[Sugar-devel] GSoC 2020 Subscribers and Research

[James Cameron]

G'day,

In past 38 days we had 47 new subscriptions to the sugar-devel@
mailing list, an average of nine per week.

Each of them were sent a personal signed copy of "How to get started
as a Sugar Labs developer [v9]" or earlier.

For eight of these, guessing what was happening but wanting to be
sure, I asked "We have a chain of new arrivals and don't really know
what is happening to cause it.  Can you please tell me who told you to
subscribe?  Thanks!"

Three of these answered that they have subscribed in order to engage
with Google Summer of Code 2020.

In addition to new subscriptions, I've also received some personal
mail that follows a pattern;

> Hello James Cameron!

...

> I know you are incredibly busy these days and get a ton of emails
> but this will not take any more than 60 seconds to read.

or

> You must be quite busy these days but this will not take any more
> than 60 seconds

...

> I'm currently a student at ${EDU} pursuing ${SUBJECT}. I've
> experience in software development working with programming
> languages such as ${LANGUAGES}.  If required, I can further enhance
> my knowledge by learning new frameworks and languages.

or

> Brief about myself: I'm a freshman at ${EDU} pursuing ${SUBJECT}.I
> have my interest in ${PLATFORM} using technologies like
> ${LANGUAGES},${FRAMEWORKS},

...

> Basically, I want to contribute to Sugar Labs through its proposed
> GSoC project on "${TITLE}”. I need your advice on how I can learn
> new things, enhance my knowledge and contribute to open source to
> accomplish this project.

or

> Basically I wish to contribute to The Sugar Labs through its GSoC
> proposed project  "${TITLE}".  It would be a great opportunity for
> me to learn new things, enhance my knowledge and more importantly it
> would be awesome to see my contribution in such a popular technology.

...

> A small response from your side would make my day

or

> I totally understand if you're too busy to respond. Even a small
> response from your side will completely make my day.

...

> Best regards,
> ${NAME}

My point; radical transparency is really difficult sometimes.  Even
when you say you want to be contacted via the mailing list, you'll
still get private contacts from people who don't read that.

These private mails are not from subscribers, so I've sent them a copy
of "How to get started as a Sugar Labs developer [v9]".

-- 
James Cameron
http://quozl.netrek.org/