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The 2017 Google Summer of Code application period has opened. The Mifos Initiative will be applying as a mentoring organization and hopes to be selected once again in 2017. Applications are due by February 9 and accepted orgs will be announced by February 27.
Info
titlePage In Progress
Mifos Initiative has been Accepted as a Mentoring Organization!

The Mifos Initiative has been accepted as a mentoring organization for the 2017 Google Summer of Code. Subscribe to this page for the latest updates to project ideas and mentors assigned to projects. Prospective students should begin engaging with the community and working on pull requests.

Get Stoked - End Poverty. One Line of Code at a Time.

...

Project Ideas

All 2017 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 Apache Fineract platform, the world's only open platform for financial inclusion and is banking delivered as a service via the cloud. Apache Fineract 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 Apache Fineract platform. 

...

AngularJS Web App Enhancements

Mentors
Overview & Objectives

Our AngularJS Web App is the standard application on the Mifos X distribution 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.

Description

In 2016, our Google Summer of Code intern refactor, re-designed, and re-skinned the Web App. This project would continue by making additional UI enhancements including:

  • Redesign the client, group, and center records
  • Redesign the loan and summary savings pages
  • Implement Wizard UI product and account creation
  • Implement UI for workflows & data table entity checks
  • Improve the collection sheet UI
  • Extend the notifications framework
  • Improve interface for role-based dashboards.Performance improvements by introducing on demand loading


Helpful SkillsJavascript, CSS, HTML5. AngularJS and Bootstrap (CSS framework) is plus
ImpactEnhanced User Experience, Intuitive application design
Other ResourcesUsability and Design

Browser-Based Offline Access

Mentors
Overview & Objectives

For this project, we require an intern who is qualified and willing to work core HTML5 offline functionality. If we able to add offline support in community-app then we can have same application working on all browsers with offline support and need of a desktop app will not be needed.

Description

The project will involve the following. It will be a continuation of the 2016 Google Summer of Code project worked on by Mohit.

  • We can use IndexDB for storing data offline and once connected synchronize it, store actions that happened in same sequence and then fire against server.

  • We can store some data in JSONs as key-value pair and offer pre-sychronize which will fetch data as JSON for creating clients and other actions in offline mode.

  • Currently, HTML templates load from server everytime we refresh our application. As, discussed we should have some sort of template caching with expiry headers.

  • We can make some template made available offline using application cache.

  • With Template cache which is angular component. It looks for template in cache if not in the cache, it will load from server and then put in cache.

  • Mimic synchronization back and forth mimic how you store, how you date it out.
Helpful SkillsJavascript, CSS, HTML5. HTML5 Offline support knowledge i.e - Service workers, Sw-toolbox, IndexedDB wrappper - Dexie.js
ImpactOffline Functionality to Community App
Other ResourcesMore Detailed Information on Project

Android Field Operations App Version 4

MentorsIshan Khanna
Overview & Objectives

We have released several versions of our Android app for field officers to go out in the field to process transactions, create clients, etc. Most recently in 2016, our Google Summer of Code intern refactored the entire application, implemented offline synchronization for clients and groups, and added improved functionalities for client onboarding, loan and savings collection, and GIS-based location tracking. All this work comprised Version 3.0 of the Android App

This project would continue that work and transform it into Version 4 - by extending offline synchronization and adding additional functionalities.


Extend our existing Android Field Operations App from Version 3 to Version 4 with

  • Implement collection sheet interface for bulk collection of savings, loan, and tracking of attendance
  • Extending offline support throughout additional areas of the application
  • Redesigning some of the navigation and workflows
  • Integrating the notifications framework
  • Integrating SMS communications
  • Enabling views for task list and reports
  • Improving the user interface for capture of surveys.
  • Improving data scoping and role-based permissioning
  • Unit and Integration Testing

This would all be on top of the corresponding APIs on the Mifos platform.

Helpful SkillsAndroid development, SQL, Java, Javascript, Git
Impact

Allows staff to go directly into the field to connect to the client. Reduces cost of operations by enabling organizations to go paperless and be more efficient.

Other Resources

https://github.com/openMF/android-client

Architecture overview: 
Code style conventions guide:

 Self-Service - Android App Version 2.0 

Mentors

Satya Naryan, Ishan Khanna

Overview & Objectives

We have recently released a full set of client-facing APIs to enable self-service channels for clients to interact with their own data and transact in a self-service manner. Previously all Mifos operations were performed by back office staff. Now clients can authenticate themselves, view and edit their account details. and make repayments or transactions between their own accounts.

It is now possible for them to have direct banking apps that they can utilize including smartphone-based mobile banking, USSD-based mobile banking, and online banking via a web app.

Description

...

Develop AngularJS Online Banking Interface:

  • Login
  • View Own Profile and Data Tabs
  • View Own Accounts (deposits and loans)
  • View Own Accounts' Transactions (deposits and loans)
  • Initiate Transfers from own account
  • Make Transfers to other accounts
  • Make Repayment to Loans
  • Fill up Questionnaires

...

Allows a member/client in having a self-service channel allowing them more direct control and visibility into their financial livelihood.

