Welcome!

Rensselaer Center for Open Source

About this presentation

github.com/rcos/intro

Other presentations

Faculty Advisors

David Goldschmidt

Wes Turner

Spring 2018 Coordinators

Richie

Adrian

Ayushi

Alex

Spring 2018 Mentors

• Adeet Phanse
• Adrian Collado
• Alexander Schwarzberg
• Andy Wu
• Ayushi Mishra
• Benjamin Wolf
• Christine Tang
• Colin Atkinson
• Jacob Lane
• Jonathan Caicedo
• Jonathan Patsenker

• Kathleen Burkhardt
• Mark Robinson
• Matthew Mawby
• Mike Adams
• Richi Young
• Samad Farooqui
• Sidney Kochman
• Theo Rice
• Varun Rao
• Yuze Ma
• Zachary Wimer

What is RCOS?

RCOS is a creative, intellectual and entrepreneurial outlet for students to use the latest open-source software platforms to develop applications that solve societal problems.

(that's our mission statement)

RCOS is also a venue for open learning and student teaching, as well as exploring the world of open source.

RCOS is anarchy

(but for real)

What does RCOS do for you

• Unique open-ended learning experience
• Gain valuable resume boosters
• Huge community of skilled open source developers
• Opportunity to work on awesome projects
• Credit (0-4)

Wes Turner

Structure : Members

Structure : Members

Structure : Meetings

Small Groups

• Lead by a small group of mentors
• Typically about 20 people to a small group
• Attendance is taken (2 absences are excused)
• Mentor freedom!

Large Groups

• Lead by coordinators
• Guest speakers!
• Attendance is taken (2 absencse are allowed)
• One large group presentation per team
• New this semester: Lightning talks!

Casual Coding Sessions

• Open to all! (not just members)
• Come and work on whatever you want!
• (not just for coding!)
• (Every Wednesday at 4PM)
• Bring your friends!

Bonus Sessions

• Can take the place of a large group attendance
• Scheduled on a rolling basis
• (will be on the calendar)
• More focused workshops, talks on a specific topic
• Mostly student run, some external presenters
• Anyone can host one! Just ask us and we'll add it to the calendar!

Questions?

Getting started at RCOS

Observatory (rcos.io)

RCOS's homebrew project management system

Slack (rcos.slack.com)

RCOS's primary communication medium

0-credit SIS course

(CRN: 53081 CSCI 4963-01)

To reserve our rooms and get a roster

GitHub

Finding a project

Finding a team (optional)

• Pitch Day
• Post on Slack
• Talk to your mentor
• Project Speed Dating

Start learning git (try.github.io)

Getting Help

• #helpdesk
• Slack
• Mentors (Both internal and external)
• Coordinators
• Faculty Members

How to be successful (and get an A!)

Below are guidelines

• Contribute often
• Communicate and document!
• Tell us what you're up to (Blog often!)
• And be involved!
• Read the intro README and GRADING rubric for more details (see How to be Successful...)
• Full Grading Criteria Here

Goals for RCOS 2018

Collaborate more with other organizations

We will be working directly with MOSSN!

Offer alternative ways to learn and get involved

Not just coding and projects

Strengthen and expand our community

Get more contributions to external projects (projects created outside RCOS)

Have more student talks and bonus sessions!

Increase longevity of RCOS projects

What happens next?

Slide Template

What do you do now?

• Get on rcos.io, Slack and GitHub
• Sign up on SIS (CRN 53081 CSCI-4963-01)
• Find a project
• Email slides

Who do I talk to for <blank>?

Where are these slides

Thanks!

Let's have a great semester!!

Questions