TL;DR — LFX Mentorship runs year-round with three 12-week cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall). You work on Linux Foundation projects like Kubernetes, Prometheus, Envoy, and more. Stipends range from 6,600 depending on your country.
What is LFX Mentorship?
The Linux Foundation Mentorship program (hosted on the LFX platform) connects developers with cloud-native and infrastructure open-source projects. Unlike GSoC which runs once a year, LFX has multiple cohorts throughout the year, giving you more chances to get in. Projects span the CNCF (Cloud Native Computing Foundation) ecosystem and beyond:- Kubernetes, Istio, Envoy Proxy
- Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry
- Argo, Flux, Helm
- Linux Kernel, RISC-V, Zephyr RTOS
- And many more LF-hosted projects
Who Can Apply?
You’re eligible if you:- Are 18 years or older by the program start date
- Are eligible to work in your country of residence
- Have not been a prior or currently active participant in another LFX mentorship program
- Are not a maintainer or recurring contributor to the project you’re applying for
- Can commit to the program’s time requirements without conflicting obligations
Program Structure
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 weeks per cohort |
| Cohorts per year | 3 (Spring, Summer, Fall) |
| Format | Fully remote |
| Time commitment | ~20–30 hours/week |
| Mentorship | 1-on-1 with project maintainers |
| Outcome | Real merged contributions to major projects |
Typical Annual Schedule
| Term | Application Window | Coding Period |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Term 1) | January – February | March – May |
| Summer (Term 2) | April – May | June – August |
| Fall (Term 3) | August – September | September – November |
Stipends
Stipends are calculated using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) based on your country of residence. The base amount is $6,000 USD.| Range | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum | $3,000 USD |
| Base (USA) | $6,000 USD |
| Maximum | $6,600 USD |
International wire transfers can take up to 6 weeks to reach your account after approval.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
1. Create Your Profile
Sign up on the LFX platform
Go to mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org and create an account or sign in with your existing Linux Foundation ID.
2. Find a Program
Browse available mentorships
Click on Mentorships and filter by the Accepting Applications tab to see currently open programs.
Research the project
Read the project description, required skills, and expected deliverables carefully. Check the project’s GitHub repo.
3. Submit Your Application
Click Apply
On your chosen program’s page, click Apply. Review the program details and select your desired term.
Write your cover letter
Explain why you’re interested, what relevant experience you have, and how you plan to approach the project.
Fulfill prerequisites
Some programs require completing specific tasks — coding challenges, documentation reviews, or small contributions.
What Makes a Strong Application?
- Prior contributions to the project — Even a small bugfix or doc improvement shows commitment
- Relevant technical skills — If the project is in Go, show Go experience in your profile
- Clear motivation — Why this specific project? What do you hope to learn?
- Realistic availability — Be honest about your time commitments
- Strong GitHub profile — Active contributions, clean code, good commit messages
Why LFX Over GSoC?
| Factor | LFX | GSoC |
|---|---|---|
| Cohorts per year | 3 | 1 |
| Focus area | Cloud-native / infrastructure | Broad (any open-source) |
| Organizations | Linux Foundation ecosystem | 185+ diverse orgs |
| Max applications | 3 per term | 3 total |
| Stipend range | 6,600 | 6,600 |
| Recognition | LF certificate + networking | Google certificate |
After Acceptance
- Onboarding: Set up development environment, get access to project repos and communication channels
- Weekly check-ins: Regular meetings with your mentor to discuss progress
- Mid-program evaluation: Mentor evaluates your progress — passing triggers the first stipend payment
- Final evaluation: Submit your final work — passing triggers the second stipend payment
- Expensify report: Submit an expense report through Expensify to receive your stipend
Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| LFX Mentorship Portal | mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org |
| Mentee Guide | docs.linuxfoundation.org/lfx/mentorship/mentee-guide |
| Program Timelines | docs.linuxfoundation.org/lfx/mentorship/mentorship-program-timelines |
| Stipend Details | docs.linuxfoundation.org/lfx/mentorship/mentee-stipends |
| How to Apply | docs.linuxfoundation.org/lfx/mentorship/mentees/apply-to-a-project |
| 265+ Accepted Proposals (GSoC, LFX, SoB) | github.com/devweekends/open-source-proposals |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I already did GSoC?
Can I apply if I already did GSoC?
Yes. LFX and GSoC are completely separate programs. Having done GSoC does not disqualify you.
Can I apply to multiple LFX programs?
Can I apply to multiple LFX programs?
Yes, up to 3 per term. But you can only participate in one at a time.
Do I need Kubernetes experience for all projects?
Do I need Kubernetes experience for all projects?
No. While many projects are in the CNCF ecosystem, there are projects in various domains including documentation, security, and developer tooling. Check each project’s requirements individually.
What happens if my mentor is unresponsive?
What happens if my mentor is unresponsive?
Contact the LFX program administrators. They can reassign mentors or help resolve communication issues.
Is LFX only for students?
Is LFX only for students?
No. It’s open to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria, regardless of student status.