Get Stoked - End Poverty. One Line of Code at a Time.
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All 2016 projects will be related to the Community App, our Android apps, or any additional tools or modules. These apps and modules are built on top of the Mifos X platform (now an Apache project under the name of Fineract)the world's only open platform for financial inclusion and is banking delivered as a service via the cloud. Mifos X is a true platform in which the back-end is cleanly separated from the front-end and all core platform services are exposed through an API making it easy develop new applications on top of the Mifos X platform.
Business Rules Engine (MOVE TO APACHE FINERACT)
Mentors | Nayan Ambali |
Overview & Objectives | A business rule system enables these financial institutes policies and other operational decisions to be defined, tested, executed. Rule engines typically support rules, facts, priority (score), mutual exclusion, preconditions, and other functions. This module will enable MFI admin to add, remove or modify the business rule against pre-defined work flows in the application. |
Description | As financial institutes, the business process of the institute is governed by local regulatory, and internal rules and rules defined by other other stake holders. And MIS should have provision to define these rules in the application to achive the objectives of these rules defined by various stake holders. Example: Insurance company does not provider insurance to any person above 65 age. In that case in the MIS if users tries to attach a insurance feed to a client's loan account whos age is more than 65 years then "business rule engine" should prevent that action with appropriate message. The implementation would probably have 4 parts to it: a) Code Hooks - Extend functionality of event listeners (what was done for "Guarantor Release for Blocked Funds" for loans) to include key business events like loan creation, loan approval, loan disbursement, savings account creation, savings account activation, savings withdrawal, client creation, client approval, etc. Pre- and Post- events to be enabled for these business events. |
Helpful Skills | SQL, Java, Javascript, Git |
Impact | It helps MFIs to follow the compliance set for regulatory and various stake holder. Also reduces the fraudulent cases |
Other Resources | Business Rules Engine |
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Improvements to User Generated Documents (MOVE TO APACHE FINERACT)
MentorsNayan Ambali | Pranjal GoswamiBD |
Overview & Objectives | To allow field-based staff to manage their daily schedules and to ensure that their supervisors are able to review these tasks and to plan field operations and bring in more efficiency and transparency for field operations. To meet the requirement, Android based app need to be developed to cover these uses cases. And this app will be an extension to MIfos X Android Client built by GSOC intern, Ishan Khanna in 2014. |
Description | Field officers typically have a predefined set of tasks to follow, for example: Do survey for a locality, Conduct Group Trainings, Conduct Group Tests, Do Center Meetings and Collections. Each could have a task code to make operations streamlined. Field officers manage their calendars by selecting an activity and specifying a center, date and time for which this activity is planned. This becomes their planned activity for this slot. A simple workflow to manage each slot – when field officer starts the activity, status of the slot is changed from “new” to “open” and when the activity is completed, it is set to “closed”. It would be ideal to manage this workflow using a mobile tool – preferably an inbound SMS message. For example: an SMS from the field officer’s phone with the text “OPEN 1430” will change the status to “OPEN” of the field officer’s activity that was planned for 2:30pm. Field officer may change his plan up to a certain time prior to the start of the activity. Auditors and branch managers will review the activities and track the field officers’ planning and efficiency. |
Helpful Skills | Java, XML, SQL , Git, SMS integration, Android app development is plus |
Impact | Field efficiency and operational efficiency |
Other Resources | See SMS Integration and Outbound SMS |
Mifos X Android Client Version 2
Mentors | Nayan Ambali |
Overview & Objectives | As financial institutions serving the poor extend to more rural outlying regions and adopt more lightweight branchless and paperless operations, mobile field operation tools are essential. In 2014, GSOC intern Ishan Khanna built out version 1 of our Android-based mobile And this app will be an extension to MIfos X Android Client built by GSOC intern, Ishan Khanna in 2014. |
Description | There is a lengthy list of potential Version 2 requirements for the Mifos X Android client including: |
Helpful Skills | Java, XML, SQL , Git, SMS integration, Android app development is plus |
Impact | Field efficiency and operational efficiency |
Other Resources |
Improvements to User Generated Documents
Mentors | Pranjal GoswamiBD |
Overview & Objectives | Provide an easy way for reports to "merge-printed" from the Client or account page. Currently, if a user needs to print a specific letter for customer or loan account or savings account - the only way is to develop a report or use stretchy report. This is difficult to use and cannot be invoked from a client or account page. |
Description | |
Helpful Skills | SQL, Java, Javascript, Git |
Impact | Easy to print reports like Loan Sanction Letter, Savings Transaction report, Deposit notice etc. |
Other Resources |
AngularJS Community App Enhancements
Mentors | Vishwas Babu A J |
Overview & Objectives | Our AngularJS Community App is the standard application on the Mifos X platform that provides all the core functionality for the most common methods of financial inclusion and products and services. It's also the starting point for any partners looking to customize or extend the UI. It's constantly being improved based on user feedback, better performance, and to integrate new design standards and AngularJS refactoring. |
