Caitlin Whisner

Contact information

• Your Name: Caitlin Whisner

• Email Address: c.k.whisner@clarion.edu

• IRC nickname:

• Launchpad ID: ckwhisner

• Skype username:

• Webpage/blog:

• College-University: Clarion University of Pennsylvania

• Majors: Computer Science, Information Systems

I also can be reached by BlackBerry PIN #30FF97FD and Facebook.

Project

• Project Name:

  • Developer Hub

• Project Description:

  • The Developer's Hub will be a lightweight application that will connect Ubuntu developers to important resources sprawled across the web. It will be able to help out beginning Ubuntu developers find their place in Linux, as well as help from more experienced programmers. It can connect programmers to each other, helping spur more Open Source projects. It will interface with LaunchPad, Ubuntu One, and Ubuntu Forums to provide everything the user needs.
    
    It will be primarily based on a help and resource engine. What libraries do I need? Where I can find x snippet of code? These are the type of questions this application will help answer. It will also feature a custom Linux-related only search engine, providing fast and accurate information.
    
    The application can also be very helpful to new users. The power search will include Ubuntu Forums, Bug Reports, and other reputable how-to and troubleshooting sites, making an easy-to-use window to the depths of information available online.

• If you would be willing and able to do other projects instead, which ones?

  • Yes, I find the "TestDrive Front End" project very interesting. It would be great to work with virtual machines and gain experience in them. I would be very excited to work with Ubuntu in any project.

• Why did you like this idea?

  • I feel it can help a great deal of users of all levels of expertise. A user could find a simple fix or in-depth programming theory discussion. This application can help remove the "I don't know how" excuse for not switching to Linux. A move to Ubuntu will be made simpler for non-experienced users.

• Please describe a tentative project architecture or an approach to it:

  • The application will be split into two distinctive layers. The "bottom" layer will interface with the network and provide access to the online features. It will also be responsible for rendering the web features, including web pages and forums. Much of this will be created using the API's available. Hopefully, it will also permit messaging, file transfers, connections to Ubuntu Forums, Launchpad, and Ubuntu One.
    
    The "top" layer will be the user interface. It will create a platform for beginning developers to access Ubuntu Forums, tutorials, development guides and many web resources all in one place.
    
    Other aspects of the program will be web based. The Linux search, for example, will be hosted online and then rendered in the application.

• Give us details about the milestones for this project:

Already Completed:
1. Custom Linux Power Search

TODO:
1. Connection to Web Interfaces

1. Rendering the Web
2. Rendering specific interfaces

   1. LaunchPad

   2. Ubuntu One

2. Create GNOME Interface

1. Correct Web Rendering
2. Thoroughly Test API's

3. Integrate Forums & Custom Search

   1. Custom Search Tweaking

3. Web-based Content
4. Instant Messaging
5. Create KDE Interface

Like TODO:
1. File Transfers
2. Other Desktop Environments
3. Extensive Offline Help
4. Other Ubuntu based and Debian based Linux Distros?
5. Edubuntu and Programming Student specific editions?

• Why will your proposal benefit Ubuntu? This will serve as a great help for all developers using Ubuntu. I hope this will make Ubuntu appear more attractive to all developers, and atract more people to this operating system.

Open Source

• Why are you interested in Open Source? I believe that all science and research benefits whenever information is shared between peers. Open Source allows for information in computer science and development to be seen and used so that it furthers individuals' goals and projects. Not only does it provide a great service by giving away free software, helping other fields, but lets the little guy get his hands in on a big project.

Availability

• How long will the project take? When can you begin? This project should take up to two months to complete, depending on the number of features I can implement. I can begin May 9th.

• How much time do you expect to dedicate to this project? I will be able to work on this project between 25 to 30 hours per week.

• Where will you based during the summer? I will be at home, very close to my university. I will have access to the university's resources during the summer months as well.

• Do you have any commitments for the summer? I am going to take a few summer classes. They will be "gen ed's" and will not require the time and energy of high level classes. I will schedule for those classes next week, and will be able to provide more accurate information at that time.

• Please designate a back up student (in case you need to withdraw your application)

Other

• Have you applied for any other 2010 Summer of Code projects? If yes, which ones? No, I have not applied for any previous Google Summer of Code programs.

• hy did you apply for the Google Summer of Code? I would really love to join this program and have an opportunity to give all my attention to developing Open Source projects over the summer. I always wanted to devote my time to Open Source, but have yet to have the time.

• Why did you choose Ubuntu as a mentoring organisation? I have loved Ubuntu since the first time I tried it. I find operating systems to be an extremely interesting topic of computer science, and want to gain as much experience working with different aspects of them as possible. I have been using Linux for a couple years now, and hope to entice other users.

• Why do you want to participate and why should Ubuntu choose you? I have an unique academic experience in a full spectrum of computer topics and concepts. I will be able to bring my experience working with networks and information systems with my programming and programming theory knowledge together in order to benefit one of my favorite things in the world: Ubuntu. It will not only be a great learning experience that I'm sure I'll talk about for years, but also it will hopefully attract more potential users and developers to Open Source and Ubuntu.