...

Self Service APIs - https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Customer+Self-Service

Source Code - https://github.com/openMF/web-self-service-app

Accounting Module Enhancements

...

...

Mifos X and the Apache Fineract platform already provide a range of sophisticated financial accounting needs, however for organizations that use it as both their core banking system and accounting system all in one, they continue to need other features. While Mifos X never intends to replace an ERP or accounting package, we do want to continue to add additional functionalities that provide the necessary integration with the portfolio and general accounting functionality to support a financial institution's core operations.

Several features have been requested by users and partners that we've grouped together as one task. Applicants should be familiar with the stack as well as the accounting and financial services domain.

Some of this work will include finalizing and incorporating existing pull requests and contributions that have been made by partners.

...

These enhancements will all be built into the Apache Fineract platform as part of or enhancements on top of the existing accounting module which provides full configuration of the chart of accounts, support for cash and accrual accounting, automated integration with the portfolio accounts and financial mappings, and single and compound journal entries to the general ledger. New enhancements include:

  • Recurring Journal Entries (see spec below)
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Fixed Asset Register
  • Improved End of Period Processing

...

Better internal control and financial transparency

...

Collateral Management Module

User Stories - https://goo.gl/3xuUko

Wireframes - https://goo.gl/3xuUko

Customer Self Service APIs - https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Customer+Self-Service

Source Code: https://github.com/openMF/self-service-app

Mentors

Maek Twain, Avik Ganguly

Overview & Objectives

As financial inclusion evolves, more loan products are collateral-based and require more detailed tracking of the asset (gold, property, etc.) along with its value, and its depreciation.

Some institutions also require tracking collateral as off-balance sheet items.

Description

We have a complete specification in place and need a team to build out a new module on top of the platform that tracks the additional collateral values. The work involved includes creation of new APIs and database tables to track additional parameters for the collateral, and to build out the UI screens for this module.

If the off-balance sheet collateral tracking is included, the work will also require extending the general ledger to support new types of accounts that are off-balance sheet.

The initial application was developed by 2016 GSOC intern and then taken beyond its initial stages by Rajan Maurya. Detailed user stories and wireframes outlining implementing the following functionalities have been documented.

  • Login
  • View Own Profile and Data Tabs
  • View Own Accounts (deposits and loans)
  • View Own Accounts' Transactions (deposits and loans)
  • Initiate Transfers from own account
  • Apply for new loans and repay existing loans.
  • Fill up Questionnaires

Integrate with the corresponding APIs on the Mifos platform.

Helpful SkillsAndroid 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

 Self-Service - Web App Development 

...

...

We have released a full set of client-facing APIs to enable self-service channels for clients to interact with their own data and transact in a self-service manner. Previously all Mifos operations were performed by back office staff. Now clients can authenticate themselves, view and edit their account details. and make repayments or transactions between their own accounts.

It is now possible for them to have direct banking apps that they can utilize including smartphone-based mobile banking, USSD-based mobile banking, and online banking via a web app.

The focus of this project would be building out a clean and simple AngularJS application that can be used as a reference web app for financial institutions to directly deploy and offer to their customers or for our our support partners to customize and enhance to the local needs of their market.

There currently is a proof of concept architecture that can be used as a starting point along with detailed wireframes and user stories.

Work will involve both development of the Android application as well as work on the back-end to extend the existing self-service RESTful APIs.

    • User Sign Up
    • User Details Feature 
    • Update User Details
    • Loan Make Payment
    • Savings Transactions Enhancement 
    • Charges (client, savings, loan) [This feature should be generic type, Student need to enhance the current feature and write a logic, so we will pass the only parameter in constructor that will work for all client, savings, loan]
    • Beneficiary for Third Party Transfer
    • Third Party Account Transfers
    • Update Loan Application
    • Withdraw Loan Application.
    • Unit and Integration test
    • Mobile wallet integration (API and mockups will be provided after student selection So please make your time line accordingly)
    • We want a student who can enhance the Material UI of current app and coming features too.

Integrate with the corresponding APIs on the Mifos platform.

Helpful SkillsAndroid development, SQL, Java, Javascript, Git, Spring, OpenJPA, Rest,
Impact

Allows a member/client in having a self-service channel allowing them more direct control and visibility into their financial livelihood.

Other Resources

User Stories - https://goo.gl/3xuUko

Wireframes - https://goo.gl/3xuUko

Customer Self Service APIs - https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Customer+Self-Service

Source Code: https://github.com/openMF/self-service-app


 Self-Service - Web App Development 

Mentors
Overview & Objectives

We have released a full set of client-facing APIs to enable self-service channels for clients to interact with their own data and transact in a self-service manner. Previously all Mifos operations were performed by back office staff. Now clients can authenticate themselves, view and edit their account details. and make repayments or transactions between their own accounts.

It is now possible for them to have direct banking apps that they can utilize including smartphone-based mobile banking, USSD-based mobile banking, and online banking via a web app.

The focus of this project would be building out a clean and simple AngularJS application that can be used as a reference web app for financial institutions to directly deploy and offer to their customers or for our our support partners to customize and enhance to the local needs of their market.