Description | The project will involve the following:
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Helpful Skills | Javascript, CSS, HTML5. AngularJS and Bootstrap (CSS framework) is plus |
Impact | Better usability. improve the productivity of users and actions will be taken on time. |
Other Resources | Usability and Design |
Batch Jobs for Loan Loss Provisioning and Dividend posting
Mentors | Vishwas Babu A JBD |
Overview & Objectives | Across the globe, thousands of financial cooperatives are bringing financial inclusion to the Base of the Pyramid in the form of SACCOs, credit unions, cooperative societies, etc. One major feature gap that we still don't fully support in Mifos X is proper management of shares and member equity and calculation and posting of dividends. This project would cover that functionality as well as adding loan loss provisioning. Project involves adding two additional batch jobs in Mifos: a) For Loan Loss Provisioning b) Dividend calculation and posting for Share accounts |
Description | |
Helpful Skills | SQL, Java (Jersey, Spring, JPA), Javascript (knowledge of Angular JS is a plus), Git |
Impact | From a business perspective, these add a lot of value in automating some of the key year end computations |
Other Resources |
Two Factor Authentication for certain types of transactions
Mentors | Markus Geiss (Deactivated) |
Overview & Objectives | Enable two factor authentication for certain types of transactions - for example transfers initiated, need to be confirmed via a One-Time-Password generated by Mifos and sent via SMS to client's mobile number. |
Description | |
Helpful Skills | SQL, Java, Javascript, Git |
Impact | Provides more security for clients especially during loan disbursements and savings withdrawals or transfers. |
Other Resources |
Self-Service Application - Mifos Platform Changes
Mentors | Markus Geiss (Deactivated)BD |
Overview & Objectives | Develop a set of APIs that can be used by a front end application that is meant for Client/Member Self-Service |
Description | |
Provide an easy way for reports to "merge-printed" from the Client or account page. Currently, if a user needs to print a specific letter for customer or loan account or savings account - the only way is to develop a report or use stretchy report. This is difficult to use and cannot be invoked from a client or account page. | |
Description | |
Helpful Skills | SQL, Java, Javascript, Git |
Impact | Easy to print reports like Loan Sanction Letter, Savings Transaction report, Deposit notice etc. |
Other Resources |
AngularJS Community App Enhancements
Mentors | Vishwas Babu A J |
Overview & Objectives | Our AngularJS Community App is the standard application on the Mifos X platform that provides all the core functionality for the most common methods of financial inclusion and products and services. It's also the starting point for any partners looking to customize or extend the UI. It's constantly being improved based on user feedback, better performance, and to integrate new design standards and AngularJS refactoring. |
Description | The project will involve the following:
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Helpful Skills | Javascript, CSS, HTML5. AngularJS and Bootstrap (CSS framework) is plus |
Impact | Better usability. improve the productivity of users and actions will be taken on time. |
Other Resources | Usability and Design |
Two Factor Authentication for certain types of transactions (POSSIBLE)
Mentors | Markus Geiss (Deactivated) |
Overview & Objectives | Enable two factor authentication for certain types of transactions - for example transfers initiated, need to be confirmed via a One-Time-Password generated by Mifos and sent via SMS to client's mobile number. |
Description | |
Helpful Skills | SQL, Java, Javascript, Git |
Impact | Allows a member/client in having a self-service channel - i.e. online banking interface through a browser or smartphone appProvides more security for clients especially during loan disbursements and savings withdrawals or transfers. |
Other Resources |
Self-Service - Android App development
Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | This has a dependency on the Self-Service backend API's being available |
Description | |
Helpful Skills | Android development, SQL, Java, Javascript, Git |
Impact | Allows a member/client in having a self-service channel allowing them more direct control and visibility into their financial livelihood. |
Other Resources |
Data Tables Improvements to Support Workflows (POSSIBLE/MOVE TO FINERACT)
Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | Workflows can be used for adding additional data/surveys for capturing data or adding checklist to a pre-defined workflows at certain points of the workflow (scope does not include adding custom workflows). This project would build off the existing Data Tables modules to add enhancements for pseudo-workflows. |
Description | In most of the cases MFI wants to capture additional data during certain workflows (example: during client closing, wants to conduct exit survey, capture PPI during loan creation) and this requirement can fulfilled by adding option to attach datatable/survey/question group to the pre-defined workflows as certain points (example: during loan creation, during approval time or during disbursement etc). Enhance data tables to emulate real-life workflows:
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Helpful Skills | Java, SQL , JavaScript , Git |
Impact | Helps organization to streamline their data capture process in the MIS and as well as in the field. And this leads toward more measurability of the MFI's impact in the field and more transparency. |
Other Resources |
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Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | |
Description | This project is a continuation of the initial PayGoSol foundation that was led by 2014 GSOC intern, Antonio Carella.
