komolehin

Introduction

Greetings everyone! It's been an exciting journey over the past month as I delved into debian's biological and medical packages through my participation in Outreachy. In this blog post, I'll be sharing my progress, challenges, and the valuable lessons learned during this period.

Package Exploration

Since December 4, I have started exploring 30 different packages in the med-team. The primary goal was to perform quality assurance on these packages to ensure their reliability. This include understanding how they work, checking for the availability of upstream tests, understanding the type of data needed for packages that require data. This process demands time to research the packages, to read documentations, and to have a good idea of the languages used to build the packages (not in all cases).

Contributions Overview

Out of the 30 packages I have explored, I actively contributed to 15, with 10 successful uploads. These contributions spanned a range of activities, including bug fixes, writing tests, and submitting patches. Each contribution was a step towards enhancing the reliability and functionality of these packages, ensuring that they work as expected.

Challenges Faced

Not every attempt led to a successful contribution, and that's part of the learning process. Several challenges stood in the way, such as dealing with non-free packages, those lacking documentation, and those without upstream tests. While these presented obstacles, they also highlighted areas within the open-source community that need attention and improvement.

Technical Growth

One of the most rewarding aspects of this experience has been the substantial growth in my knowledge of C++ and bash scripting. This is because I worked on packages mostly built with C++ and I write tests using bash script. In the process, I gained a better understanding of C++ development and bash scripting.

Conclusion

As I reflect on the past month, I am grateful for the opportunity Outreachy has provided me and the guidance from my mentors. The journey of exploring, contributing, and overcoming challenges has been both enriching and fulfilling. I look forward to leveraging this experience in future contributions to the open-source community.

Thank you for joining me on this exciting ride! Stay tuned for more updates on my Outreachy journey.

Introduction

Hello, wonderful readers! I'm Komolehin Israel, from Nigeria and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to share a little about myself with you. As an Outreachy intern, I am passionate about making a positive impact through my work and contributing to the world of open source software.

My Core Values

Integrity

Integrity is the cornerstone of my character and a fundamental value that guides both my personal and professional life. I firmly believe that strong relationships are built on trust, transparency, and honesty. When individuals can rely on each other's integrity, it creates a foundation for meaningful relationships.

The beauty of reliability in relationships is truly remarkable. Being perceived as reliable and trustworthy is not just a personal achievement; it's a commitment to fostering a sense of security and finding people dependable. I take pride in being someone others can count on, and in turn, I appreciate and admire those who share the same commitment to reliability.

Curiosity

Curiosity is the spark that ignites my passion for learning and growth. I'm naturally curious about the world around me, and this extends to my approach to problem-solving. When faced with a challenge, for example in debugging or finding innovative solutions, I am drawn to understanding the diverse thought processes of my peers. I find joy in exploring alternative approaches and gaining insights into different perspectives. It enriches my problem-solving skills and being able to learn from others.

Patience

Patience is a virtue that I hold dear. It doesn't come easy to be honest, however, It's the quiet strength that allows me to witness gradual developments. I believe that great things take time. Patience allows me to development skillsets and approach problems with a calm and methodical mindset, ensuring that the journey is as important as the destination.

My Motivation for Outreachy

What motivated me to apply for Outreachy was the profound sense of purpose embedded in the program. The commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the tech industry resonated with me deeply. As someone passionate about contributing to open source projects, Outreachy provided the perfect platform for me to not only enhance my skills but also make a meaningful impact on projects that align with my values and I'm excited for the opportunity to intern with the project I so much desired.

In conclusion, I am excited to embark on this Outreachy journey, I'm glad about my growth and contributions so far and the journey ahead.

Thank you

Current Mood: excited

Debian, one of the most renowned open-source operating systems, has established itself as a versatile platform, catering to a myriad of user needs. Its stability makes it an ideal choice for diverse applications, including those in the medical field.

