[Python-Dev] Python Core Mentorship program

[Jesse Noller]

On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 8:03 AM, Jesse Noller <jnoller at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello everyone:
>
> I wanted to take a moment to outline another idea which came out of
> PyCon 2011 this year from numerous sources - a Python Core Mentorship
> Program predicated on the idea that Python-Core, and Python as a whole
> would be served by further lowering the barrier to entry of
> contribution, and to provide a program to connect new programmers,
> students, women, and others to experienced Python-Core developers
> (Mentors).
>
> Brett's revamp of the Dev guide was part one of "secret plan to get
> more people involved in python-core" - this is another part, but I'm
> not sure of the numbering scheme.
>
> The mission of the Python Core Mentor Program is to provide an open
> and welcoming place to connect students, programmers - and anyone
> interested in contributing to the Python-Core development. This
> project is based on the idea that the best way to welcome new people
> into any project is a venue which connects them to mentors who can
> assist in guiding them through the contribution process, including
> discussions on lists such as python-dev, and python-ideas, the bug
> tracker, mercurial, code reviews, etc.
>
> Additionally, mentors will assist in something incredibly critical to
> maintain contributor interest: getting patches through the process and
> actually *committed*. We all know - not everyone who is mentor will
> have all the answers, so mentors also act as conduits to others who
> will have the answer.
>
> The project itself will (hopefully) be low in time-spent, and largely
> self-managing. We will start simple with a mailing list
> (core-mentorship at python.org) where mentors, and those who wish to be
> mentored or ask questions may do so. This mailing list will have a
> code of conduct which will help prevent flame wars, or other
> counterproductive discussions - a code of conduct also makes it clear
> to mentors what they''re agreeing to when they decide to participate.
>
> The new list will also have a closed, members-only archive. After
> consulting with other core developers, we believe it's easier to ask
> questions when you don't have to worry about Google picking up your
> words from a public archive.
>
> We want to make this list a resource for people to be able to get
> started, ask "silly" questions, and so on - our goal is to turn anyone
> who wishes to be into an active, sustainable committer to Python.
>
> Mentors will be asked to answer questions - but also assist people in
> need of help with discussions on the mailing lists and bug tracker
> (conversations on which could have become contentious or stressful)
> and generally to be advocates for the people being mentored. For
> example - if a person submits a patch to the tracker, the mentor list
> may help them through initial code reviews, or discussions with other
> core developers. The job is to act as an experienced proxy for them.
>
> The first step to this project is to ask for volunteer mentors -
> people who are willing to help answer questions on the list, and
> generally guide people as needed being as friendly and courteous and
> welcoming as possible.
>
> If you are interested in being a mentor - or have feedback about this
> plan in general, please feel free to reach out to me
> (jnoller at gmail.com) directly. My goal, once this is setup, is to have
> the project largely self-managing, with the PSF helping to market it
> to the community as a whole.
>
> Jesse
>

And the mailing list is up and running for those of you interested in helping:

http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/core-mentorship

jesse