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Sprints

PyCon Africa Sprints


Application for Sprints are currently opened


What are Sprints?

Sprints are collaborative coding sessions where developers gather to work on open source projects together. They're an integral part of PyCon conferences worldwide, providing an opportunity for the Python community to contribute to projects they use and love.

During sprints, project maintainers and contributors work side-by-side with conference attendees to: - Fix bugs and implement new features - Improve documentation - Write tests - Review pull requests - Onboard new contributors - Share knowledge and best practices

Why Participate in Sprints?

For Contributors

  • Learn from experts: Work directly with project maintainers and experienced contributors
  • Give back: Contribute to the open source projects you use daily
  • Expand your skills: Learn new technologies, tools, and development practices
  • Network: Build lasting connections with fellow developers
  • Build your portfolio: Add meaningful contributions to your GitHub profile

For Project Maintainers

  • Accelerate development: Get help with features, bug fixes, and documentation
  • Grow your community: Onboard new contributors and expand your user base
  • Get fresh perspectives: Benefit from new ideas and approaches
  • Reduce maintenance burden: Distribute work across more contributors

Sprint Format

Duration: 2 days (typically following the main conference) Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day Format: In-person collaborative coding sessions Skill Level: All levels welcome - from beginners to experts

What to Expect

  • Morning kickoff: Project introductions and goal setting
  • Structured collaboration: Organized work sessions with mentorship
  • Regular check-ins: Progress updates and problem-solving sessions
  • Networking breaks: Coffee breaks and lunch for informal discussions
  • Wrap-up presentations: Showcase what was accomplished

How to Participate

As a Contributor

  1. Register: Sprint participation is included with your PyCon Africa ticket
  2. Choose projects: Browse available projects and select ones that interest you
  3. Prepare: Set up development environments beforehand when possible
  4. Bring: Laptop, charger, and enthusiasm to learn and contribute

As a Project Representative

We're actively seeking open source projects to participate in our sprints! If you maintain or represent a project, we'd love to have you join us.

Call for Sprint Projects

Applications are now open for PyCon Africa Sprints!

We're looking for open source projects that want to engage with the Python community and grow their contributor base. This is an excellent opportunity to accelerate your project's development while helping newcomers get involved in open source.

Project Selection Criteria

To ensure the best experience for all participants, we're looking for projects that meet the following criteria:

Essential Requirements

  • Open source project with an OSI-approved license
  • Python-based or highly relevant to the Python community
  • Active maintenance with recent commits and community engagement
  • Welcoming community that's inclusive and supportive of new contributors
  • Good documentation including README, contributing guidelines, and setup instructions

Preferred Characteristics

  • Community popularity (GitHub stars, PyPI downloads, community usage)
  • Well-defined scope for sprint tasks suitable for 1-2 day completion
  • Beginner-friendly issues and intermediate-level challenges
  • Clear contribution process with labeled issues and good first issues
  • Responsive maintainers who can provide guidance during sprints
  • Project stability with established user base or growing adoption

What We Provide

  • Venue: Fully equipped workspace with Wi-Fi, power, and presentation facilities
  • Promotion: Marketing your project to PyCon Africa attendees
  • Organization: Structured sprint format with facilitators
  • Community: Access to enthusiastic Python developers ready to contribute
  • Documentation: Sprint results and contributor recognition

What We Need from You

  • Physical presence: At least one project representative present in South Africa during sprints
  • Travel arrangements: Representatives handle their own travel and accommodation expenses
  • Preparation: Pre-sprint planning including issue preparation and documentation updates
  • Mentorship: Guide new contributors and provide technical leadership during sprints
  • Follow-up: Continued engagement with new contributors after the event

Sprint Project Benefits

  • Accelerated development: Significant progress on features, bug fixes, and documentation
  • Community growth: New contributors who continue engagement post-conference
  • Visibility: Exposure to the South African and broader Python community
  • Knowledge transfer: Fresh perspectives and ideas from diverse contributors
  • Networking: Connections with other project maintainers and developers

Application Process

Ready to get your project involved? We'd love to hear from you!

Apply now: https://forms.gle/A6KbaTohusQuddof7

Application Timeline

  • Applications open: Now
  • Application deadline: July, 31st
  • Project selection notification: August, 7th
  • Sprint preparation period: August, 7th - September, 3rd
  • PyCon Africa Sprints: October, 11th - October, 12h

Application Requirements

Your application should include: - Project description and current status - Links to repository, documentation, and community channels - List of potential sprint tasks and issues - Information about project representatives attending - Community metrics (stars, contributors, downloads, etc.) - Explanation of how the project benefits the Python community

Success Stories

Previous PyCon sprint projects have achieved remarkable results: - Major feature implementations completed in just two days - Critical bug fixes that had been pending for months - Comprehensive documentation overhauls - New contributors who became long-term maintainers - Cross-project collaborations that led to new integrations

Questions?

Have questions about participating in sprints or applying as a project? We're here to help!

PyCon Africa Sprints are made possible by our amazing volunteers and the generous support of our sponsors. Together, we're building a stronger, more inclusive Python community in South Africa and beyond.

Past Sprint Highlights

PyCon ZA Sprints Achievements Over past years

  • 15 open source projects participated
  • 200+ pull requests submitted
  • 50+ new contributors onboarded
  • 25+ bugs fixed (including bug bounties)
  • 10+ new features implemented

Sprint coordinators are not sponsored by the financial grant of PyCon Africa, we only sponsor normal attendees. That being said you can still apply to get through but you won't be taken into priority.

Join us in making this year's sprints even more impactful!