My Journey to Google Summer of Code 2026

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:00:00 +0530

Introduction

I’m Prajwal, and this is the story of my journey from a small village in Karnataka to being a Google Summer of Code contributor with the Apache Software Foundation. This is not a tale of overnight success, but one of struggle, perseverance, and the transformative power of open source. I hope my story can guide and inspire students who are on a similar path.

Humble Beginnings and a Spark of Interest

I come from a small village called Kuppinakeri in Karnataka. My parents are farmers, and I grew up in a humble environment. After scoring 86% in my 10th grade in 2020, I got into Morarji Desai PU college, a government institution that provided free education. This was my first time living in a hostel. My elder brother, Guru Prasanna, who works at Morgan Stanley, has been my guiding light. On his advice, I chose PCMCs (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science) over PCMB. It was here that my love for computer science, particularly C++, began to blossom, thanks to my supportive lecturer, Sanjay sir.

What is Open Source and Google Summer of Code?

Thu, 23 May 2024 14:00:00 +0530

After I shared my journey to GSoC, many aspiring students reached out with the same questions: What exactly is open source? What is GSoC? And how can I get started?

This post is for you. It’s the guide I wish I had when I was just starting out.

What is Open Source?

Imagine a chef has a secret recipe for a fantastic dish. In the normal world (called “closed source”), they keep that recipe locked away. You can buy the dish, but you can never see how it’s made.

Open Source on Prajwal's Blog

My Journey to Google Summer of Code 2026

Introduction

Humble Beginnings and a Spark of Interest

What is Open Source and Google Summer of Code?

What is Open Source?