Title: [GSoC] Interested in implementing TAP 16 - Snapshot Merkle Trees

Hi @lukpueh and @JustinCappos,

I hope you’re doing well! My name is Eeshani, and I’m interested in contributing to the implementation of TAP 16 for Snapshot Merkle Trees in the python-tuf project as part of Google Summer of Code (GSoC) 2025.

Before I start working on my proposal, I wanted to reach out and ask a few questions regarding the project:

-Starting the Implementation: Could you provide more detailed guidance on how to begin implementing Snapshot Merkle Trees for TAP 16 in the python-tuf repository? Are there any specific areas or files I should focus on first?

-Testing Strategies: What testing strategies or tools would you recommend for validating the implementation of Snapshot Merkle Trees? Are there existing tests in the repository I should be aware of, or should I create new tests?

-Proposal Expectations: Is there anything specific you would like to see in my GSoC proposal for the implementation of TAP 16 that I might have missed? Any particular focus areas or details that would help you evaluate my proposal more effectively?

I would greatly appreciate any guidance you can offer!

Best regards,
Eeshani (@ennie191)
ennie19105@gmail.com

The issue names TAP 16 Snapshot Merkle Trees and the python-tuf repository but no files, tests, or acceptance criteria. Start by reviewing TAP 16 and the relevant python-tuf implementation and tests; the issue does not define what completion should look like, so maintainer guidance is needed before work can begin.