Re: GNU in GSOC 2015 - Application sent

[Ludovic Courtès]

address@hidden (Ludovic Courtès) skribis:

> Here are three ideas for Guix and dmd.  Others may follow.

Here’s a couple more.


<h4 id="guix_containers">Linux container support</h4>

<p>
  GNU Guix currently supports the installation of GuixSD on virtual
  machines and physical hosts through its <a
  href="/software/guix/manual/html_node/Invoking-guix-system.html"><code>guix
  system</code></a> command.  The goal of this project would be to add
  another installation target: containers.  A container is an
  environment that is similar to a virtual machine but without the
  overhead that comes with running a separate kernel and simulating
  hardware.  Containers are isolated on a host system through Linux's
  control groups and kernel namespaces.
</p>

<strong>Mentor</strong>: <a href="mailto:address@hidden";>David Thompson</a>



<h4>Supporting binary package distribution through GNUnet</h4>

<p>
GNU Guix provides a transparent binary/source deployment model.  A
server can claim: “hey, I have the binary for
<tt>/gnu/store/v9zic07iar8w90zcy398r745w78a7lqs-emacs-24.4</tt>!”, where the
base32 string uniquely identifies a build process.  If you trust that
server to provide genuine binaries, then you can grab them instead of
building Emacs locally.  This mechanism is called <a
href="/software/guix/manual/html_node/Substitutes.html"><emph>substitution</emph></a>.
</p>

<p>
The “traditional model” has been to have a build farm build and serve
binary packages over HTTP.  In that model, users trust the build farm to
provide authentic binaries.
</p>

<p>
The project aims to provide a <emph>practical</emph> decentralization
distribution mechanism for binary packages, using <a
href="/software/gnunet">GNUnet’s networking layers</a>.  In that
model, users would be able to automatically share binaries they have
built locally, and to install binaries built by other users.  This is
part of a broader goal of <emph>disintermediation</emph> among users,
and between users and upstream software developers.
</p>

<p>
Deliverables <a
href="http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/guix-devel/2015-03/msg00192.html";>include</a>
 
a substituter that uses GNUnet as its back-end, and a tool to publish
build results.
</p>

<strong>Mentors</strong>:
<a href="mailto:address@hidden";>Sree Harsha Totakura</a>,
<a href="mailto:address@hidden";>Bart Polot</a>

Thanks,
Ludo'.