LFX’24 Mentorship Experience with LFDT(Hyperledger Foundation)

The Linux Foundation Mentorship Program, often referred to as LFX Mentorship, is a cornerstone of the Linux Foundation’s dedication to nurturing talent and fostering innovation within the open source ecosystem. Similar to prestigious initiatives like Google Summer of Code (GSoC) and Outreachy, LFX Mentorship offers aspiring contributors a structured platform to make meaningful contributions to open source projects, all while receiving invaluable guidance from seasoned mentors.

Background

I’m Chinmayi D S, a pre-final year student at National Institute of Technology, Karnataka. I was selected as an LFX mentee for the Hyperledger Foundation in 2024.

What is LFX Mentorship?

LFX Mentorship is an open-source learning program that connects aspiring developers with industry mentors to collaborate on real-world projects for organizations. Designed to support first-time contributors, the program provides essential skills, resources, and hands-on experience to help participants learn, experiment, and contribute effectively to open-source communities. Alongside expert guidance, mentees receive financial compensation for their work throughout the mentorship period.

Note: You can apply for a maximum of 3 organizations at a time.

The Linux Foundation opens LFX Mentorship applications three times a year — spring, summer, and winter — each cohort lasting three months. More details about the program can be found here.

What is Hyperledger?

Hyperledger is an umbrella project under the Linux Foundation that focuses on developing open-source blockchain technologies and tools. It aims to support the collaborative development of distributed ledger frameworks and modules to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. Hyperledger provides a range of modular tools and platforms for enterprises and developers to create and deploy customized blockchain-based solutions tailored to various business needs, fostering interoperability, scalability, and privacy in decentralized applications.

Selection Process

I was introduced to LFX and its mentorship programs by one of my seniors. Since then, I regularly checked for opportunities that matched my skills, and I applied to organizations without hesitating(important point).

The selection process was relatively short, it consisted of two rounds, the Application Round and the Interview Round.

1. Application Round

This is the most crucial round as it would play a major role in your selection into the program. The Application Round mainly requires 2 applications. In my case, and for Hyperledger, they just asked for a Resume and Cover letter.

The Cover Letter plays a pivotal role in your application and can be a deciding factor in your selection. To craft a compelling cover letter, consider addressing the following points in a structured and engaging manner:

• How you discovered the mentorship program — Mention whether you came across it through networking, online communities, open-source events, or recommendations from past participants.
• Your motivation for applying — Explain why this opportunity excites you, how it aligns with your interests, and what draws you to the specific organization.
• Relevant experience and expertise — Highlight your technical background, problem-solving skills, and past projects that demonstrate your ability to contribute effectively.
• Your expectations from the mentorship — Share what you aim to learn, how you plan to grow, and how the program will impact your career.
• Prior contributions to open-source or related organizations — If you have worked on any relevant projects, whether through code, documentation, or community engagement, provide links or references to showcase your involvement.

A well-articulated cover letter that conveys your passion and readiness for the program can greatly strengthen your application.

2. Interview Process

I got the interview mail from my mentor. Interview was around 45 minutes, all the details were mentioned in the email. So, I have attached the email photo here.

After the interview process, I was told that only one official mentee would be selected from the LFX Foundation, I was a bit tense.

Selection

I got my selection mail on Thursday, 30th May, 2024, from LF Engineering Team congratulating me that I was accepted for this year’s mentorship. I was really happy.

The Project

Project Title: VS Code Debugger Plugin for Hyperledger Fabric Chaincode

Overview

As part of my LFX Mentorship with Hyperledger, I worked on a project focused on improving the developer experience for chaincode debugging. The goal was to eliminate the complexities of setting up a runtime environment, reduce dependencies on multiple tools, and provide a seamless debugging experience within VS Code.

Problem Statement

Currently, debugging Hyperledger Fabric chaincode requires:

• Manual deployment of the chaincode for each test iteration.
• Extensive knowledge of commands, tools, and configurations.
• Adding logs manually to debug, which is inefficient.

This process is tedious and discourages new developers from contributing to Hyperledger Fabric. The solution? A VS Code extension that simplifies debugging by integrating a native debugging interface directly into the IDE.

Project Goals

• Provide a one-click solution to install, run, and debug chaincode.
• Enable developers to debug without modifying the chaincode (e.g., inserting logs manually).
• Ensure the tool works seamlessly across platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux).
• Reduce the learning curve for new contributors.

Development Journey

1. Understanding Developer Workflow & Pain Points

Before diving into development, we conducted research on existing debugging practices and identified the major pain points. Many developers struggled with setting up the environment, deploying chaincode, and interpreting logs.

2. Building the VS Code Extension

• Developed a plugin architecture that allows chaincode to be deployed, tested, and debugged within VS Code.
• Integrated breakpoint debugging to let developers inspect their code in real-time.
• Ensured that the extension supports Hyperledger Fabric’s existing deployment mechanisms.

3. Enhancing Debugging Capabilities

• Implemented features such as state database initialization to provide a controlled testing environment.
• Allowed developers to simulate production scenarios to diagnose issues faster.

4. Deployment & Documentation

• Ensured the extension works across different operating systems.
• Created detailed documentation to help new developers get started with minimal friction.

This link has the timeline to our project.

Conclusion

I got my graduation mail on 11th February, 2025.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my mentor, Arun S M, for his invaluable guidance and unwavering support throughout the mentorship journey. His deep expertise, patience, and willingness to help not only guided me in navigating the complexities of the project but also fostered a collaborative learning environment. He was always approachable, providing insightful feedback, addressing challenges with clarity, and encouraging us to think critically. His mentorship played a crucial role in shaping my understanding of Hyperledger Fabric and open-source development, making this experience truly enriching and rewarding.

Thank you for reading! 😊❤️

If you’re interested in contributing to open source projects and seeking opportunities, I highly recommend giving LFX a try. I believe it can provide a great learning experience and give you a strong start in the world of open source. You can connect with me through LinkedIn.