  • Learn from professional Linux Kernel developers/maintainers.
  • Learn to collaborate, share, and work with the Linux Kernel community.
  • Become a Linux Kernel contributor.
  • Chance to network with other opensource communities and prospective employers.
  • Learn to communicate and share experiences at Linux conferences.
  • Receive a stipend for learning.
  • Opportunity to interview with employers.
  • Refer to Mentee Guide for more details.
  • Mentee experiences - How will the mentorship program help me?

Benefits for mentors

  • Chance to teach and share expertise.
  • Get assistance with work in your respective Kernel areas.
  • Option to train and bring new talent into the project.
  • Get awarded with an invite to a Linux conference.
  • Refer here to learn on how to become a successful mentor?

Advantages for the Linux Kernel community/project

  • Add well-trained & educated, diverse talent to the project.
  • Chance to train and add to project areas that could benefit from extra help.
  • It gives a structured and well-defined program to attract and produce new talent.
  • Opportunity to support the project and the community essential to the Linux ecosystem.

Advantages for the Linux Ecosystem

  • The sustainable and robust kernel community.
  • Improved security and quality of Linux releases.
  • Experts train the talented pool of prospective employees.

Eligibility Criteria

The following rules apply to all mentee applicants:

  • Age to a mentee should be at least 18 years old when the Linux Kernel Mentorship Program starts.
  • Not be a prior or active participant in another Linux Foundation mentorship program.
  • You can apply to up to three (3) mentorship programs in one term. The programs that a mentee withdraws during application time don't count towards this limit.
  • Be eligible to work in the nation and jurisdiction where you will participate in the mentorship program.
  • Not reside in a nation or jurisdiction where participation in the mentorship is restricted under applicable U.S. federal, state, or local laws or the laws of other nations.
  • Apply to participate on one's behalf as an individual.
  • Not be subject to existing obligations to third parties (such as contractual duties to an employer) that would limit or prohibit participation in the program.
  • Meet all criteria set by the program to which a mentee is applying, i.e., all prerequisites and requirements.
  • Not be a maintainer, regular contributor, etc., with more than minimal involvement with the open-source project that offers a mentorship program.

Apply to Linux Kernel Mentorship Program

1. To apply to a program, sign in to Mentorship. If you haven't made a profile yet, click on Become a Mentee navigation menu item.

 

2. Once you have a mentee profile, it will present you with projects that match your skills. Click Apply CTA on a mentorship card to apply. 

  • You can apply to up to three mentorship programs in one term. The programs you withdraw from don't count towards that limit.
  • You can reapply to mentorship programs if you were previously declined or withdrew your application.

 

3. You will get a confirmation message and a confirmation email stating that your application was received.

Stipend amounts

They use a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) calculation to determine the stipend. They start with a base amount of 6000 USD and then adjust it based on its PPP value. There is a minimum of 3000 USD and a maximum of 6600 USD stipend. The base amount considers many universities in urban centers, which can be more expensive than other parts of the country. It is 3000 USD for India.

Timeline for the Program

Linux Kernel Mentorship Program usually happens three times a year, so you can plan and apply accordingly,

  • Spring Term: 1st March - 31st May
  • Summer Term: 1st June - 31st August
  • Fall Term: 1st September - 30th November

 

Spring Term: 1st March - 31st May

  • Project applications open: 26th January - 1st February (1 week)
  • Mentees applications available: 2nd February - 13th February (2 weeks)
  • Application review by the mentors/admission decisions/HR paperwork: 15th February - 25th February

 

Mentorship duration - Three months (12 weeks - full-time schedule)

  • 1st March (Week 1): Mentorship program begins with the initial work assignments
  • 12th April (End of Week 6): Midterm mentee evaluations and first stipend payments
  • 31st May (End of Week 12): Final mentee evaluations and mentee feedback/blog submission due, second and final stipend payment approvals

 

Fall Term: 1st September - 31st November

  • mentorships available on LFX Mentorship: 15th August (by PT EOD)
  • applications open: 16th August - 22nd August
  • application review/admission decisions/HR paperwork: 23rd August - 31st August

 

Mentorship duration - three months (12 weeks - full-time schedule)

 

Summer Term: 1st June - 31st August

  • mentorships available on LFX Mentorship: 3rd May 
  • applications open: 3rd May - 17th May (3 weeks)
  • application review/admission decisions/HR paperwork: 17th May - 31st May

 

Mentorship duration - three months (12 weeks - full-time schedule)

FAQs

1. What is the Linux kernel mentorship program?

The Linux Kernel Mentorship Program offers aspiring developers a structured remote learning opportunity. Experienced Linux Kernel developers and maintainers mentor volunteer mentees and help them become contributors to the Linux Kernel.

2. What programming languages do participants need to know?

Various programming languages are used in projects, ranging from web front-end to back-end and Linux technologies. You could even code on hardware firmware and design hardware as a project. Here are a few popular languages: Java, Kotlin, Javascript, HTML, Python, C++, Shell Scripts.

3. What is the Mentee selection process?

Mentors are liable for selecting and matching mentees to their projects.

Mentee candidates must provide cover letters (Statement of Purpose) while applying, so mentors may review them. Mentors may also interview the candidates to understand their level of qualification before making the final decision.

Please note that you'll be requested to provide the Statement of Purpose letter after the mentor's selection. Please be patient.

4. What is Purchasing Power Parity(PPP)?

Purchasing Power Parity is a way to calculate the exchange rate between two currencies to determine equivalent purchasing power.

5. What to expect after getting selected?

Once you get selected for the program and complete your paperwork: mentors on your projects and

Key Takeaways

This article gives information about the Linux Kernel Mentorship Program. We also discussed the eligibility criteria and perks of the Linux Kernel Mentorship Program.

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