By Syed Ali Ul Hasan
I had already shared the story of my very first PR in an earlier blog (link here). That contribution was the spark that got me started in open source. Little did I know that it would be the first step on a journey that would eventually lead me to Google Summer of Code (GSoC).
When I look back to around a year ago, it all feels like a series of small steps that gradually built into something much bigger.
When the GSoC results were announced, I remember the mix of relief and achievement I felt that night. It was the start of our summer break, I only had a small internship lined up, and suddenly this opportunity changed everything. All those small contributions and learnings along the way had led me here.
I was selected under the Palisadoes Foundation, where my project focused on developing end-to-end (E2E) testing for both their Web and Mobile Applications, and automating unit test generation using an AI tool.
Community Bonding
The first few weeks the community bonding period were all about getting to know my mentors and fellow contributors, and setting up a clear roadmap for the upcoming weeks. This phase was extremely helpful in laying the foundation for the work ahead.
Work Till Mid-Term
After the bonding period ended, I got started on my mid-term milestones. Weekly meetings with my mentor, along with biweekly syncs with all contributors and mentors, kept the project on track. By mid-term, I had successfully met all the goals we had set.
Progress so far:
- Implemented the base for Cypress E2E testing on Talawa Admin Portal and wrote tests for different features. (PR #3988)
- Implemented the base for Flutter Integration Testing on the Talawa Mobile Portal. (PR #2873)
- Developed the CI/CD workflow for running Cypress tests using GitHub Actions. (PR #4060)
- Added code coverage feature for Cypress tests. (PR #4077)
Seeing these PRs come together into a working system was incredibly fun and rewarding.
Passing the mid-term evaluation felt like a milestone within this journey. It wasn’t just about submitting progress; it was about reflecting on how far I had come. The feedback from my mentors reassured me that I was on the right track and making solid progress.
Looking back from my very first PR to this milestone, the biggest takeaway for me has been growth not just in terms of code, but as a contributor and a learner.
What’s Next?
With the second half of GSoC ahead, my focus will be on:
- Adding more tests to both Admin and Mobile portals, increasing code coverage.
- Refining what I’ve already built, ensuring it’s robust and well-documented.
- Implementing Keploy’s PR Agent across repositories to automate unit test generation.
Beyond GSoC, I want to continue contributing to open source and supporting newcomers in the community. This journey has shown me that open source is not just about code it’s about building, learning, and growing together.
From a nervous beginner making a first PR to reaching the mid-term milestone at GSoC, this journey has been transformative and it’s only the beginning.