Zulip, a team chat application that leverages the threading model, offers a unique level of organization and user experience unmatched by any other apps. In Zulip, every message sent is preserved, making each conversation meaningful and enduring. Many Fortune 500 companies, open-source projects, startups, and other organizations utilize Zulip.
With an application of this magnitude, there's a multitude of high-priority features and issues waiting to be addressed. My Google summer of code project was dedicated to resolving a diverse range of critical challenges, aiming to create a substantial impact on Zulip.
During my time working on Zulip, I actively addressed a wide array of issues documented in our issue tracker, encompassing tasks such as feature addition, feature enhancements and bug fixes. My contributions included a substantial impact, with over 1,000 lines of code changes made. I'm proud to have made effective contributions that resolved 0.5% of the total issues in the tracker, with three of these issues being tagged as high priority, underscoring my ability to handle critical challenges.
Presently, the issue tracker contains approximately 1,700 issues, out of which about 280 are classified as of significant importance. This number underscores the dynamic nature of Zulip's growth, which continuously expands the landscape of tasks within the tracker. These ongoing issues present invaluable opportunities for contributors, like myself, to play an integral role in enhancing Zulip's functionality day by day.
Merged PRs
#25693 main_view: Use one styling for compose and unread banner.
#26873 scheduled_message: Indicate scheduled messages in conversation views.
#24768 compose_typeahead: Add new indicator to topic items in typeahead.
#26485 navbar_alerts: Improve "Complete the organization profile" banner.
#25173 dev_settings: Remove THUMBNAIL_IMAGES from dev_settings.
#26650 compose: Allow the user to direct message bots despite of policy.
#25981 unread_banner: Update all unread banners to an info/notice banner.
Opened PRs
#27213 compose_banner: Warn user about @ mentioning the addressee in 1:1 DMs.
#27480 alerts: Fix improper copied tooltip location in About Zulip Modal.
#24374 bots: Notify users when their account is modified.
#25561 ui_redesign: Apply blue links style to message view UI.
PRs opened and merged during community bonding period
#25580 unread_banner: Apply updated design to message feed banners.
#25470 bootstrap: Remove unused stylings for btn-info.
#25528 narrow_banner: Drop empty action line from empty dm-including: views.
#25481 user_setting: Update wording for "Mark messages as read on scroll”
#25480 popover: Allow message actions menu to support larger max-width.
During my participation in the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) program, I encountered unique challenges. While most participants smoothly progressed with their coding tasks, I faced a significant hurdle when I developed repetitive strain injury (RSI) and had to take a break.
Recovery was slow, and the injury had a profoundly negative impact on me. As time went on, maintaining clear and effective contact with my organization and mentor remained a significant challenge, resulting in somewhat disorganized progress and a slowdown in completing the assigned tasks. It was only after my organizer and mentor emphasized its importance that I fully recognized my need to improve in this area.
Through this journey, I learned the vital role of communication within a team setting. I wasn't the best communicator during this time, but I acknowledged my flaws and committed to improving and growing. In the last month of my participation in the Google Summer of Code program, I'm proud to have provided weekly updates on my work and progress, responding to messages and engaging in discussions within the Zulip community.
Despite the challenges I faced due to injury, I genuinely cherished the summer, as it provided me with invaluable experiences and skills that I believe I couldn't have acquired on my own. I'd like to express my deep gratitude to the Zulip community for this exceptional experience, with special appreciation for Sumanth V. Rao and @Lauryn Menard, who supported me during the most challenging times. They played an integral role in helping me overcome obstacles. I'm deeply grateful to Zulip and remain committed to making further contributions to this project. Thank you for such an incredible summer, Zulip.