> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://projectdiscovery-feat-gsoc.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# GSoC 2026 Timeline

> Important dates and milestones for Google Summer of Code 2026

# GSoC 2026 Timeline

Stay on track with all important dates and deadlines for Google Summer of Code 2026. All times are in UTC.

<Note>
  For the official GSoC timeline, visit the [GSoC website](https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/). Dates listed here are based on the standard GSoC schedule.
</Note>

## Complete Timeline

| Date                       | Milestone                  | Description                                                        |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **February 19, 2026**      | Organizations Announced    | Google announces accepted organizations including ProjectDiscovery |
| **February 19 - March 15** | Pre-Application Period     | Join Discord, explore tools, make contributions, discuss ideas     |
| **March 16, 2026**         | Applications Open          | Contributor application period begins                              |
| **March 31, 18:00 UTC**    | ⚠️ Application Deadline    | **Final deadline for proposal submissions**                        |
| **April - April 21**       | Review Period              | Mentors review and score proposals                                 |
| **April 30, 18:00 UTC**    | Contributors Announced     | Accepted contributors announced on GSoC website                    |
| **May 1-24, 2026**         | Community Bonding          | Get to know mentors, finalize project plans, setup environment     |
| **May 25, 2026**           | Coding Begins              | Official start of coding period                                    |
| **July 6-10, 2026**        | Midterm Evaluation         | Progress assessment (Deadline: July 10, 18:00 UTC)                 |
| **August 17-24, 2026**     | Final Submission           | Contributors submit final work (Deadline: August 24, 18:00 UTC)    |
| **August 24-31, 2026**     | Final Evaluation           | Mentors complete evaluations (Deadline: August 31, 18:00 UTC)      |
| **August 24 - November 2** | Extended Timeline          | Extended timeline projects continue                                |
| **November 2, 18:00 UTC**  | Extended Projects Deadline | Final submission for extended projects                             |

## Key Deadlines

<Warning>
  **Critical Deadlines** - Don't miss these!
</Warning>

### Application Deadline

**March 31, 2026 at 18:00 UTC**

This is a hard deadline. Late submissions are **not accepted**. Submit early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

### Midterm Evaluation

**July 10, 2026 at 18:00 UTC**

Mentors evaluate your progress at the midpoint. You must demonstrate meaningful progress (typically 40-50% of project completion) to pass.

### Final Evaluation

**August 31, 2026 at 18:00 UTC**

Final assessment of your completed project. Must meet all core deliverables to pass.

## Phase Breakdown

### Pre-Application Phase (Feb 19 - March 15)

**Your Goals**:

* Join the ProjectDiscovery Discord community
* Explore our tools and documentation
* Make initial contributions to build familiarity
* Identify projects that interest you
* Discuss ideas with mentors

**Recommended Activities**:

* Install and try 2-3 ProjectDiscovery tools
* Fix "good first issues" on GitHub
* Participate in Discord discussions
* Ask questions and learn about the codebase
* Start drafting your proposal

<Tip>
  **Pro Tip**: Contributors who start engaging 6-8 weeks before the deadline have much higher acceptance rates.
</Tip>

### Application Phase (March 16 - March 31)

**Your Goals**:

* Finalize your proposal
* Get feedback from mentors
* Submit via GSoC website
* Continue making contributions

**Timeline**:

* **March 16**: Applications open - submit your first draft
* **March 18-28**: Get feedback and iterate on your proposal
* **March 29-30**: Final review and polish
* **March 31**: Submit final version (don't wait until the last hour!)

<Warning>
  Submit at least 24 hours before the deadline to account for potential technical issues.
</Warning>

### Selection Phase (April - April 30)

**What Happens**:

* Mentors review all proposals using evaluation criteria
* Proposals are scored and ranked
* Project teams discuss and select top candidates
* Google allocates slots to organizations
* Final selections are made

**Your Role**:

* Wait patiently (we know it's hard!)
* Continue contributing to ProjectDiscovery
* Be available for any follow-up questions
* Check your email and GSoC dashboard regularly

**Results**: April 30, 2026

### Community Bonding (May 1-24)

**Your Goals**:

* Get to know your mentors
* Finalize project implementation plan
* Set up development environment
* Establish communication routines
* Start familiarizing with code