There currently is a proof of concept architecture that can be used as a starting point along with detailed wireframes and user stories.


Description

Develop AngularJS Online Banking Interface:

  • Login
  • View Own Profile and Data Tabs
  • View Own Accounts (deposits and loans)
  • View Own Accounts' Transactions (deposits and loans)
  • Initiate Transfers from own account
  • Make Transfers to other accounts
  • Make Repayment to Loans
  • Fill up Questionnaires
Helpful SkillsAngularJS 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

Self Service APIs - https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Customer+Self-Service

Source Code - https://github.com/openMF/web-self-service-app

Complete Details can be found here: Self Service Web Application

Accounting Module Enhancements

Mentors
Overview & Objectives

Mifos X and the Apache Fineract platform already provide a range of sophisticated financial accounting needs, however for organizations that use it as both their core banking system and accounting system all in one, they continue to need other features. While Mifos X never intends to replace an ERP or accounting package, we do want to continue to add additional functionalities that provide the necessary integration with the portfolio and general accounting functionality to support a financial institution's core operations.

Several features have been requested by users and partners that we've grouped together as one task. Applicants should be familiar with the stack as well as the accounting and financial services domain.

Some of this work will include finalizing and incorporating existing pull requests and contributions that have been made by partners.

Description

These enhancements will all be built into the Apache Fineract platform as part of or enhancements on top of the existing accounting module which provides full configuration of the chart of accounts, support for cash and accrual accounting, automated integration with the portfolio accounts and financial mappings, and single and compound journal entries to the general ledger. New enhancements include:

  • Recurring Journal Entries (see spec below)
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Fixed Asset Register
  • Improved End of Period Processing
Helpful SkillsHTML, Spring, Hibernate, REST, Java, AngularJS, Javascript, SQL  
Impact

Clients and Small Businesses are able to take out higher value loans when they can offer up different forms of collateral. This is essential as MFIs move beyond just group loans and to individual lending.Better internal control and financial transparency

Other Resources

  See

Jira Legacy
serverJIRA (mifosforge.jira.com)
serverId6ed65b55-ae19-3f63-b72c-a969383d4221
keyMIFOSX-1732
and https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Collateral+Module

...

Collateral Management Module

Mentors

Maek Twain, Avik Ganguly

Overview & Objectives

A crucial part of As financial inclusion is micro-insurance and the ability for clients to safely manage risk in their lives. Mifos X will not fully handle the entire lifecycle of an insurance product but it should integrate with microinsurance system and track the key parts of the process that relate to the core banking system - collection and pass through of the premium and tracking claims and processing of these.

Description

This project would involve building out a separate module that tracks claims being made by a client, likely leveraging the CRM functionality being build to track activities. It will integrate with APIs to enable processing of the claim and tracking what proceeds must be paid out to the client.

It will involve creating a new module with data model, UI screens and business logic that leverages Mifos X APIs

Tasks involved include:

  1. Implementing a flag at the client level to denote if a person is deceased - if deceased, all loans would go into different status where all income, interest, fees, etc should stop accruing.
  2. Utilize Data Tables to enable a user to initiate an insurance claim with details of the claim and corresponding updates to follow up on the claims process. Must limit this data table only to the clients with the corresponding flag so it's not displayed for all clients.
  3. Processing of Claims - the insurance claim can either go directly to the client or directly to the Financial Institution. If directly to the FI, the outstanding amonst should be offset by the claim - it could be automatically applied using a new different payment of insurance claim. Corresponding accounting entries need to get passed as well.
    1. If there is money to be refunded to customer, they must have a savings account as can''t like journal entry to customer directly.
  4. Closing of Account - once claim has been processed and outstanding balance settled, should implement a different status such as Closed - Deceased or Closed - Via Insurance Claim
Helpful SkillsHTML, Spring, Hibernate, REST, Java, AngularJS, SQL  
Impact

Clients are able to lower their risk and have a much larger safety net when they have affordable access to insurance policies.

Other Resources

See http://www.openunderwriter.com/

See Insurance Product

Configuration Wizard

...

...

A critical barrier to greater scale and reach of the Mifos X software is the time to deploy and ease of onboarding new financial institutions Spinning up a new instance and tenant of Mifos X in the Cloud is rather trivial but Mifos X is a core banking system and a user struggles to independently get the system up and running in spite of having access to documentation or local support.

  • Provide a self-guided configuration wizard to help financial institutions more quickly and more independently set up and configure the Mifos X system for the first time. 
  • Ideal goal is to allow a financial institution to fully configure Mifos without any manual intervention or support from an individual - from signing up for the cloud to moving into production, they should be able to do everything on their own. 

...

This project would involve building into the Mifos X Web App a self-guided configuration wizard.

Upon initial log-in, user will be prompted with a wizard as part of the Community App that will walk them through the first stages of configuring Mifos. The wizard which is optional and can declined, should provide the user the necessary prompts to guide them through the administrative setup of their organization and hierarchical structure, configuration of staff and roles and permissions, configuration of financial accounting, creation and configuration of loan and savings products, configuration of reporting and initial data entry. 