Work in 2015 will include adding the following features to make it an out-of-the-box solution that any PAYG hardware provider could use:
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Helpful Skills | SQL, Java, Javascript, Git, Web Services |
Impact | Providers of pay-as-you-go solar can use MIFOS for their operations. MFIs can become such providers. |
Other Resources | Mifos Android Client on MifosX
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Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | Right now Mifos X contains core client management functionalities including tracking basic demographic information, know your customer information, document management, and survey collection through data tables. As financial institutions serving the poor begin to offer a more in-depth and diverse range of financial inclusion products, the need for more robust client management and in-depth client understanding has grows. Their core system needs to provide more and more CRM-type functionality that complement the portfolio management and financial/social reporting the Mifos X provides. This project will work to deliver the initial set of customer relationship management functionalities including a module for tracking inquiries, complaints |
Description | This module will have a request management functionality. A request can be of 2 types: Complaints and Service Requests. Each request must be against a customer and optionally against an account of the customer. Each request will go through a simple workflow. Actions that can be performed on a request: Assign -> will change status to "assigned" Start Work --> will change status to "in progress" Close --> will change status to "closed" (with a sub-reason code) At each step user can enter comments. The customer summary screen will have a link to view the requests of the customer - along with a summary and current status - with option to click-through to get the complete history of each request. |
Helpful Skills | |
Impact | Deepening the client relationship and ensuring fair, responsible, and transparent financial services to the poor is a core piece of the industry's roadmap for financial inclusion. Providing customers the ability to voice their concerns and feedback about the services they're receiving provides a simple yet powerful tool to protect the client. Empowering the financial institution with the ability to track these inquiries and overall maintain a more holistic relationship tracking entire lifecycle of their clients gives them a much better ability to understand their clients and respond to their needs with appropriately designed services and products. |
Other Resources |
Security Penetration testing
Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | We believe the Mifos X platform is super secure and impenetrable. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to prove us wrong, and help close gaps you may find. |
Description | Beyond a one time exercise, you should integrate (some of) the tools you've used into our build chain so that, even after you've gone, tools flag up future newly introduced potential vulnerabilities. |
Helpful Skills | Candidates applying for this project would ideally have prior experience in penetration testing, and document this in their application. |
Impact | Re-assuring the more Entreprise-y type Mifos clients that they can safely bet on Mifos X as an MFI platform. |
Other Resources | https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Main_Page https://code.google.com/p/zaproxy/ Run FindBugs & related tools for some serious static code analysis |
Scaling MifosX to serve 2 million+ customer accounts (MOVE TO FINERACT)
Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | This project's goal is to create an Amazon Cloud formation template for Mifos deployments at large Organisations. We would measure how we scale, with concrete scenarios and hard numbers, and produce documentation about this helping organization who are evaluating Mifos. We would also try to identify and fix performance bottlenecks in the MifosX and the community app codebase |
Description | You would be creating a Cloud formation template on AWS for a sample high performance Mifos setup. The setup would include
You would then use Jmeter (or a tool of your choice) to create realistic data and run and benchmark performance on this setup. Based on the figures, we would make fixes to either to the MifosX / Community app codebases to fix any identified performance bottlenecks and then carry out multiple iterations of tweaking the Cloud formation template to achieve best performance. |
Helpful Skills | Must be a self starter, Experience with Amazon AWS and any opensource load testing tool is helpful |
Impact | Re-assuring the more Entreprise-y type Mifos clients that they can safely bet on Mifos X as an MFI platform. |
Other Resources | http://twitter.github.io/iago/ http://www.loadui.org (by the good people behind SOAPui) Selenium WebDriver |
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Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | Create a POC of a scalable MifosX implementation (with load balanced tomcats and percona servers) on an openstack setup on a public cloud. Also publish a whitepaper with details of Openstack setup |
Description | Mifosx was built to be cloud ready from the ground up. One of the most popular deployment environments for MifosX has been on Amazon EC2, however due to country specific regulation, many implementors are forced to seek alternative models that can scale as effectively The aim of this project is two-fold
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Helpful Skills | Unix, OpenStack, experience with any public cloud (AWS etc) and Percona Server is a plus |
Impact | Improves deployment options for Mifos. Would be very helpful for specialists in African countries who deal with strict regulatory controls in hosting data outside their region |
Other Resources | Openstack: https://www.openstack.org/ |
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Mentors | Nayan Ambali |
