Google Summer of Code 2026 Is Here: Contribute to Kotlin

Ksenia Shneyveys

The Kotlin Foundation is joining Google Summer of Code (GSoC) 2026! If you are a student or an eligible contributor looking to spend your summer working on a real-world open-source project, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact on the Kotlin ecosystem while also benefiting from the mentorship of experienced engineers.

Why participate?

GSoC is one of the best-known programs for introducing new contributors to open-source development. By joining, you’ll work on a real project, get hands-on guidance from a dedicated mentor, earn a stipend, and come away with production experience. Last year’s contributors shipped work that is already being used by other developers, from a compiler-integrated Kotlin LSP to KMP support for Firebase AI. They wrote about how the program changed their perspective on open-source development – you can read their stories here.

This year’s projects:

• Kotlin Compiler Fuzzer (Kai) – Build a new, modular fuzzer for the Kotlin compiler from scratch. [Hard, 350 hrs]
• Swift-to-Kotlin interop (PoC) – Create a proof of concept for importing Swift APIs into Kotlin/Native. [Hard, 350 hrs]
• Tail call support in Kotlin/Wasm – Design and implement tail call support in the Kotlin/Wasm backend. [Medium, 90 hrs]
• Kotlin Education landscape report – Research and document how Kotlin is taught worldwide, creating reusable datasets and strategic input. [Medium, 175 hrs]

Browse all project details and contributor guidelines here.

Important dates:

• March 16 – Contributor application period opens
• March 31 – Application deadline
• April 30 – Accepted projects announced
• May 25 – Coding begins!

How to apply:

1. Explore the project ideas and pick one that interests you.
2. Join the #gsoc channel on Kotlin Slack to connect with mentors and ask questions.
3. Review the contributor guidelines and prepare a code sample.
4. Submit your application on the GSoC website by March 31.

Questions? You can reach us on Slack or gsoc@kotlinfoundation.org.

Not a student?

If you are an open-source maintainer or contributor but not eligible for GSoC, the Kotlin Ecosystem Mentorship Program may be for you. The current round is already underway, but we are likely to run another one – follow our announcements so you don’t miss it.

Join us this summer, we look forward to your proposals!

Subscribe to Kotlin Blog updates

Subscribe form

By submitting this form, I agree to the JetBrains Privacy Policy Notification icon

By submitting this form, I agree that JetBrains s.r.o. ("JetBrains") may use my name, email address, and location data to send me newsletters, including commercial communications, and to process my personal data for this purpose. I agree that JetBrains may process said data using third-party services for this purpose in accordance with the JetBrains Privacy Policy. I understand that I can revoke this consent at any time in my profile. In addition, an unsubscribe link is included in each email.

Submit

Thanks, we've got you!