Difference between revisions of "GSoC Ideas"

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This page contains a list of ideas about projects/tasks for the ScummVM and the ResidualVM projects which we feel are relatively substantial (and so appropriate for at least ''part'' of a Google [[Summer of Code]] project), and accessible to newcomers with good C++ knowledge.
This page contains a list of ideas about projects/tasks for the ScummVM and the ResidualVM projects which we feel are relatively substantial (and so appropriate for at least ''part'' of a Google [[Summer of Code]] project), and accessible to newcomers with good C++ knowledge.


This is just the few projects that we have come with ourselves, and there are many many other tasks which would be helpful to the project - many ScummVM engines have their own TODO lists, and some large tasks are available related to ResidualVM engines.
These are just the few projects that we have come up with ourselves, and there are many many other tasks which would be helpful to the project - many ScummVM engines have their own TODO lists, and there are large tasks related to ResidualVM engines.


Of course, if you are not participating in Summer of Code, you are also very welcome to try working on one of these projects.
Of course, if you are not participating in Summer of Code, you are also very welcome to try working on one of these projects.
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__TOC__
__TOC__
== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
For the first year, [http://www.residualvm.org ResidualVM] will be participating to the Google Summer of Code as a guest of ScummVM. Therefore, we added a note concerning the origin of each tasks so that you can easily determine if some 3D knowledge may be involved in the tasks or not.


The projects below are sketches and ideas. Our project changes over time, so if you're not reading this during the Summer of Code application period, the descriptions might be outdated by the time you read them (although we strive to keep them up-to-date). You should talk with somebody from the team, ideally with someone listed as a possible technical contact, before starting work on any of them.
The projects below are sketches and ideas. Our project changes over time, so if you're not reading this during the Summer of Code application period, the descriptions might be outdated by the time you read them (although we strive to keep them up-to-date). You should talk with somebody from the team, ideally with someone listed as a possible technical contact, before starting work on any of them.
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Most developers are active in our [[IRC Channel]], and that is often the easiest way to ask questions about the tasks and the code in general. '''You should come to our IRC channel and introduce yourself.''' The channel is the main form of everyday communication for the project, and there will almost always be developers there who can discuss your project ideas and answer questions.
Most developers are active in our [[IRC Channel]], and that is often the easiest way to ask questions about the tasks and the code in general. '''You should come to our IRC channel and introduce yourself.''' The channel is the main form of everyday communication for the project, and there will almost always be developers there who can discuss your project ideas and answer questions.


You must follow our [[Coding Conventions]]. In particular, note that you can't use the standard C++ library for code used inside ScummVM itself. Using it for a non-essential tool should be fine, though.
== Summer of Code Applications ==
The ideas here are meant to be just that - '''ideas'''. You should also consider suggesting your own completely new project ideas, or to suggest a modified version of one of our ideas, or a combination of ideas. Not all the ideas might be substantial enough for the whole of GSoC, while other ideas might be far too much work. We expect you to consider this in your application and proposed schedule.


All code, unless stated differently (for example, platform-specific code), must be written in clean and portable C++; in particular, various versions of both GCC and Visual Studio must be able to compile it. We also have some [[Code Formatting Conventions]].
When writing this application, remember that the application has several important purposes. First of all, it should identify the objectives of your project (what you intend to get done). Furthermore, it needs to convince us your project is worth the effort we will be putting into mentoring it. Last, but not least, it should convince us that you are the right person for this task.


We only accept clean and maintainable code. This is a somewhat vague requirement, but as a rule of thumb, if the code does what it is supposed to do, but is not extensible, a quick hack, or we need to rewrite it from scratch to properly integrate it, we will not accept it. In particular, we would rather have a maintainable, clean and incomplete piece of code that we could extend, than a complete but unmaintainable piece of code.
In particular, your application is your opportunity to show us that you understand what you'll be doing for the task! We expect you to demonstrate that you've spent some of your own time thinking about it. A good example of what we do ''not'' want to see in your application is a copy of the text from our version of an idea's description.


Finally: All of the code submitted must be contributed under the terms of the GPL v2+.
You '''must''' read the Summer of Code [[Summer of Code/Project Rules | Project Rules]], which are '''obligatory''' for our students, and tell you what you should do '''before you apply'''. There are also some [[Summer of Code/Students Guidelines | Guidelines]] for our students.


