Re: Google Summer of Code project concepts

[Cyril Roelandt <tipecaml@gmail.com>]

On 04/13/2013 12:19 AM, Chris Dale wrote:
>> Conversely, adding GNOME means packaging all the GNOME stack, which
>> includes dozens of related packages and tools, plus specific issues to
>> make sure it supports our file system layout.  It’s may be slightly less
>> difficult for GNUstep, but still quite involved.
>>
>> Is it something you would be interested in?
>>
>
> I would definitely like to get involved in making this more palatable. Not
> to mention it sounds like a challenge! I would definitely have to learn
> more about the workflow involved before I could draw up a proposal. I would
> have to ask: would the coding be primarily Guile or C?

The coding would primarily be done in Guile, but you'll probably need to 
be able to read the languages used by the DE you will be working on.

>
>> That’s already the case, in the sense that you can use it atop your
>> already running GNU/Linux system.
>>
> That's true. I was referring to having a nice little cocoon of Scheme all
> around me, so I could ignore the scary world outside :P
>
>> Again, I don’t clearly see what that integration would be, nor whether
>> it’s really in the scope of Guix as a project.  Surely having packages
>> for these in the distro is desirable, but that’s insufficient for a GSoC
>> project.
>>
>
> Yeah, that's fair. Hopefully I'd have time over the summer to package them
> up anyway!
>
> In the run-up to the proposal submission period, I'd like to have some
> experience packaging for Guix. Is there any particular piece of software
> that anyone would like me to focus on?

Is there any simple piece of software you use every day, but that is not 
packaged in Guix yet ? That might be a good starting point. You could 
also package a small WM, such as twm or wmii. We have support for the 
client-side of X in the core-updates branch, so you could package small 
GUI programs.

Cyril.