As an Outreachy intern working on the Tor Browser project, I have reached the mid-point of my internship, and it's been a challenging and rewarding experience so far. For those who may not be familiar, Outreachy is a program that provides internships for underrepresented groups in technology, including women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
When I first applied for the program, I had no experience with open-source development and was nervous about my ability to contribute to such a high-profile project. However, with the support of my mentors, the Tor Browser community, the Outreachy Community Administrators (Omotola, Sage, and Anna), and the other Outreachy interns, I have been able to make meaningful contributions to the project, improve my technical skills, and Interpersonal skills.
My main project for the internship is to extend GetTor, a service that allows users to download the Tor Browser on censored networks over instant messaging and social media platforms. This involves working with a variety of technologies, including Golang, WhatsApp API, writing tests, and so on.
One of the biggest challenges I've faced so far is understanding the codebase and development process of the Tor Browser. As someone who is new to open-source development, it can be overwhelming to navigate a large and complex codebase. However, by asking questions and seeking help from my mentor and the community, I have been able to gain a better understanding of the project and make progress on my task.
Another challenge I've faced is dealing with the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with working on an open-source project. In a traditional work setting, there are often clear expectations and deadlines, but in open-source development, things can be more fluid. This can be frustrating at times, but it has also taught me the importance of communication, flexibility, and patience.
Despite these challenges, I have also had many positive experiences during my internship. One of the most rewarding aspects has been seeing my contributions merge into the main codebase and knowing that they will be used by real users to access the internet safely and anonymously.
Additionally, I have had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a diverse group of people from all over the world. The Tor Browser community is a welcoming and supportive group, and it has been a privilege to be a part of it.
As I move into the second half of my internship, I am looking forward to continuing my work on GetTor and exploring other areas of the project. I am also excited to continue learning and growing as a developer and open-source contributor. I would like to thank my mentor(Meskio) and the project manager(Gaba), the Tor Browser community, and the Outreachy program for giving me this opportunity and supporting me along the way.
In conclusion, My mid-point experience has been a challenging but rewarding one. I have faced many obstacles, but with the support of my mentors, and the Tor Browser community, I have been able to make meaningful contributions to the project and improve my technical skills. I am excited to see what the next half of my internship holds and I am looking forward to continuing my work on GetTor and exploring other areas of the project.
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