An Undergraduate Course for FOSS and with FOSS

Abstract

Many universities have incorporated free and open-source software (FOSS) into undergraduate courses, though few research efforts have specifically investigated the interactions between undergraduates and real-world FOSS projects. In this paper, we present our experience of participating in the development of real-world FOSS projects, dealing with the challenges caused by COVID-19, and the feasibility of remote education with FOSS only. Our experience shows that undergraduates and FOSS projects can help each other well. Moreover, we summarize the strengths and weaknesses of the existing FOSS communities in attracting undergraduates and provide some suggestions.