Re: Google of Summer of Code '17

[Gavin Smith]

On 27 January 2017 at 04:03, Per Bothner <address@hidden> wrote:
> How about adding this to the GNU GSoC project page:
> https://www.gnu.org/software/soc-projects/ideas-2017.html
>
> (Last years's is
> https://www.gnu.org/software/soc-projects/ideas-2016.html#texinfo )

There would be nothing wrong really with re-using the text from that.
I would probably miss out the bit about DomTerm because the purpose of
a JavaScript interface would be for people to use their web browser,
and not have to install another program like DomTerm.

If anybody was eligible for Google Summer of Code and wanted to apply,
hopefully they would discuss their ideas in advance so the exact
wording of the advert wouldn't matter. If they came up with good ideas
that were outside the scope of what was mentioned, that would be fine
too.

>
> * Texinfo *
>
> GNU documentation is based on the Texinfo source format (conceptually
> similar
> to markdown, but better for documentation). There are tools to convert
> Texinfo
> into various formats, including PDF, HTML, and Info format. The Info format
> is
> used for reading the documentation in a terminal emulator (using the info
> program) or in the emacs editor.
>
> These two projects would be very valuable:
>
> (1) Enhance the Perl-based makeinfo program with new output formats --xhtml
> and --epub.
> The xhtml format combines aspects of the existing html and xml formats.
> The EPub format (used by ebook readers) is basically just xhtml in a zip
> archive.

I would say that the command-line options used to define the output
format don't have to be specified.

When I get some time I will edit this and send it to be put on the
page for potential projects. Do you know who I would email this to?

I am not sure exactly what the requirements are to be a Google Summer
of Code mentor, but if there is anyone else who thinks they qualify
for the Texinfo project, I suppose they are free to mention here that
they are available.

> (2) JavaScript for info-style navigation, including search.
> There is an existing JavaScript library for texinfo-generated
> html/xhtml files.  The task is to enhance this with a keystroke
> shortcuts (using the standalone info program as a model),
> including searching through the document.
>
> For background, motivation, and more details, see:
> http://per.bothner.com/blog/2017/texinfo-roadmap/

I do not want to put a link to your roadmap in the advert because they
are just your ideas and I don't endorse them. It is not the roadmap
for the Texinfo project, as I work on whatever I think is the most
important at the time (as time allows) and that will be true for
anyone else also. If you would like to work on projects as specified
by the roadmap, that would be fine.