Frequently Asked Questions

  • I am interested in Chapel as a Google Summer of Code student, where do I start?
    • See the Steps to Apply section. It should point you to all the places you need to go for getting started.
  • When are peak hours for the IRC channel, #chapel-developers?
    • The core Chapel developers are primarily located in the US, so your chances of finding a developer on the channel are highest during weekday work hours of Pacific through Eastern timezones. This is approximately 06:00 - 18:00 Pacific Time.
  • I want to start working on the compiler! Where do I start?
    • Slow down young grasshopper. Before you run, you must first learn to walk. First, see the Learning Chapel page. As you learn the language, you can start looking for ways to contribute on the Contributing page
  • I’ve read the documentation on platform support and can’t find Windows anywhere.
    • At this stage in Chapel’s development, Windows is not supported natively. If you are Windows enthusiast interested in changing this, the Improve Windows support in Chapel Compatibility project may be for you. Windows users can still use Chapel through Cygwin or a VM of their favorite linux distribution.
  • How many students will Chapel be accepting this summer?
    • The number of students we are able to accept is not yet known at this point. As a first year organization, we expect to take no more than half the number of mentors.
  • Which projects are highest priority?
    • All projects are roughly at the same level of priority. Project priority will not be a factor in the proposal evaluation process. Students will not be at a disadvantage for proposing a project that is not listed on the Project List, but they should discuss the idea with developers before pursuing it as their project proposal.

  • What factors should be taken into consideration when choosing projects?

    • Some projects receive higher interest from students than others, meaning there may be greater competition for some projects over others. You can get an idea of the interest for given project by browsing the mailing list, hanging out in the IRC channel, or just asking one of the mentors.
    • No mentor will be able to take more than one student. This may affect the projects we are able to accept.
    • With these previous caveats in mind, the primary motivating factor in deciding what you work on should be your interest in the project.