  • Wizard should provide both overlays on the screen as well as advance user to specific areas of the application. 
  • Wizard should refer to and reference documentation and video tutorials as much as possible.
  • Wizard should follow steps outlined in the Initial System Setup and Pre-Configuration Plan

...

Financial institutions can more easily adopt the software and increase the scale of our social mission.

...

See

Extend Surveys & SPM Framework

Mentors
Overview & Objectives

Financial Inclusion providers need a comprehensive view into the overall livelihood of their client both for better risk analysis, credit scoring, as well as social performance management.

Description

We have the back-end in place for a surveys/social performance management framework that allows the import of XMLs for the PPI (progress out of poverty index) SPM scorecard. We need to implement a front-end UI for viewing and recording PPI surveys as well as a UI in which to create new surveys from scratch (similar to Question Groups in an older version of software).

1) Build out the UI for creating survey from available PPI scorecard
2) Capture/record surveys from a given entity in the web app
3) View recorded surveys from the web ap
4) Interface to create new surveys from scratch via the UI

See Resources below for specs/wireframes. evolves, more loan products are collateral-based and require more detailed tracking of the asset (gold, property, etc.) along with its value, and its depreciation.

Some institutions also require tracking collateral as off-balance sheet items.

Description

We have a complete specification in place and need a team to build out a new module on top of the platform that tracks the additional collateral values. The work involved includes creation of new APIs and database tables to track additional parameters for the collateral, and to build out the UI screens for this module.

If the off-balance sheet collateral tracking is included, the work will also require extending the general ledger to support new types of accounts that are off-balance sheet.

Helpful SkillsHTML, Spring, Hibernate, REST, Java, AngularJS, SQL  
Impact

Clients and Small Businesses are able to take out higher value loans when they can offer up different forms of collateral. This is essential as MFIs move beyond just group loans and to individual lending.

Other Resources

  See

Jira Legacy
serverJIRA (mifosforge.jira.com)
serverId6ed65b55-ae19-3f63-b72c-a969383d4221
keyMIFOSX-1732
and https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Collateral+Module

Insurance Claims Module

Mentors
Overview & Objectives

A crucial part of financial inclusion is micro-insurance and the ability for clients to safely manage risk in their lives. Mifos X will not fully handle the entire lifecycle of an insurance product but it should integrate with microinsurance system and track the key parts of the process that relate to the core banking system - collection and pass through of the premium and tracking claims and processing of these.

Description

This project would involve building out a separate module that tracks claims being made by a client, likely leveraging the CRM functionality being build to track activities. It will integrate with APIs to enable processing of the claim and tracking what proceeds must be paid out to the client.

It will involve creating a new module with data model, UI screens and business logic that leverages Mifos X APIs

Tasks involved include:

  1. Implementing a flag at the client level to denote if a person is deceased - if deceased, all loans would go into different status where all income, interest, fees, etc should stop accruing.
  2. Utilize Data Tables to enable a user to initiate an insurance claim with details of the claim and corresponding updates to follow up on the claims process. Must limit this data table only to the clients with the corresponding flag so it's not displayed for all clients.
  3. Processing of Claims - the insurance claim can either go directly to the client or directly to the Financial Institution. If directly to the FI, the outstanding amonst should be offset by the claim - it could be automatically applied using a new different payment of insurance claim. Corresponding accounting entries need to get passed as well.
    1. If there is money to be refunded to customer, they must have a savings account as can''t like journal entry to customer directly.
  4. Closing of Account - once claim has been processed and outstanding balance settled, should implement a different status such as Closed - Deceased or Closed - Via Insurance Claim
Helpful SkillsHTML, Spring, Hibernate, REST, Java, AngularJS, SQL  
Impact

Clients are able to lower their risk and have a much larger safety net when they have affordable access to insurance policies.

Other Resources

See http://www.openunderwriter.com/

See Insurance Product

Configuration Wizard

Mentors
Overview & Objectives


A critical barrier to greater scale and reach of the Mifos X software is the time to deploy and ease of onboarding new financial institutions Spinning up a new instance and tenant of Mifos X in the Cloud is rather trivial but Mifos X is a core banking system and a user struggles to independently get the system up and running in spite of having access to documentation or local support.

  • Provide a self-guided configuration wizard to help financial institutions more quickly and more independently set up and configure the Mifos X system for the first time. 
  • Ideal goal is to allow a financial institution to fully configure Mifos without any manual intervention or support from an individual - from signing up for the cloud to moving into production, they should be able to do everything on their own. 





Description

This project would involve building into the Mifos X Web App a self-guided configuration wizard.

Upon initial log-in, user will be prompted with a wizard as part of the Community App that will walk them through the first stages of configuring Mifos. The wizard which is optional and can declined, should provide the user the necessary prompts to guide them through the administrative setup of their organization and hierarchical structure, configuration of staff and roles and permissions, configuration of financial accounting, creation and configuration of loan and savings products, configuration of reporting and initial data entry. 


