Christopher Baines
Name: Christopher Baines
Email: cbaines8@gmail.com
Background: I am a student currently in my last year at secondary school studying Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in the UK, I hope to go to university next year to study computer science. A few years ago I taught myself Java for competing in Robotics competitions, however since then I have done tiny amounts of programming in python, c, c++ and perl as well. I have already done some work for Debian through Google in the Google Code In, triaging a few bugs and fixing a wish list bug in dpkg-dev [1], and I maintain a small java package in Debian and hope to upload more packages soon [2].
Project Title: Diversions in DPKG, a Fresh Approach
Synopsis: Provide a improved replacement for the dpkg divert system.
Benefits to Debian: A more complete, consistent and easier to use packaging system.
Deliverables: A new configuration file based system to provide the service provided by the dpkg-divert system. Both transitional documentation and standard documentation for the new features.
Project details: I plan to follow the description given in the idea proposal [3].
Project schedule: I will begin working slowly as soon as I am accepted on to the program, I have exams between the 13th to the 21st of June so once these are over I will begin working full time on my project. During the time before my exams I hope to:
- Meet and get to know the Mentors.
- Look at the current uses of the dpkg-divert system.
- Evaluate the future uses and requirements of it and possible replacements.
- Brainstorm my plans with my Mentor and others.
- Start coding snippets of code, and writing mockups of configuration files.
- Looking over the dpkg code and possibly fixing bugs.
- Brushing up my programming and c.
- Create a more accurate and precise programming plan and timetable
- Up to and including the weekend beginning the 25th I will start pulling together the documentation and coding I have done before my exams and working out the kinks.
- From then on I hope to start adding, building and testing the changes to the dpkg system.
- The first step would be to add the code to read and process the control file, I will then need to take the code used in the current dpkg-divert command (src/ divertcmd.c and divertdb,c) and adapt it to be used in the new system. I might also need to make additional changes elsewhere to make sure that the diversions are handled at the correct stage in the installation/removal process.
- Then I will begin testing, initially with small test packages, but then with packages that currently use the old system, I hope that the patches that I create for this purpose can then help the maintainers of the packages I use to test with move to the new system. I hope to be at this stage before or at least by the 1st of August.
- During the testing period I will also finish off and documentation needed.
Exams and other commitments and other summer plans: I have no plans for other work but as explained my exams do interfere with the standard timetable of work. I hope also to continue my Debian packaging efforts.
If you are not a Debian Developer:I hope to try and get to DebConf to get more involved with Debian development and get my GPG key signed so that I can begin the process of becoming a Debian Maintainer.
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