== [[Summer of Code]] Applications ==
We don't expect you to produce a perfect application without any help at all (although of course, that would be even more impressive), but we do expect you to show some independent insight into the task you've chosen, and to be willing to improve it based on our feedback and comments.
The ideas here are meant to be just that - '''ideas'''. You should also consider suggesting your own completely new project ideas, or to suggest a modified version of one of our ideas, or a combination of ideas. Not all the ideas might be substantial enough for the whole of GSoC, while other ideas might be far too much work. We expect you to consider this in your application and proposed schedule.


You '''must''' read the Summer of Code [[Summer of Code/Project Rules | Project Rules]], which are '''obligatory''' for our students, and tell you what you should do '''before you apply'''. There are also some [[Summer of Code/Students Guidelines | Guidelines]] for our students.
=== Application template ===


Your application should have at least the following information (adapted from the FreeBSD [http://www.freebsd.org/projects/summerofcode.html Proposal Guidelines]):
Your application should have at least the following information (adapted from the FreeBSD guidelines):


* '''Name'''
* ''Name''
* '''Email'''
* ''Email''
* '''Online nicks'''
* ''Online nicks''
: Please list the nicknames of the communication channels you plan to use to keep in touch with us. For example, list your IRC (on FreeNode) nick here.
: You should at least add your IRC (freenode) nickname here.
* '''Project Title'''
* ''Project Title''
: State precisely what your project is about. 40 characters is usually a good upper limit.
: State precisely what you intend your project to be about. 40 characters is usually a good upper limit.
* '''Possible Mentor''' (optional)
* ''Possible Mentor'' (optional)
* '''Benefits to the ScummVM Community'''
* ''Benefits to the ScummVM Community''
: A good project will not just be fun to work on, but also generally useful to others.
: A good project will not just be fun to work on, but also generally useful to others. Why do you think it's a good project for us?
* '''Deliverables'''
* ''Deliverables''
: The deliverables will be used to evaluate your progress/success at the mid-term/final evaluations. Thus, it is very important to list quantifiable results here (this does not need to be a simple list!) e.g.
: The deliverables will be used to evaluate your progress/success at the mid-term/final evaluations, so it's very important that you list some clear goals here. Some examples:
:* "Improve X modules in ways Y and Z."
:* "Get scene X in game Y working."
:* "Write 3 new man pages for the new interfaces."
:* "Improve feature X in ways Y and Z."
:* "Fix bug Z in game Q."
:* "Write documentation for the new interfaces."
:* "Improve test coverage by writing X more unit/regression tests."
:* "Improve test coverage by writing X more unit/regression tests."
:* "Improve performance in FOO by X%."
:* "Improve performance in this game scene by 20%."
: Make sure there is a clearly visible set of '''goals''' that need to be accomplished for your project to be considered successful. It is also encouraged to list additional goals you plan to accomplish in the course of your project if everything goes as expected. You already explained why your project is beneficial for us, however, here you should motivate why a goal is required for your success or just optional. Make sure not to mix the description of a goal with this.
: Make sure there is a clearly visible set of '''goals''' that need to be accomplished for your project to be considered successful. It is also encouraged to list additional goals you plan to accomplish in the course of your project if everything goes as expected.
: In addition to the mere goals of your project define '''milestones'''. A milestone should be connected to the progress/accomplishment of goals. You should, at the very least, define 2 (two) milestones here. Again, describe the milestones and elaborate on your reasons for defining exactly these milestones. When you plan to accomplish the milestones will be handled in the schedule and not here.
: You should be sure to justify whether a goal is vital for the success of your project, or just optional, but be make sure not to mix this up with the description of the goals themselves.
* '''Project Schedule'''
: Finally, be sure to describe some '''milestones''', your targets for the project. A milestone should be connected to the progress/accomplishment of goals. You should, at the very least, define 2 (two) milestones here. Again, describe the milestones and elaborate on your reasons for defining exactly these milestones. When you plan to accomplish the milestones will be handled in the schedule and not here.