  • Wizard should provide both overlays on the screen as well as advance user to specific areas of the application. 
  • Wizard should refer to and reference documentation and video tutorials as much as possible.
  • Wizard should follow steps outlined in the Initial System Setup and Pre-Configuration Plan


Helpful SkillsHTML, Spring, Hibernate, REST, Java, AngularJS, Javascript, SQL  
Impact

Ability to measure social impact and have one single point of information on a client within the platformFinancial institutions can more easily adopt the software and increase the scale of our social mission.

Other Resources

See

Social+Performance+Management+Framework

These are the legacy docs on the old question group functionality: https://mifosforge.jira.com/wiki/display/MIFOS/Question+Groups+and+PPI
and http://www.flossmanuals.net/mifos-user-manual/how-to-add-a-question-group/

Wireframes

Extend Mifos Data Import Tool

  • Import for other types of data not currently supported
  • Integrate into platform
  • Populate date using bulk APIs
  • Enable office-level imports for larger organizations who find it too cumbersome to migrate an entire organizations worth of data at once
    Mentors

     Nayan Ambali, Kyriakos Patsias

    Overview & Objectives

    Data migration can be one of the most challenging and time-consuming phases of an implementation of a core banking system. In 2013, GSOC intern, Avik Ganguly, built our data import tool for generating pre-configured Excel templates to migrate data into Mifos X. In 2014, Diunuge, extended this to other types of information in Mifos X along with integrating it from a stand-alone web app to a core part of the platform. The data import tool is now the foundation for all of our data migration tools.

    It has become a critical part of independent and partner-led deployments

    This project would continue to extend the data import tool with the following enhancements:

    • Integration into the Platform: Current implementation is stand-alone and user has to install separately from Fineract - has to be deployed, user downloads templates, adds data, uses remote call against Fineract REST API
    • Templates at Office/Staff Level: Currently all download templates try to fetch data for entire organization which becomes problematic when you have larger oganizations (10 branches/10000customers) - templates should be specific to office or given staff
    • Extend functional coverage of data import tool - Data import tool didn't cover all functionalities - want to upload bulk chart of accounts, data tables, etc.o new types of data and APIs that need to be imported, enabling office-level import, and continued integration into the platform.
    • Batch APIs - instead of single thread, make use of executing services and start configured thread - if hundred objects are created - JDBC template - batch APIs- some entities.
    Description
    Helpful SkillsJava (Spring/JPA/Jersey), SQL , JavaScript , Git, Apache POI
    Impact

    It has many impacts

    1. This drastically reduces the time to set up of initial configuration/data of Mifos X for organization adopting this system as MIS.
    2. For data entry operator, this feature can be used as bulk creation option (such as import bulk loans, import clients)
    3. These templates can be used as offline store. And once user has internet connectivity can upload these templates with captured data.
    Other Resources2016 Design for Integration of Data Import Tool - https://cwiki.


    Extend Surveys & SPM Framework

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    Financial Inclusion providers need a comprehensive view into the overall livelihood of their client both for better risk analysis, credit scoring, as well as social performance management.

    Description

    We have the back-end in place for a surveys/social performance management framework that allows the import of XMLs for the PPI (progress out of poverty index) SPM scorecard. We need to implement a front-end UI for viewing and recording PPI surveys as well as a UI in which to create new surveys from scratch (similar to Question Groups in an older version of software).


    1) Build out the UI for creating survey from available PPI scorecard
    2) Capture/record surveys from a given entity in the web app
    3) View recorded surveys from the web ap
    4) Interface to create new surveys from scratch via the UI

    See Resources below for specs/wireframes.

    Helpful SkillsHTML, Spring, Hibernate, REST, Java, AngularJS, SQL  
    Impact

    Ability to measure social impact and have one single point of information on a client within the platform.

    Other ResourcesBulkdata+Import

    GSOC 2013 - Data Import Tool

    GSoC 2014 - Data Import/Export feature

    Scalability & Performance Enhancements for Supporting Millions of Clients

    ...

    ...

    As Mifos X has matured as a core banking platform, it's been adopted and used by larger institutions serving hundreds of thousands and even millions of clients. Partners operating cloud-hosted subscription models are also supporting hundreds of thousands of clients across their multi-tenant installations. We need to benchmark, analyze and improve the performance and scalability of the system.

    ...

    Enhancements to the back-end platform will include parallelization of all the jobs with a configurable amount of concurrency, look at the explain plans of the queries being used in the jobs, paginate input queries for jobs, put lazy fetching where required, node-aware scheduler and cache, office-wise configurable jobs to distribute job-load across servers and write some tests to prove that the concurrency will work for a decent amount of scale.

    In addition, you'll provide some metrics which can help mid-sized MFIs (those having around a million active loans) in adopting Mifos X.

    ...

    Static Analysis of Apache Fineract

    ...

    ...

    As our product is core banking platform and our clients are financial institutions, we strive hard to make our code base as secure as possible. However, due to ever increasing security threats and vulnerabilities, it is the need of hour that we analyse our code base in depth for security vulnerabilities. During pull request merge process, we have a process in place wherein we do peer code review,QA and integration tests. This practice has been very effective and our community is already reaping the benefits of such a strong code review process. However, we should test our code against the standard vulnerabilities which have been identified by reputed organisations like Mitre to gain more confidence.It has become a critical part of independent and partner-led deployments

    ...

