Contact Information
Name: Armins Stepanjans
Email address: armins.bagrats@gmail.com
Phone no: +371 29231702
About Me:
I have been leading development of an open-source underwater robot for the past 2 years(link to the Github page) written in Python and Arduino language. I am in my senior year of high school, where I am taking two CS classes (besides other subjects) — Java based and Python based. I have been accepted to a CS program in a university, where I'll begin my studies next academic year. I want to study computer science, because I find it fascinating how much a programmer can do just with a mind and a computer.
When programming my main source of motivation is interest in learning new concepts and possibility to accomplish amazing things. I've found the most effective organization tool to simply be a detailed "To Do" list written using pen and paper. I stay focused by creating an environment, which facilitates state of flow through minimizing multitasking and distractions.
Why Fedora Project?
I want to work with Fedora Project, because I have been using the desktop version for long time, but I have had hard time figuring out how to begin contributing to the community. Therefore, I see this as an opportunity to give back to the community that has given me a lot. After GSoC I would like to further work on Directory Services and I see work on administrative tools for 389 Directory Server as a spring board for my further work on Fedora Project.
Why 389 Directory Server?
I am interested in developing the Python administration tools for 389 Directory Server. As I understand the goal of the project is to update the rewriting software coordinating overall work of Directory Server to Python language. Therefore, the end deliverable of the project being Administration Tools of 389 Directory Server written in Python. Regarding my related experience to this project I am currently leading development of an underwater robot, for which majority of the software is written in Python, I have also contributed to Histogrammar Python library and have done an internship in web development company, where I refactored RSpec unit tests. I have worked on personal projects involving LAMP server, but I don't have much networking experience beyond that. From this project I want to learn how to effectively code as part of a team, how to work with large quantities of data and how to deal with legacy code as well as improve my understanding of networking.
Why Me?
By choosing me for this project, you will gain a dedicated partner to further development of Directory Server and Fedora Project in general. While I do realize that I might be considered 'fresh' in terms of experience in this field, I have substantial experience programming in as part of a team by programming as part of an underwater robotics team and refactoring code in an internship, I work well with projected deadlines, whether it is a school Computer Science class assignment or a team project and, most importantly, I am highly motivated to learn and work hard to effectively contribute to the team.
Personal Plans:
At the beginning of the May I have exams and on the second week of May I will be visiting CERN laboratory, however during the rest of May I will be able to actively collaborate on the project and in during the summer months I plan to work on this project for 8 hours per day, five days a week.