Sugar Spotlight: A talk with Anindya Kundu

Sugar Spotlight: A Talk with Anindya Kundu

Introduction

In this session, titled "Sugar Spotlight: A Talk with Anindya Kundu," Devon Olari, the Executive Director of Sugar Labs, engages with Anindya Kundu. Anindya, who started contributing to Sugar Labs in 2020, transitioned from a contributor to a mentor. The conversation delves into Anindya's journey within Sugar Labs, his contributions to the Music Blocks project, his experiences mentoring for Google Summer of Code, and his professional life.

Getting Involved with Sugar Labs

Anindya began his journey with Sugar Labs in 2020 when an internship opportunity in Japan was canceled due to global events. Upon exploring options for productive use of his summer, he came across Google Summer of Code (GSoC) and was referred to Sugar Labs by a friend. After exploring the Sugar Labs website and the Music Blocks project, he felt an affinity for the platform's educational mission. Despite his limited music background, he dove into the project, contributing by fixing bugs and making improvements.

Learning and Contributing

Anindya's curiosity about Music Blocks led to a self-taught journey where he learned the basics of music theory, including pitches and notes, by exploring and experimenting with the platform. His initial engagement involved setting up the Music Blocks on his local machine, understanding its functionality, and contributing small patches. This hands-on, exploratory approach resonated deeply with him, aligning with his childhood familiarity with logo programming.

Expectations and Experience with Google Summer of Code

Before participating in GSoC, Anindya conducted thorough research to understand the program's scope and expectations. He discovered that the program required substantial self-driven work on projects proposed by open-source organizations, supported by mentorship. His expectations were based on completing a significant project over the summer with periodic guidance from mentors. The reality exceeded his expectations, as he received substantial mentorship, especially from Walter Bender and Devon Olari, which was crucial for navigating technical challenges and refining his project.

Demonstration of the JavaScript Export Feature

Anindya demonstrated the feature he developed during GSoC 2020. The primary objective was to enable users to export Music Blocks programs to JavaScript code. This feature facilitates a transition from visual block-based programming to conventional text-based programming. An editor was implemented within Music Blocks to allow users to write JavaScript code using a newly created API, and programs written in Music Blocks could be transpiled to equivalent JavaScript code.

Challenges and Problem Solving

Developing the JavaScript export feature posed several challenges, particularly the monolithic nature of the existing codebase. Anindya's approach included regular consultation with mentors and iterative problem-solving. He highlighted the importance of breaking down complex problems into manageable parts, focusing on modularity and robustness in code.

Initiating Music Blocks Version 4

Post-GSoC, Anindya took the initiative to commence a significant rewrite of Music Blocks, termed "Version 4". The aim was to leverage modern technologies, making the project modular, maintainable, and scalable. The new version uses npm, TypeScript, React, and other up-to-date tools, significantly differing from the vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript foundation of the earlier version. Anindya shared insights into the ongoing development and future vision of Version 4, including the upcoming features like enhanced graphical representation and concurrency handling for music.

Learnings and Experiences

Anindya reflected on his growth from a school-level programmer to a project maintainer, attributing it to the diverse experiences and challenges faced during his journey. His story underscores the value of iterative learning, community involvement, and the transition from academic programming to real-world software development.

Professional Life and Future Plans

Outside Sugar Labs, Anindya works as a software engineer at Sorcero, an AI platform for life sciences, and is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia Tech. Balancing professional work, education, and community contributions, he remains an active member of Sugar Labs, mentoring new contributors and advancing the Music Blocks project.

Advice for Aspiring Contributors

Anindya advises prospective GSoC contributors to research thoroughly, start early, and actively engage with target organizations. Understanding the projects, contributing to issues, and getting involved in community discussions are crucial steps. He emphasizes the importance of starting small, solving manageable problems, and gradually taking on more complex tasks.

Conclusion

The session concludes with a call to action for potential contributors to visit the Sugar Labs website, explore the projects, and consider donating to support their ongoing efforts.

Keywords

• Google Summer of Code
• Sugar Labs
• Music Blocks
• Visual Programming
• JavaScript Export
• Mentorship
• Version 4
• Community Contribution
• Educational Software
• Open Source

FAQ

Q1: What is Google Summer of Code? A1: Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a program sponsored by Google that offers stipends to university students and others to work on open-source software projects during the summer.

Q2: How did Anindya Kundu get involved with Sugar Labs? A2: Anindya got involved with Sugar Labs in 2020 through Google Summer of Code, initially contributed by fixing bugs and developing features for the Music Blocks project.

Q3: What feature did Anindya develop during GSoC 2020? A3: Anindya developed a JavaScript export feature for Music Blocks, allowing users to generate JavaScript code from Music Blocks programs, facilitating a transition to conventional text-based programming.

Q4: What challenges did Anindya face during his project, and how did he overcome them? A4: Anindya faced challenges related to the monolithic codebase and technical implementation. He overcame these by regular mentoring sessions, iterative problem-solving, and focusing on modularity and robustness.

Q5: What is Music Blocks Version 4? A5: Music Blocks Version 4 is a significant rewrite of the original project using modern technologies like npm, TypeScript, and React to make it more modular, maintainable, and scalable.

Q6: What advice does Anindya have for aspiring GSoC contributors? A6: Anindya advises doing thorough research, starting early, engaging with the community, contributing to issues, and gradually tackling more complex problems. He emphasizes the importance of learning by doing and iterative problem-solving.