: Create a proposed schedule with (at least) the granularity of weeks. This schedule should (among other things) explain how long your project will take and when you can begin to work on it, and you should connect the weeks to the Summer of Code schedule, i.e. clearly make the start, mid-term evaluations, etc. visible. There are multiple ways to organize this, we trust you to find the best way to present your schedule. Obviously we want to see a connection between your goals and your schedule: be sure to elaborate why you think X takes time Y and what possible issues might arise here; obviously your schedule will probably change once you've started working on your project, so we want to know what kind of risks and problems you think might cause such changes. Last but not least, put a fixed date for each milestone you defined here. We want at least one milestone before the mid-term.
* ''Project Schedule''
* '''Availability'''
: Create a proposed schedule with (at least) the granularity of weeks. This schedule should (among other things) explain how long your project will take and when you can begin to work on it, and you should connect the weeks to the Summer of Code schedule, i.e. clearly make the start, mid-term evaluations, etc. visible. There are multiple ways to organize this, we trust you to find the best way to present your schedule.
: How many hours per week can you spend working on this? What other obligations do you have this summer?
: Obviously we want to see a connection between your goals and your schedule: be sure to elaborate why you think X takes time Y and what possible issues might arise here; obviously your schedule will probably change once you've started working on your project, so we want to know what kind of risks and problems you think might cause such changes.
* '''Skype ID'''
: Last but not least, put a fixed date for each milestone you defined here. We want at least one milestone before the mid-term.
* ''Availability''
: How many hours per week can you spend working on this? What other obligations do you have this summer? Be honest if you're not going to have time in some weeks (due to exams, or vacation, or other work), and explain how plan to make this up.
* ''Skype ID''
: If you don't use Skype, install it.
: If you don't use Skype, install it.
* '''Phone Number'''
* ''Phone Number''
: Cellular is preferable, for emergency contacts.
: Cellular is preferable, for emergency contacts.
* '''Timezone'''
* ''Timezone''
: Where do you live.
: Where do you live.
* '''Bio'''
* ''Bio''
: The two main questions you should answer here are:
: The two main questions you should answer here are:
:* Who are you?
:* Who are you?
:* What makes you the best person to work on this project?
:* What makes you the best person to work on this project?
: Make sure you fill this with some life. We would like to know your age and university year for example. Also, explain your connection to ScummVM in the general and to your project in specific. What experience do you have with C++ or other languages required in your project? Have you taken university courses which you think will be helpful? Did you work on any projects we can take a look at? Do you think you will learn anything from your proposed project (if yes, explain what)?
: Make sure you fill this with some life. We would like to know your age and university year for example. Also, explain your connection to ScummVM in the general and to your project in specific. What experience do you have with C++ or other languages required in your project? Have you taken university courses which you think will be helpful? Did you work on any projects we can take a look at? Do you think you will learn anything from your proposed project (if yes, explain what)?
* '''Pull Request'''
* ''Pull Request''
: A link to the pull request you submitted as part of our [[Summer of Code/Project Rules | Project Rules]]
: A link to the pull request you submitted as part of our [[Summer of Code/Project Rules | Project Rules]]


When writing this application, keep in mind that the application serves multiple purposes. First of all, it should identify the objectives of your project, i.e. what should be done. Furthermore, it needs to convince us your project is worth a slot/mentoring. Last but not least, it should convince us that you are indeed the right person for this task. A good example of what we do not want to see in your application is a copy of our version of an idea's description.
=== Coding Rules ===
 
You must follow our [[Coding Conventions]]. In particular, note that you can't use the standard C++ library for code used inside ScummVM itself. Using it for a non-essential tool should be fine, though.
 
All code, unless stated differently (for example, platform-specific code), must be written in clean and portable C++; in particular, various versions of both GCC and Visual Studio must be able to compile it. We also have some [[Code Formatting Conventions]].
 
We only accept clean and maintainable code. This is a somewhat vague requirement, but as a rule of thumb, if the code does what it is supposed to do, but is not extensible, a quick hack, or we need to rewrite it from scratch to properly integrate it, we will not accept it. In particular, we would rather have a maintainable, clean and incomplete piece of code that we could extend, than a complete but unmaintainable piece of code.
 
Finally: All of the code submitted must be contributed under the terms of the GPL v2+.


== ScummVM Projects ==
== ScummVM Projects ==
193

edits

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