[GSoC 2009] Fedora 12 Feature Proposal

[Grady Laksmono]

Hi everyone,
I'm applying to the Google Summer of Code 2009 program this year, and I'm
interested to add Amber as part of the Fedora 12 feature. The following is
my proposal, and I would like some feedback or comments from all of you:
Proposal Description

When I was a Fedora Ambassador, I was also trying to contribute to the Amber
Project [3].

The Amber project is a web application and client side program designed to
allow users to search for, browse, comment on, and rate software
applications available for Fedora and potentially other Linux distributions
and repositories.

I had the chance to play around with the application on the local machine
for sometimes, but I was too busy with my schedule so I didn't have as much
time to contribute to the project. For Google Summer of Code 2009, I would
like to develop the Amber client side program and made this project as part
of the feature to come for Fedora 12. In the long run, this application
could be extended to allow users installing the application.

The Amber project will benefit the Fedora users by informing them about a
certain applications. When a user is new to Linux, especially Fedora, it is
difficult for them to find a substitution for a proprietary software. When
they use Google to find the application that may best suits them, Google
will gives so many open source applications. The user may want to look
through the application forum, other blog comments about the software, etc.
This task is very tidious and could be wrap into one place, which is the
idea behind the Amber project itself.

I had a lot of background in the web development. Please refer to my CV for
more information [2].

Since Amber is a web application, there must be a database to store all of
the list of applications. Therefore, the client side program must query to
this database to create the list of applications for the users view.
Developing a simple UI of the client side program is the first step in the
process, and then creating a connectiong to the database to pull out the
information that will be displayed on the main panel of the program, display
the information neatly, and then, add additional functionalities to the
program.
 Schedule of Deliverables

*April 20, 2009 - May 22, 2009
*

   - Get familiar with the Fedora feature development and process
   - Get familiar with the Amber codebase
   - Design
   - Mockups

*May 23, 2009 - July 5, 2009
*

   - Begin coding
   - User Interface
   - Connecting to database
   - Display information on the main content panel
   - Testing

*July 6, 2009*

   - User Interface is completed
   - Connecting to database established
   - Information has been displayed in the content panel accordingly
   - Midterm Evaluation

*July 7, 2009 - August 9, 2009*

   - Extend features of the client program
   - Optimization
   - Testing

*August 10, 2009 - August 23, 2009
*

   - Pencil down
   - Documentation
   - Polishing

*August 24, 2009*

   - Final Evaluation

[1]
http://laksmono.com/2008/05/23/los-angeles-fedora-9-release-party-success

[2] http://laksmono.com/curriculum-vitae/

[3] https://fedorahosted.org/amber/wiki

[4] https://fedorahosted.org/amber/wiki/Definition
Please let me know. Thanks a lot!

Grady Laksmono
www.laksmono.com