    We can make use of opensource tools like JlintFindbugs , SonarQube or frameworks like  Total output Integration Framework (TOIF) - used by companies dedicated to produce military grade secure systems. 

    It would be worthwhile, if we can dedicate one GSOC project for this analysis. The student would be responsible to analyse the findings, generate reports, identify if it is really a bug and then submit a fix after consultation from the community. Of course, the student needs to demonstrate some basic understanding of security vulnerabilities( like buffer overflow etc) and should have some academic level of experience working with static analysis tools.

    ...

    Improved security keeping the integrity and privacy of the underbank's financial data intact.

    ...

    Front Desk Service Module / Experience Module

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    Before booking a loan, the customer needs to require and assess the details of the loan he is enquiring for and there is no way to personally judge it, based on the parameters, Sales staff right now is using different external loan calculator and loan product schemes are not documented. We need a frontend experience service with personalized match to loan products.

    DescriptionThe staff or customer should be able to enter their requirements before applying for a loan, like Loan amount, what kind of loan product he is interested in, and based on a questionnaire or a survey he should be presented a view where loan products are personally matched based on recommendation engine.After setting basic loan parameters, customer should be able to get a quote and then will be transferred to CRM given by Ankit Sharma
    Helpful SkillsANDROID UI, Integrating Backend Service, MIFOS X
    ImpactStreamlined sales, Staff and Customer Better Interaction
    Other Resourceshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/18rS0gVWkjQvNdRnNj40uKNl32zuTh-uuzNv161n6YrY/edit?usp=sharing

    Extend Mifos Data Import Tool

    Mentors

     Nayan Ambali, Kyriakos Patsias

    Overview & Objectives

    Data migration can be one of the most challenging and time-consuming phases of an implementation of a core banking system. In 2013, GSOC intern, Avik Ganguly, built our data import tool for generating pre-configured Excel templates to migrate data into Mifos X. In 2014, Diunuge, extended this to other types of information in Mifos X along with integrating it from a stand-alone web app to a core part of the platform. The data import tool is now the foundation for all of our data migration tools.

    It has become a critical part of independent and partner-led deployments

    This project would continue to extend the data import tool with the following enhancements:

    • Integration into the Platform: Current implementation is stand-alone and user has to install separately from Fineract - has to be deployed, user downloads templates, adds data, uses remote call against Fineract REST API
    • Templates at Office/Staff Level: Currently all download templates try to fetch data for entire organization which becomes problematic when you have larger oganizations (10 branches/10000customers) - templates should be specific to office or given staff
    • Extend functional coverage of data import tool - Data import tool didn't cover all functionalities - want to upload bulk chart of accounts, data tables, etc.o new types of data and APIs that need to be imported, enabling office-level import, and continued integration into the platform.
    • Batch APIs - instead of single thread, make use of executing services and start configured thread - if hundred objects are created - JDBC template - batch APIs- some entities.
    Description
    • Import for other types of data not currently supported
    • Integrate into platform
    • Populate date using bulk APIs
    • Enable office-level imports for larger organizations who find it too cumbersome to migrate an entire organizations worth of data at once

    Helpful SkillsJava (Spring/JPA/Jersey), SQL , JavaScript , Git, Apache POI
    Impact

    It has many impacts

    1. This drastically reduces the time to set up of initial configuration/data of Mifos X for organization adopting this system as MIS.
    2. For data entry operator, this feature can be used as bulk creation option (such as import bulk loans, import clients)
    3. These templates can be used as offline store. And once user has internet connectivity can upload these templates with captured data.
    Other Resources

    2016 Design for Integration of Data Import Tool - https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/FINERACT/Bulkdata+Import

    GSOC 2013 - Data Import Tool

    GSoC 2014 - Data Import/Export feature

    Scalability & Performance Enhancements for Supporting Millions of Clients


    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    As Mifos X has matured as a core banking platform, it's been adopted and used by larger institutions serving hundreds of thousands and even millions of clients. Partners operating cloud-hosted subscription models are also supporting hundreds of thousands of clients across their multi-tenant installations. We need to benchmark, analyze and improve the performance and scalability of the system.

    Description


    Enhancements to the back-end platform will include parallelization of all the jobs with a configurable amount of concurrency, look at the explain plans of the queries being used in the jobs, paginate input queries for jobs, put lazy fetching where required, node-aware scheduler and cache, office-wise configurable jobs to distribute job-load across servers and write some tests to prove that the concurrency will work for a decent amount of scale.

    In addition, you'll provide some metrics which can help mid-sized MFIs (those having around a million active loans) in adopting Mifos X.