Within the Debian ecosystem, the Debian Med Team is a community-driven initiative dedicated to making Debian an optimal operating system for medical practice and research. This team engages in a range of activities, from packaging essential medical software for tasks like genome analysis and medical imaging and so much more to bug squashing and quality assurance.

The Debian Med Team welcomes volunteers of all skill levels. What matters most is the willingness to contribute and seek help when needed. While knowledge of programming languages like Bash, Python, C++, C, or Java is beneficial because many of the medical packages curated by the Debian Med Team are built with these languages, it's not mandatory. The team provides support and assistance to foster a collaborative environment.

In my role contributing to quality assurance (QA), I delve into researching packages, comprehending upstream tests, reading documentation, understanding datasets and licenses, and crafting tests in Bash. This approach ensures the reliability of the medical softwares integrated into Debian.

Joining the Debian Med Team is not just about coding proficiency; it's about a shared commitment to advancing open-source solutions for healthcare. Whether you're a developer, researcher, or enthusiast, the Debian Med Team invites you to contribute, learn, and collaborate, forging a path where open-source and healthcare seamlessly converge.

My journey as an intern with Debian med-team has been quite an interesting ride with challenges, breakthroughs and learnings. Here are some of the challenges I have had to deal with during my contributions so far.

Insufficient Documentation

To write tests for packages, it is important we understand how the package is used. One of the first challenges I encountered was dealing with packages that either had no documentation or documentation that felt like a secret code. Imagine trying to use a new gadget without a user manual—it's like that! Without it, its difficult to contribute to a package you don't understand how it works.

To deal with this, I check out the availability of online references to these packages to see if I can find any, and sometimes, there isn't. In situations as this, I move on to another package.

Missing Test Guides

Upstream test documentation can be like treasure maps—sometimes they're missing or not very helpful. I have had to put on my explorer hat and navigate through some packages, trying to make sense of how they work. It's like going on an adventure without a clear map, but that's where the excitement lies!

For example, while navigating a package to understand how to run its upstream test which wasn't documented, I discovered how to work with qmake, especially how I could use it to generate the build files needed to execute the test.

Understanding Biological Jargon

Next up, I have had to wrap my head around some terms like genome and fasta data. It felt like learning a new language. Genomes are like the blueprints of living things, and fasta data is like a special language that stores genetic info. But don't worry, I took it one term at a time, just like learning new words. However, I really do admit I haven't fully understood them yet, but I'm learning.

Handling Deprecated Features

Change is a life constant. I have had to deal with packages that used outdated features. It's like working with old tools when shiny new ones are available. But change is a part of life, and in tech, we've got to keep up with changes and upgrades.

Fear Of Asking "Silly" Questions

One of the toughest challenges was overcoming the fear of asking questions. I worried that my questions might sound silly, but guess what? They weren't! Everyone struggles, and asking questions is how we learn. So, I took a deep breath and started asking, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions, thanks to my mentors and the wonderful community.

Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Lastly, there's the elephant in the room: imposter syndrome. It's that feeling of inadequacy when comparing ourselves to experienced individuals. For me they were experienced maintainers, contributors, and mentors. I often found myself lost in discussions, amazed at their knowledge, and wondering, "How do you guys know all this?" It's crucial to remember that becoming an expert takes time. It's not about building a forest in a day. We're all on our unique journey, and it's okay not to know everything and I'm glad I am mindful of that.

Embracing The Process

In the end, these challenges won't be roadblocks; they are stepping stones. Every mystery I solved, every question I asked, and every moment of doubt I faced brings me closer to mastering the art of autopkgtest for med-team packages. So, to all fellow interns or contributors out there: embrace the process and adventure, face the challenges, and remember, everybody struggles.

Here's to the adventure,
Enjoy.

Current Mood: energetic

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Recent Entries

Outreachy Progress: Contributing to Debian's Biological and Medical Packages

Outreachy: My Journey Into OpenSource

Debian Med Team: Bridging Healthcare and Open Source

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