Guide
Devprentice vs Google Summer of Code
Google Summer of Code is a paid, once-a-year program. Devprentice is free, doesn't pay stipends, and runs whenever a maintainer opens a program. How they differ, and when to use each.
Google Summer of Code is a paid program that runs once a year. Contributors apply in March with a written proposal, and mentoring organizations choose who they accept. Devprentice is free and doesn't fund programs or pay stipends. Programs run in public GitHub repositories whenever a maintainer opens one, and contributors join by invitation. You can do both: use Devprentice to get to know a project before GSoC, or to keep working with a mentor after it.
| Google Summer of Code | Devprentice | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Google, with mentoring organizations | The project's own maintainer |
| When | One cycle a year; applications in March; a standard 12-week coding period, extendable up to 22 weeks | Whenever a maintainer opens a program |
| Pay | A stipend, paid as you pass evaluations | Devprentice doesn't fund programs or pay stipends; any payment is arranged with the maintainer |
| Who can join | People 18 or older who are students or open-source beginners; accepted at most twice | Anyone with a GitHub account can ask; the maintainer decides whom to invite |
| How you get in | A written proposal, reviewed by the organization | Ask to join or get invited, then accept the program agreement |
| What you keep | Your merged work on GitHub | Your work on GitHub, plus a Contribution Record you choose whether to share |
When GSoC is the better fit
If you want a stipend and can commit to a summer of focused work, apply to GSoC. It is well known, the organizations taking part are listed publicly, and the evaluations give the work a clear structure.
When Devprentice is the better fit
- The GSoC application window has passed and you don't want to wait a year.
- The project you care about isn't a GSoC mentoring organization.
- You have already done GSoC and want to keep contributing with a mentor.
- You want to try contributing to a project before writing a proposal for it.
Using both
A Devprentice program gives you real context on a codebase and a maintainer who knows your work. Both help when you later write a proposal for that project. Devprentice is in a private pilot, so programs open after an administrator approves them. See how a program works for contributors.
Details about Google Summer of Code were checked against its official timeline and FAQ on October 21, 2026, and can change from year to year. Read the official GSoC FAQ.