Getting Started with GSoC

Everything you need to know to participate in Google Summer of Code 2026 with ProjectDiscovery

Getting Started with GSoC 2026

Ready to contribute to ProjectDiscovery through Google Summer of Code? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to apply and succeed.

What is Google Summer of Code?

Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a global program that connects new contributors with open source organizations. Contributors work on real-world projects under the guidance of experienced mentors and receive a stipend from Google upon successful completion.

Program Benefits

• 💰 Stipend: Receive payment from Google for your work
• 👨‍🏫 Mentorship: Learn from experienced security researchers
• 🎓 Experience: Gain real-world open source development experience
• 🌐 Network: Connect with the global security community
• 📜 Recognition: GSoC certificate and achievement on your resume

Learn more about GSoC on the official website.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in GSoC 2026, you must meet all of these criteria:

• Age: Be at least 18 years old when you register
• Status: Be either:
  • A student (enrolled in an accredited institution), OR
  • An open source beginner (someone with minimal open source experience - personal projects, class projects, or only a few PRs/issues)
• GSoC History: Not have been accepted as a GSoC Contributor more than once before
• Availability: Commit 175 or 350 hours over 12-14 weeks
• Work Authorization: Be eligible to work in your country of residence during the program
• Location: Not reside in a country currently embargoed by the United States (check GSoC rules)

Geographic Restrictions for 2026: GSoC 2026 is not accepting participants from Russia, Belarus, or the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (“DNR”) and Luhansk People’s Republic (“LNR”).

What qualifies as “open source beginner”? This includes people whose open source experience is limited to personal/class projects, projects used at a single institution, or opening a small number of issues or pull requests. See GSoC FAQ for details.

How to Participate: 6 Steps

1. Join the Community

Connect with ProjectDiscovery’s community on Discord:

Join Discord

Join our 20,000+ member community to connect with mentors and contributors

What to do:

• Introduce yourself in the #introductions channel
• Join the #gsoc channel for program-specific discussions
• Explore tool-specific channels (#nuclei, #httpx, #katana, etc.)

2. Explore ProjectDiscovery Tools

Get hands-on experience with our security tools:

Nuclei

Fast vulnerability scanner

httpx

Multi-purpose HTTP toolkit

Katana

Web crawling framework

All Tools

Browse all our tools

What to do:

• Install and try at least 2-3 tools
• Read the documentation
• Run examples and understand functionality
• Identify areas for improvement

3. Review Project Ideas

Browse available projects and find one that matches your interests and skills:

View Project Ideas

Browse 2026 project ideas across our tool ecosystem

What to do:

• Read all project descriptions carefully
• Consider your skills and interests
• Think about which project excites you most
• Consider proposing your own custom project

4. Make Initial Contributions

Start contributing to ProjectDiscovery projects before applying:

Critical: Contributors who make meaningful contributions before applying have significantly higher acceptance rates.

Where to start:

• Look for issues labeled good-first-issue or help-wanted
• Fix documentation typos or improve clarity
• Add test cases
• Fix bugs
• Improve error messages

Find issues:

• Nuclei Issues
• httpx Issues
• Katana Issues
• All ProjectDiscovery Repos

5. Draft Your Proposal

Write a detailed proposal following our guidelines:

Application Process

Detailed proposal guidelines

Proposal Template

Use our template

What to include:

• Clear project description
• Detailed week-by-week timeline
• Your qualifications and experience
• Prior contributions to ProjectDiscovery
• Testing and documentation plans

Timeline: Start your proposal at least 2-3 weeks before the deadline. Give yourself time to get feedback and iterate.

6. Submit Application

Submit your proposal through the official GSoC website:

Application Period: March 18 - April 1, 2026 (18:00 UTC)

GSoC Website

Submit your proposal on the official GSoC platform

Submission tips:

• Submit early - don’t wait until the last minute
• Double-check all links and formatting
• Proofread carefully
• Keep a copy of your proposal

Before You Apply

Prerequisites

To be successful in GSoC with ProjectDiscovery, you should have:

Required Skills:

• Programming experience (especially Go)
• Basic understanding of command-line tools
• Git and GitHub workflow knowledge
• Ability to read and write technical documentation
• Self-motivation and time management

Preferred Skills (depends on project):

• Security testing or vulnerability research experience
• Web development knowledge (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
• Database or networking concepts
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines

Don’t worry if you don’t have all preferred skills - GSoC is about learning! Focus on demonstrating your ability to learn and grow.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

Each tool has specific setup instructions:

1. Install Go: Most projects require Go 1.21+

   # Visit https://go.dev/doc/install
   

2. Fork and Clone Repository:

   # Example for Nuclei
   git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/nuclei.git
   cd nuclei
   

3. Follow Tool-Specific Docs:

   • Nuclei Development
   • httpx Development
   • Katana Development

Making Your First Contribution

Step-by-step:

1. Find a good first issue
2. Comment on the issue to claim it
3. Fork the repository
4. Create a branch for your changes
5. Make your changes with tests
6. Commit with a clear message
7. Push and create a pull request
8. Respond to code review feedback

Learn more about contributing →

Timeline for Success

Here’s a recommended timeline for applying:

When	What to Do
6-8 weeks before deadline	Join Discord, explore tools, start learning codebase
4-6 weeks before deadline	Make your first contributions, discuss project ideas with mentors
3-4 weeks before deadline	Draft your proposal, get feedback from mentors
2-3 weeks before deadline	Finalize proposal, continue contributing
1 week before deadline	Final review, submit proposal
Before deadline	Submit and relax!

Pro Tip: The most successful applicants start engaging with the community 6-8 weeks before the application deadline.

What Happens After You Apply?

Selection Process

1. April 1: Application deadline
2. April - May: Mentors review and score proposals
3. May 1: Accepted contributors announced
4. May 1-26: Community bonding period
5. May 27: Coding period begins!

If You’re Accepted

Congratulations! Next steps:

• Participate in community bonding activities
• Finalize your project plan with mentors
• Set up regular communication schedules
• Start contributing!

If You’re Not Accepted

Don’t be discouraged! You can:

• Continue contributing as a community member
• Work on your project independently
• Apply again next year
• Join other open source projects

Many of our core contributors started by not being accepted in GSoC but stayed involved in the community.

Tips for Success

Start Early

Begin engaging 6-8 weeks before the deadline. Early starters have higher success rates.

Contribute First

Make meaningful code contributions before applying. This demonstrates commitment and ability.

Communicate Well

Ask questions, provide updates, be responsive. Good communication is crucial for remote work.

Be Realistic

Propose achievable goals. It’s better to under-promise and over-deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need security experience?

No! While security knowledge helps, it’s not required. We’re looking for strong programmers who are eager to learn about security.

Q: Can I work on multiple projects?

No, you can only participate in one GSoC project per year across all organizations.

Q: Do I need to contribute before applying?

While not strictly required, contributors with prior meaningful contributions have significantly higher acceptance rates.

Q: Can I propose my own project?

Yes! Custom proposals are welcome, but discuss your idea with mentors first to ensure it aligns with ProjectDiscovery’s goals.

More FAQs →

Next Steps

Join Discord

Start here: introduce yourself

Browse Projects

Find a project you like

Read Application Guide

Learn how to apply

View Timeline

Important dates

Good luck with your application! We’re excited to work with you. 🚀