My Google Code-In Experience With Apertium
Hi guys! I am Maathavan Nithiyananthan, Grand Prize Winner of Apertium from Sri Lanka. I’m going to share an awesome Experience I got in a 50 days contest Google Code-In.
What is Google Code-In?
Google Code-in was a contest to introduce pre-university students (ages 13–17) to open source software development. The contest runs for seven weeks. Students have to choose an Organization which they are going to do task with. Students choose the task they find interesting from a list of thousands of available tasks made by the organizations. There are beginner tasks which can be easily finished also. This year is the 10th consecutive year of the Google Code-in.
How I came to know about Google Code-In
I was searching for Online contests I could participate. Some where I came to know about Google Summer of Code (GSoC) which is only for University students in around April 2019. So I thought I could participate in GSoC after entering the university. I had 4 years to join in university at that time. However I searched what is the contest for and what should we have to do in order to win the contest in the Wikipedia Page. But I ended up with finding Google Code-In in the Google template at the bottom of the Page.
What Inspired me
Until I started to participate in Google Code-In, the only thing I knew was, if I finish 3 tasks I will get a Google Code-in T-Shirt. That was my aim when I came to GCI. However after GCI started, when registering I saw the other exciting prizes, which I couldn’t even imagine of. I made my decision to give my best at the contest.
Selecting an Organization
In my experience, I could tell that the hardest part of the contest was selecting the organization. I’m damn sure that this will cause major impact on your Grand Prize Winner Title. You have to choose the organization that matches your skill and importantly your interest. If you select an organization which doesn’t suited you, don’t have to worry, Just find another organization. That wont be a problem. But you have to give your genuine interest in that organization. I was very confused when selecting the organization. At last, I’m ended with Apertium, a free and opensource machine translation system.
My Works for Apertium
First I was scared of Apertium. I was under high confusion as my First Task of Making Source Browser Headings Sticky at the bottom of the window. It was very hard to me as I was new to GitHub and had no idea what GitHub is. Later I figured out it and started to do my task. I just submitted and got need more work for around 6 times and for 5 days. I was scared of Apertium that time. But I didn’t give up. I did my task better and submitted it. I got approved. It was very exciting for me as my first task got approved. But someone in my organization finished 5 tasks and was on the Leaderboard. (I was curious to get in the Leaderboard) My first task wasn’t a beginner task. So I just felt doing a beginner task could be helpful and did the next 2 tasks as beginner tasks, Install Apertium and verify that it works and Adopt a Wiki page, and got approved shortly. That gave me a boost to do more task. I was also excited as I’m eligible for receiving a Google Code-In T-shirt.
Then I did few more tasks and Get into the Tamil Language module for the task Use apertium-init to bootstrap a new language module and add 250 words. It was a great experience working with that task and Popcorndude from Apertium organization helped me a lot in that task. I learned a lot of Apertium by doing that task. After, Made a Translation pair for Tamil and English for the task Use apertium-init to bootstrap a new language pair.
A task lasted long for 15 Days and I learned a lot about Web Developing the task, finish upgrade of apertium-html-tools to bootstrap 4. It was really cool experience working with Sushain Cherivirala, our Organization mentor and Grand Prize Winner in years of 2013 and 2014. He was really cool by the way.
And I did further 2 more tasks about the Apertium IRC Channel bot Begiak, add ability to make Begiak stop pestering you and Fix Apertium IRC Bot’s tests. These tasks helped to gain back my interest in Python. Wei2912 was so Friendly and Helped me alot doing these tasks.
I did a task, Design a logo for UD Annotatrix which is totally irrelevant to my skills, But I managed to Finish that Task by learning about designing. Andi Qu, Last year Grand Prize Winner was so helpful in that task.
What I gained from Google Code-In.
Google Code-in gave me a lot of learning experience in opensource development. I’m so thankful for google code-in. It gave me the opportunity to show the world my skills and make my parents proud. Furthermore, it gave me a lot of friends. Diogo, Scoopgracie, Daedalus, Intello and Mk20 were some friends I gained.
and a lot more I got contacts with mentors of the organizations. That’s really cool.
Secret of Winning Google Code-In
Endurance
Google Code-In is a Marathon. You have to run without stopping. If you stop anywhere Its hard to restore. So Learn without stopping and doing tasks.
Patience
You have to be patience until your task is get reviewed. usually its take up to 3 days to review a task. So submit your task with best quality and don’t forget review yourself before you submit your task.
Support from Parents
I suggest you to tell your parents what you are up to and get their support too.
Focus on One Organization
You need to Focus on one Organization which fits your skills and interest. So Select your organization wisely and give your best in that Organization.
Involve in the Organization community.
You should stay tuned with the organization public channel throughout the contest. It will help you to finish tasks and also increase your probability to win as mentors Decide the winners. furthermore help your fellow students also.
I think that’s enough to become the Grand Prize Winner I guess.
And Lastly
I have to say thanks to my parents who supported me whole the time during the contest. Actually they could have told me “Its waste of time, Go and Study”. But they encouraged me that You can win Focus on it. Thanks a lot for that. and My bro, Aathavan. he was little busy, but still he engouraged and helped me through the contest. My sisters, Pirashanthy and Mathumai. They always ask me about my task and cheer me up like I have sent a rocket to moon after ever task I finish. Without their support I couldn’t achieve Grand Prize Winner title, Thanks for my Siblings too.
My Friends always tell me, “Don’t worry dude you are going to be the Grand Prize Winner”. That gave me boost always. and my other friends also did not let me down. They had also Motivated me throughout the contest. Thank you guys.
and Apertium, My Organization mentors such as Firespeaker, Popcorndude, Sushain Cherivirala, Wei2912, Andi Qu, TinoDidrikson and Jonathan Pan. I feel like they have created a Different Person. I Learned a lot from them. They helped me in every stage, When I get stuck or when I could do more than work. I’m Always thankful for them.
At last my Fellow contestants. Thank you guys for helping me and encouraged me, especially Diogo, Scoopgracie, Intello, Mk20 and Daedalus.
