Outreach Program for Women (OPW)

Welcome OPW applicants! The Linux Foundation is sponsoring internships for women to work on the Linux kernel. The kernel is the most basic layer of the Linux operating system. The kernel encompasses many things: hardware drivers, filesystems, security, task scheduling, and much more.

The official deadline for applying to OPW is May 1st. However, the kernel project joined late, so that deadline is flexible. Please fill our your [https://live.gnome.org/OutreachProgramForWomen#Application_Process initial application], and then update by May 17th with your initial patch. Applicants will be notified by May 27th if they have been accepted.

Participating kernel projects

Currently, we have three participating projects.

USB

The Linux kernel includes a USB stack that communicates with the hardware behind your USB ports (USB host controller drivers), and includes USB device drivers that talk to your USB devices (USB device drivers).

Interns would work on the USB 3.0 host controller driver. The Linux kernel USB 3.0 host driver works 10 times faster than USB 2.0 host driver. The USB 3.0 driver still needs a lot of work, so there are plenty of small bug fixes that interns can tackle. If time permits, interns could also work on small to medium features. USB 3.0 hardware will be provided to accepted interns if you don't have access to it.

Necessary skills: Experience in C or C++

Optional but learnable skills: Knowledge of operating systems, Linux, and USB

Mentor: Sarah Sharp. My email is sarah.a.sharp at intel.com. My #opw IRC handle is sarahsharp. You can also contact me via [https://www.twitter.com/sarahsharp twitter] or [https://plus.google.com/116960357493251979546/posts google plus]

Suggested reading for accepted interns: [http://lwn.net/Kernel/LDD3/ Linux Device Drivers] and [http://www.beyondlogic.org/usbnutshell/usb1.shtml USB in a Nutshell]

Ethernet

The Linux kernel ethernet drivers communicate with network hardware, to give you access to the Internet. Ethernet devices can be as simple as the 1 gigabit ethernet controllers in your laptop, to much faster ethernet controllers in servers.

Interns would work on the Intel 1 gigabit ethernet driver, igb. These devices are found in most Intel laptops, but hardware will be provided if you don't have access to it.

Necessary skills: Experience in C or C++

Optional but learnable skills: Knowledge of operating systems, Linux, and network protocols

Mentors: Carolyn Wyborny and Anjali Jain

x86 core

In the heart of the Linux kernel is code that runs directly on x86 processors. This includes early boot code, etc.

Necessary skills: Experience in C or C++

Optional but learnable skills: Knowledge of operating systems, Linux, and computer architecture

Mentors: Peter Waskiewicz Jr (PJ)

Yeah, that sounds cool!

If you're interested in our Linux kernel projects, please read the guide to [:OPWfirstpatch:sending your first patch].