Overview & Objectives | At present MIfos X platform is shipped with Community-App (SPA) as default UI, but initial load time of the application high. And for users on narrow bandwidth internet it takes a considerable amount of time to load the app. Instead of loading the app every time, we can convert the Community-App into a Chrome App and user can download them once and install it ion the machine, and it can used as thick client. |
Description | Community-App is completely developed on top of JavaScript, CSS and HTML. And Chrome apps are also written in same stack. Using grunt we should be able to repackage Community-App(SPA) into Community-App(Chrome App) |
Helpful Skills | Javascript, AngularJS, Grunt |
Impact | Users with slow internet connectivity can use this app (Installed on the machine) instead of loading Community-App (SPA) on the browser. Users will also have a continually updated app. This will also allow MFIs to potentially use Chromebooks as field-based devices for their branches. |
Other Resources | http://developer.chrome.com/apps/angular_framework.html |
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Mentors | Vishwas Babu A J |
Overview & Objectives | MIfos X platform is shipped with a Community-App (SPA) as the default UI which is optimized for Web Browser display on large screens (Mobile, Laptops and Tablets). We need to extend the same to support mobile views (with minor changes to workflow) and provide offline functionality |
Description | Community-App is completely developed on top of JavaScript, CSS and HTML. Also since there is a clear separation between the view and the Controllers in Angular JS, we should be able to spin up mobile views fairly easily reusing the same Controllers and Services. As it is quite common for Mobile users to have intermittent data connection, we should also support offline functionality, |
Helpful Skills | Javascript, AngularJS, Apache cordova |
Impact | Field officers can access MifosX from a Mobile optimized view, capture data offline that can be synced back to the server when an internet connection is available. It also becomes easier for the community volunteers to maintain the mobile view ( as we reuse most of the code from the Community app) as opposed to maintaining a separate Android app. |
Other Resources
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Business Analytics (OLAP)
Mentors | KojoG |
Overview & Objectives | Develop ETL scripts to create OLAP cubes (fact and dimension tables in MySQL). This will allow managers to perform ad hoc slicing and dicing of their data
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Description |
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Helpful Skills | Database Management Systems, MDX, SQL, |
Impact | Data drives a microfinance institution - the more powerful and robust analytical tools management has, the better they can tailor their services and outreach to impact the poor most effectively. |
Other Resources | Saiku Analytics Demo - demo.analytical-labs.com Wikipedia OLAP Article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olap Introduction to OLAP - http://www.db-class.org/course/video/preview_list Gentle Introduction to MDX - http://www.iccube.com/support/documentation/mdx_tutorial/gentle_introduction.html |
Web UI quality cross browser non-regression testing
Mentors | Michael Vorburger |
Overview & Objectives | While the Mifos X Community App front-end UI based on AngularJS-based currently does already have some JS unit tests, we lack a full UI level web tests which continually non-regression test common scenarios. We believe having this could add value in terms of quality, including ensuring automated cross browser testing. |
Description | Possibly building upon a extremely limited small scale existing POC (if you find it to be a useful starting point), your mission, should you chose to accept it, would be to build out comprehensive UI walk through scenario test coverage for the Mifos X UI. If you can build more such tests faster and more maintainable (= less code) by using any of the existing frameworks listed below or others you know of / will find, or build useful such infrastructure yourself as part of this code, we're eager to hear from you! Keep in mind that the main deliverable of this project is not (only) a foundation framework, but must actually include an extensive suite of running tests integrated into the Mifos build. |
Helpful Skills | Candidates should demonstrate serious interest and basic know-how by accompanying their application for this project with pull requests to the existing mifosx-ui-selenium-webdriver-tests POC. |
Impact | Continuously verified and cross browser checked quality of the Mifos X UI. |
Other Resources | http://docs.seleniumhq.org/projects/webdriver/ https://github.com/vorburger/mifosx-ui-selenium-webdriver-tests https://github.com/vorburger/webdriver-runner https://saucelabs.com or https://browserling.com |
JPOS Integration - Point of Sale Cash Out
Mentors | TBD |
Overview & Objectives | Integrate MifosX with an opensource Point of Sale (POS) called JPOS. |
Description | Use case would be to get a debit transaction (cash withdraw from checking account) thru the POS device /local runtime with 2FA. In India, the ability to get cash out through a point of sale network is provided for under RBI regulations. In production there will likely need to be an intermediate "Merchant Acquisition" or "Payment Processor" in between a single POS and MifosX Instance, but this could be abstracted out as a payment gateway only (primarily data mapping). The implementation target is the ability to do a 2 factor authentication on a POS device running JPOS (emulator ok), input account number (via some simple method), then be able to do a (cash-out) account withdrawal in real time to the MifosX account. Additional use cases would be to implement a transaction for payment for goods. i.e. enter specific goods, then do payment from MifosX account to Merchant Account (probably also in Mifos). |
Helpful Skills | Familiarity with API work. Understanding of transactional flows. Java. Two-factor authentication - see other project idea .
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Impact | |
Other Resources |
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