    Helpful SkillsJava, Javascript, Spring, JAX-RS, JPA,
    ImpactHigher outreach to the unbanked by supporting larger institutions and scaling more rapidly.
    Other Resources


    Static Analysis of Apache Fineract

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    As our product is core banking platform and our clients are financial institutions, we strive hard to make our code base as secure as possible. However, due to ever increasing security threats and vulnerabilities, it is the need of hour that we analyse our code base in depth for security vulnerabilities. During pull request merge process, we have a process in place wherein we do peer code review,QA and integration tests. This practice has been very effective and our community is already reaping the benefits of such a strong code review process. However, we should test our code against the standard vulnerabilities which have been identified by reputed organisations like Mitre to gain more confidence.It has become a critical part of independent and partner-led deployments

    Description

    We can make use of opensource tools like JlintFindbugs , SonarQube or frameworks like  Total output Integration Framework (TOIF) - used by companies dedicated to produce military grade secure systems. 

    It would be worthwhile, if we can dedicate one GSOC project for this analysis. The student would be responsible to analyse the findings, generate reports, identify if it is really a bug and then submit a fix after consultation from the community. Of course, the student needs to demonstrate some basic understanding of security vulnerabilities( like buffer overflow etc) and should have some academic level of experience working with static analysis tools.


    Helpful SkillsJava (Spring/JPA/Jersey), SQL , JavaScript , Git, Apache POI
    Impact

    Improved security keeping the integrity and privacy of the underbank's financial data intact.

    Other ResourcesStatic Analysis of Apache Fineract Project- A GSOC project idea

    Front Desk Service Module / Experience Module

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    Before booking a loan, the customer needs to require and assess the details of the loan he is enquiring for and there is no way to personally judge it, based on the parameters, Sales staff right now is using different external loan calculator and loan product schemes are not documented. We need a frontend experience service with personalized match to loan products.

    DescriptionThe staff or customer should be able to enter their requirements before applying for a loan, like Loan amount, what kind of loan product he is interested in, and based on a questionnaire or a survey he should be presented a view where loan products are personally matched based on recommendation engine.After setting basic loan parameters, customer should be able to get a quote and then will be transferred to CRM given by Ankit Sharma
    Helpful SkillsANDROID UI, Integrating Backend Service, MIFOS X
    ImpactStreamlined sales, Staff and Customer Better Interaction
    Other Resources

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/18rS0gVWkjQvNdRnNj40uKNl32zuTh-uuzNv161n6YrY/edit?usp=sharing

    Integrating FINOCIAL.AI / Machine Learning Build Model and Predict  Module

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    In the current version of the MIFOS X/Apache Fineract there is no way where we can infuse the product to machine learning straight to the Algorithms and then start predicting around certain entities and models or domains with integration of finocial.ai we can now do that by including a lib which will send data to the existing cluster running a finocial.ai and letting the partners/FI to decide what kind of learning tool they want to use and generate a POJO or MODEL and thus start predicting using that MODEL

    Description

    Major use cases are predicting BAD Loans Or GOOD Loans, Predicting Fraud ,RISK and many other predictions which FI wants to do on certain Domain, Logic where FI can utilise to understand customer in a better way.

    FINOCIAL.AI Provides better way Personal profile data, spending history, social media data, transaction data, asset information and demographic data can provide a much more holistic view of a prospective client, instead of past credit scores. In this age of data abundance, the financial services industry can take advantage of new data sources when approaching a decision to approve a purchase or a credit card application, stop a withdrawal or recommend new financial products.

    Helpful SkillsJAVA, Integrating Backend Service, MIFOS X, Apache Fineract, FINOCIAL.AI
    ImpactStreamlined Operations, Better RISK Management, Automated Response Mechanism
    Other Resources
    http://portal.finocial.org

    Integrating FINOCIAL.CHAIN / Private Blockchain to Enable FI to Perform DIGITAL 3.0 Transactions with Everyone

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    Finocial.Chain is a private Open Source blockchain platforms for FI/MFI and Everyone which will enable customers and FI to transact directly without a network dependency.

    It allows any FI to securitise customer data and perform different kind of transactions in different Entities of MIFOS X such as Smart Contracts, Managing Digital Identity and Running their own economy of Currency

    Description

    Remittances

    Micropayments

    Mobile Money

    Services for the Underbanked

    Digital Assets

    Finocial Contracts


    Helpful SkillsJAVA, Integrating Backend Service, MIFOS X, Apache Fineract, FINOCIAL.CHAIN API
    ImpactCustomisable Payments and Transaction Level Infra
    Other Resources
    http://portal.finocial.org

     Integration of Egalite Agent Banking App 

    ...

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    Because of regulatory reasons or to do background check of a client (risk management), MFIs depend on credit bureaus. As part of it, MFI must submit client details to credit bureau and also need to pull client information from credit bureau before approving any new loans to a client.Mifos X can be integrated with a popular CBs in India and from other regions (based on the demand).

    Description

    During the 2016 Google Summer of Code, Nikhil Pawar, completed the credit bureau integration module with integrations for the major credit bureaus in India. This project will continue extending the functionality of the module and work on integrations with the major credit bureaus in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

    The major functionality will be sending the data to CBs on regular intervals in the format CB expects. And option to pull the client’s information from CB whenever loan officer/branch manager/ user wants to view the information for a particular client.

    Helpful Skills SQL, Java, Javascript, Git, Web Services, Big Data (Hadoop, Hive)
    Impact

    The credit report shows account information such as repayment record, defaults, type of loan, amount of loan, etc. of the customer. This information facilitates prudent decision-making when the credit underwriter processes the loan application. This help MFI to reduce the risk of bad loans and reduces the multiple lendings to same person from different MFIs.

