User:Fhocutt

I'm Frances Hocutt. I trained as a chemist and materials scientist, like patterns and details, like working on tools, create supportive communities, am a hacker/maker/artist.

My constants:
 * It's always more complicated.
 * So what are we going to do about it?

Me, elsewhere:
 * Twitter: @franceshocutt
 * Website: www.franceshocutt.com
 * CV: www.franceshocutt.com/CV
 * My hackerspace: www.seattleattic.com
 * Ravelry: franceshocutt

I'm applying to the OPW internship project, this one in particular: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Mentorship_programs/Possible_projects#Evaluate_MediaWiki_web_API_client_libraries. I'm interested because it would be a way to improve Wikimedia's toolset and because it lines up with my skills and interests--I want to learn how APIs work, I want to learn to write good specs, and I want to see what a range of implementations of the same thing look like in different languages.

OPW looks like a wonderfully supportive program and like it offers a structure that will help me get this done well.

Evaluating MediaWiki web API client libraries

 * Public URL: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Evaluating_MediaWiki_web_API_client_libraries
 * Bugzilla report: (link to the related report at http://bugzilla.wikimedia.org )
 * Announcement: (link to the announcement of your proposal at the wikitech-l mailing list).

Name and contact information

 * Name: Frances Hocutt
 * Email: franceshocutt@gmail.com
 * IRC or IM networks/handle(s): fhocutt
 * Web Page / Blog / Microblog / Portfolio: http://franceshocutt.com / http://twitter.com/franceshocutt
 * Resume (optional): http://franceshocutt.com/cv/
 * Location: Seattle, WA, USA
 * Typical working hours: anywhere between 1 pm and 2 am Pacific time.

Synopsis

 * Possible mentors: Sumana Harihareswara

Deliverables
Please describe the details and the timeline of the work you plan to accomplish on the project you are most interested in (discuss these first with the mentor of the project):

About you

 * Education completed or in progress:


 * University of Washington MS, Chemistry, 2012 – April 2014 (intended graduation date).
 * University of Washington MS, Materials Science and Engineering, 2010 – 2012.
 * Harvey Mudd College BS with distinction, Chemistry, 2003 – 2007.


 * How did you hear about this program?

I first heard about the OPW through Twitter—@callbackwomen and a handful of other friends who focus on women in tech. I wasn't convinced that it would be a good fit for me until Sumana Harihareswara reached out to me with encouragement and a few project suggestions. I realized that this project would be a good fit for my skills and goals, and was excited to get the chance to work with Sumana.


 * Will you have any other time commitments, such as school work, another job, planned vacation, etc., during the duration of the program?

I will be attending OSBridge June 24–27 and volunteering there. I will definitely be traveling June 19–22; I may leave as early as June 15.


 * We advise all candidates eligible to Google Summer of Code and FOSS Outreach Program for Women to apply for both programs. Are you planning to apply to both programs and, if so, with what organization(s)?

I plan to graduate at the end of the Winter 2014 quarter, so I do not expect to be eligible for Google Summer of Code.

I've used wikis in the past (including Wikipedia!) and found them incredibly useful tools. I appreciate tools, no matter what the discipline. I make tools, I share them, I optimize them, and I teach other people how to use them. This project would allow me to do this. MediaWiki is a great tool, and I would make it easier for users and maintainers to access the data in these wikis and use it for their own purposes.

Past experience

 * Please describe your experience with any other FOSS projects as a user and as a contributor:


 * Please describe any relevant projects that you have worked on previously and what knowledge you gained from working on them (include links):


 * What project(s) are you interested in (these can be in the same or different organizations)?