ivymboya

• Conditions in MDF

  The second task assigned to me by my mentor (Mr. Gleeson) was updating conditions in the Model Description Format (MDF) project as they were too abstract for an initial user to decipher. The MDF project’s main objective is to express computational models in a standardized format that allows them to be exchanged between different programming languages/execution environments, focusing on Neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. This is important as the project eliminates barriers in exchanging model results within the 3 disciplines, creating more sophisticated models that integrate components across the 3 disciplines.

  During the first meetings, the term ‘condition’ was used a lot and I was confused about what it meant within the project. I’ll be honest, I was a bit scared of asking what it meant because I didn’t want to look unqualified. For this task, I dived into the MDF documentation, to figure it out and it was helpful although I did have some knowledge gaps. I learned that within the MDF ecosystem, a condition will determine when and how many times individual nodes within a graph will run.

  I did muster the courage to ask a lot of questions regarding conditions on our Slack channel and on Github. My mentor was actually super helpful and guided me on what conditions meant, they further linked a python package graph-scheduler integrated into the project that uses conditions and had more insight on how conditions work.

  2 days later, I was able to delve into the code base locally and make changes based on updating conditions to make more sense to users and my changes got merged from my pull request! I find that again, my curiosity and thirst to learn kept me active in trying to understand the project, my tasks, and asking relevant questions.

  It is natural to be fearful of asking questions especially when you’re new to a team. I find that taking time to search for an answer online first and putting in the effort to understand something by yourself first is helpful. You get a bit more clarity and you can now further ask more informed questions. Asking questions doesn’t mean that you’re incompetent, it means that you’re wise enough to know that you don’t have all the answers! – and that is okay, more room for you to grow!

  To learn more about the amazing project I’m working on and try it out, visit: https://github.com/ModECI/MDF

  June 23, 2022

  Outreachy

  MDF, ModECI, Outreachy

• Meet Ivy 🙂

  You are the best in the world at being you

  Hi there! My name is Ivy Mboya and I’m from Kenya. I recently completed my undergraduate degree in BSc. Computer Science from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology. Graduating on the 28th of this month! Pretty exciting huh!

  I’m a Software Engineer with about 1 year of experience in Fullstack development. Outside of computing, I like to read books, try out new cuisines – the kids nowadays call it “foodie” and spend time with my family & friends. I consider myself adaptable, inquisitive, and self-disciplined.

  My core values are Curiosity, Learning & Determination. As a child, I was always curious about stuff. “Why is the President blocking the road with all these cars?” – is what I asked my mother and a million more questions, which was annoying to her now that I think about it.

  Curiosity is a powerful thing for me, it is sort of a mental exercise that makes my mind stronger and culminates in … learning. I have found that learning provides me with a sense of accomplishment & has boosted my confidence in my own capabilities. Lastly, determination has kept me curious and learning more even in the face of adversity. I have failed severally but determination has kept me going, overcoming failure in the process.

  I applied to Outreachy to sharpen my programming skills. I had never contributed to Open Source before so I felt really skeptical but my mentor from KamiLimu encouraged me to apply. During the contribution phase, I really liked contributing to the ModECI project and found excellent feedback from my project mentors. My confidence grew and so did my skills. A month later, I got accepted into Outreachy and have since been contributing to the ModECI project – enjoying every bit of it. Take a chance on yourself, you are capable of more than you know.

  

  Outreachy Intern 2022

  June 9, 2022

  Outreachy