    Other Resources

    Detailed requirements https://goo.gl/aZWMZa

    Mifos Credit bureau Integration. (Risk calibration Module -RCM)

    Source Code: https://github.com/apache/incubator-fineract/pull/215

    ETL-Based Data Migration Tool for Loan Performer to Mifos X

    ...

    Mentors
    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 grown. Their core system needs to provide more and more CRM-type functionality that compliment the portfolio management and financial/social reporting that 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 options to click-through to get the complete history of each request.

    Helpful Skillsfamiliarity with Mifos X tech architecture, angular js,node js, java,Spring, backend integration
    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 

    JPOS Integration - Point of Sale Cash Out

    Mentors
    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 .


    Impact
    Other Resources

    https://github.com/jpos/jPOS/

    Security Penetration testing

    MentorsMark Reynolds
    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 SkillsCandidates applying for this project would ideally have prior experience in penetration testing, and document this in their application.
    ImpactRe-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/

    http://wapiti.sourceforge.net

    Run FindBugs & related tools for some serious static code analysis

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penetration_test

    ...

    Mentors
    Overview & Objectives

    Create a POC of a scalable MifosX implementation on OpenShift. Also publish a whitepaper with details of this set up.

    Description

    Mifos X 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:

    • Propose a scalable deployment model for Mifos on the OpenShift PaaS. Your application should highlight a starting point with some details of your planned deployment architecture, as Mentors would be not giving you step-by-step instructions in this project, just "nudge" you along; you would be expected to learn about how to deploy Mifos yourself and by autonomously using the documentation available and help from the public mailing list and IRC channel, and figure out the details of the Cloud deployment.

    • Propose how the above proposed model could be contributed to Mifos in the form of e.g. ready-to-run "configurations" etc. allowing ANYONE to deploy THE LATEST VERSION of Mifos in the Cloud themselves, and then implement this approach in practice. (Contrast this with a "one-off exercise", e.g. taking the current Mifos X WAR file, and UI, and manually making some changes to it, and then manually deploying that to some Cloud PaaS - this would not be sufficient for this project's expectations.)

    • Implement a Continuous Deployment "Devops" EXAMPLE instance of this scalable blueprint using the latest nightly Mifos build artifacts.

    • Publish a high level whitepaper of the same, which can be used as a reference for local implementors, who would additionally take care of provisioning their own hardware. This documentation should be ideally high-level, and what it described much be automated; only providing lengthy step-by-step manual instructions would not be sufficient for this project's expectations.

    To prepare for this project, applying students must demonstrate at least that they have already successfully locally built and ran a Mifos X REST back-end server and UI, populated the database etc. as well as provided a simple pull request proposing some minimal deployment related improvement.

    Note that we now believe that a Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a more suitable foundation for this project than a raw Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform (such as Openstack, offered by public cloud provider such as e.g. Rackspace; or Azure, or raw Amazon EC2). This is because a PaaS, such OpenShift, already come with relevant features such as built-in, managed, supported and monitored HTTP load balancing (e.g. OpenShift comes with HAProxy).

    We are aware that OpenShift out-of-the-box currently does not provide supported clustering for the MariaDB/mysql database used by Mifos (there is documentation for un-supported example based on an OpenShift template and suggested descriptions on blog posts, or also this one based on Severalnines.com; similarly one could deploy the commercial Percona XtraDB Cluster product ). However at this point we believe that this would not be required, and that proper configuration on OpenStack of the already existing cache facility (incl. distributed cache invalidation) available in Mifos X will add more value at signficantly less operational complexity.

    You may need to develop some minor "adjustments" for Mifos X to work well in a PaaS. For example, writeable directories may be limited, and configuration changes may be needed to pick up allowed data directories from an environment variable configuration (but consider multi node distribution in this cluster setup!). Also a cloud PaaS like OpenShift may not support "always running" instances, and scheduled jobs may have to be configured to be kicked off via an explicit HTTP "wake up" request from a cron job.

    While OpenShift should already take care of automatic distribution of Mifos code (WAR) updates among nodes in the cluster, you may also have to consider distributed configuration in a cluster. Normally all Mifos X configuration should reside 100% fully in the database only, and as such this may be a non-issue. If however there are any customized configuration files, then perhaps something like the Spring Cloud project could be of interest to ease distributed configuration management.

    We are aware of other PaaS product similar to OpenShift, such as notably Cloud Foundry, or even Heroku (closed source..) but would suggest to use OpenShift.

    Helpful SkillsContinous Integration, UNIX, OpenStack, experience with any public cloud (AWS etc) and Percona Server is a plus, plus some minor Java coding required to adapt Mifos code to be able to pick up the database configuration from the OpenStack provided environment variable (and possibly automated Cache configuration tuning on OpenStack).
    ImpactImproves 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

    OpenShift https://www.openshift.com

    Old Mifos mailing list posts related to related things, search e.g. "mifos google app engine", and find as this one as well as this one.

    ...