Re: [O] Google Summer of Code 2012 Student Application

[Torsten Wagner]

Hi Andrew,

Reading this proposal and having a bit background in writing
proposals, I have the following suggestion:

* I'm not sure everyone (at least the one who review this) know what
org-mode is. There should be a very small summary about org-mode and
the key-benefit being plain text (which is why you can start this
project after all).

* In the way the proposal is written, you address org-mode users which
uses git (later you mention other CVS too). This actually makes, or at
least sound like, the proposal being only useful for a (small)
intersection of users namely org-mode AND (in the sense of an logic
AND) git-user.
I would find it more useful to describe this work as being an
extension for org-mode users;
** They can start to collaborate on a org-mode files, including
collaboration with users of possible other software tools (e.g.
mobileorg apps).
** Org-mode user can use a CVS system which is not only of interest
for collaboration but for keeping a chronological order of changes in
e.g. a project file.
** It makes org-mode a possible tool for software developers which can
now use org-files e.g. for documentation and notes beside there source
code in the same git repository.

All this points would show that the proposal is going to extend
org-mode instead of being "limited" useful for only a very particular
user-base. Finally, I guess it would be good to mention that this
project (and org-mode in general) is not limited to a OS but attracts
users of MS Windows, Mac OS and Linux. Simply to demonstrate that the
user-base can be expected to be rather large.
(Not sure if the GNU people like this ;) )

Torsten


On 5 April 2012 15:48, Bastien <address@hidden> wrote:
> Hi Andrew,
>
> Andrew Young <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> My name is Andrew Young, and I would like to participate in an Org-Mode
>> project for GSoC 2012.  My application for the project 'Git merge tool for
>> Org files' can be found
>> here<http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/proposal/review/google/gsoc2012/pwyl/1#>.
>
> Great!
>
>>  I would appreciate as much feedback and criticism as possible.
>
> First of all, make sure someone can co-mentor this project.  I'm willing
> to mentor this (as the current maintainer it makes sense, especially for
> people judging the project from the outside), but having Carsten as a
> co-mentor would be a great win.  Make sure Carsten (cc'ed) is okay.
>
> Carsten, being a co-mentor involves mainly three things:
>
> 1. registering on google-melange.com
>
> 2. from there, requesting to be a mentor for the GNU project
>
> 3. during the project, help the student and have IRC/phone meetings,
>   at least when I'm not here (I expect to be off for 2-3 weeks this
>   summer, I will tell when ASAP)
>
>> I used the generic GNU Project student application template, which can be
>> found here <http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/org/google/gsoc2012/gnu>.
>
> 1. First things thing: you should rewrite the "summary" section to
>   remove the "I believe" and other informal writing from Carsten's
>   prose.  Make it yours, make it a real summary.
>
> 2. Refer to org-element.el when you mention the Data representation.
>   org-element.el will be key in representing data and diffs between
>   data (at any level.)
>
> 3. Add a documentation section, explaining what doc you will write and
>   how you you will write/host it (worg is fine.)
>
>> I have some specific questions:
>> 1.  There is no implementation details or decisions in my application, just
>> a basic plan of what needs to be done.  Should I start researching
>> implementation details for my application?
>
> You can look at org-element.el for the data representation.
>
>> 2.  I would like to post my application on the community site Worg.  If
>> this is appropriate, what is the proper channel to request GIT access?
>
> Send me your public key.
>
>> If this mailing list is not the appropriate place to discuss my
>> application, please let me know and then feel free to email me directly.  I
>> will also be spending as much time as possible on freenode #org-mode as
>> Pwyl.
>
> This mailing list *is* the appropriate place, no worry.
>
> Thanks again for your proposal, this would be a great plus for Org!
>
> Best,
>
> --
>  Bastien
>