**Expected Activities**:

* Welcome meeting with mentors
* Detailed project planning
* Setup development tools and access
* Read relevant code and documentation
* Create detailed week-by-week schedule
* Establish check-in routine (Discord, meetings)

<Note>
  This period is **not** for coding the main project. Use it to prepare so you can hit the ground running on May 25.
</Note>

### Coding Period (May 25 - August 24)

**Your Goals**:

* Implement your project according to the timeline
* Communicate regularly with mentors
* Submit quality code with tests
* Document your work
* Pass midterm and final evaluations

**Weekly Expectations**:

* Work 12-15 hours/week (175h projects) or 25-30 hours/week (350h projects)
* At least 2 check-ins with mentors per week
* Regular commits and pull requests
* Progress updates in Discord
* Respond to code review feedback

**Milestone Schedule**:

| Week  | Focus                                 |
| ----- | ------------------------------------- |
| 1-2   | Core foundation, basic implementation |
| 3-5   | Main feature development              |
| 6-7   | **Midterm: 40-50% complete**          |
| 8-10  | Complete remaining features           |
| 11-12 | Testing, documentation, polish        |
| 13    | **Final evaluation**                  |

### Midterm Evaluation (July 6-10)

**What's Evaluated**:

* Progress on project milestones
* Code quality and testing
* Communication with mentors
* Adherence to timeline
* Problem-solving approach

**To Pass**:

* Complete 40-50% of project goals
* Demonstrate consistent communication
* Show problem-solving ability
* Have working code (even if incomplete)

<Tip>
  **Success Strategy**: Stay ahead of schedule. Aim for 50-60% completion by midterm to have buffer for unexpected issues.
</Tip>

### Final Evaluation (August 24-31)

**What's Evaluated**:

* Completion of project deliverables
* Code quality, tests, and documentation
* Overall contribution quality
* Communication throughout program
* Integration with existing codebase

**To Pass**:

* Complete all core deliverables
* Comprehensive testing
* Full documentation
* Clean, maintainable code
* Responsive to feedback

### Post-GSoC (September onwards)

**After the program**:

* Receive certificate and recognition from Google
* Continue contributing to ProjectDiscovery
* Maintain and improve your project
* Help future contributors
* Join our community as a mentor

Many GSoC contributors become long-term maintainers!

## Recommended Applicant Timeline

For best results, follow this personal timeline:

### 6-8 Weeks Before Deadline

* ✅ Join Discord and introduce yourself
* ✅ Install and try ProjectDiscovery tools
* ✅ Read tool documentation
* ✅ Make first contribution (documentation or small bug fix)

### 4-6 Weeks Before Deadline

* ✅ Make 2-3 more meaningful contributions
* ✅ Discuss project ideas with mentors on Discord
* ✅ Start drafting proposal outline
* ✅ Deep dive into relevant codebase

### 3-4 Weeks Before Deadline

* ✅ Complete draft proposal
* ✅ Share draft with mentors for feedback
* ✅ Continue making contributions
* ✅ Refine understanding of project scope

### 2-3 Weeks Before Deadline

* ✅ Incorporate mentor feedback
* ✅ Finalize technical approach
* ✅ Polish proposal formatting
* ✅ Add specific implementation details

### 1 Week Before Deadline

* ✅ Final review and proofreading
* ✅ Submit proposal early
* ✅ Double-check all requirements
* ✅ Confirm submission was successful

## Communication Expectations

### During Application Period

* Response time from mentors: 24-48 hours
* Best channel: Discord #gsoc channel
* Mentor availability: Most active during UTC business hours

### During Coding Period

* Check-ins: Minimum 2x per week
* Response time: 24 hours for blocking issues
* Weekly progress updates expected
* Immediate notification of any delays

## Time Zone Considerations

<Warning>
  All GSoC deadlines are in **UTC timezone**. Convert to your local time to avoid missing deadlines!
</Warning>

**Example: March 31, 18:00 UTC**

* US Pacific (PST/PDT): 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM
* US Eastern (EST/EDT): 1:00 PM / 2:00 PM
* India (IST): 11:30 PM
* Europe (CET/CEST): 7:00 PM / 8:00 PM

Use a [time zone converter](https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html) to check your local time.

## Questions About Timeline?

* Check our [FAQ](/opensource/gsoc/2026/faq)
* Ask in [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/projectdiscovery) #gsoc channel
* Review [official GSoC timeline](https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/)

Stay organized and good luck! 📅