configr
Name: Alan Haggai Alavi
Email: alanhaggai@gmail.com
Background: I am a Computer Science Engineering student at College of Engineering Chengannur, Kerala, India. I have been using Debian GNU/Linux for the past one and a half years. I do basic programming in C/C++, Java, PHP, HTML and scripting in Bash, PHP and Perl. I use CSS as the styling language. I have a good knowledge about regular expressions. I have experience building parsers for apache2.conf, squid.conf and making process management module (which can act as a graphical counterpart to the GNU/Linux `top' program), bootup scripts management module. These have been done in Perl working in a CGI environment.
Project Title: configr
Synopsis: Web configuration utility to configure different servers like apache, openssh, squid, bind, proftpd, et cetera. It can be controlled over a network such as a local one or the internet.
Benefits to Debian: Debian users will be able (either locally or remotely) to edit configuration files, check for errors, and set up servers within a short period of time. It will also provide a better user experience.
Deliverables: Remote/local system configuration user interface
Project Details: The whole Debian system is well organised with applications storing configuration files in /etc. An experienced user can edit these configuration files with ease. However, an inexperienced user can find it difficult to edit these files. Furthermore, anyone can make errors while editing files. The idea is to provide a user interface so that even if the user makes errors, the system will report them to the user with possible values for the directives. Thus the user can understand more and rectify the errors. I am also intending to improve the software by adding various modules related to configuring the system as a whole like process management module to find out the process that is causing the system to lag and allows to send signals to it to terminate it, kill it. A software package installation module is also planned, which can enable an average user to install software in his/her home system when he/she is away at another place. The project will be done in such a way that future enhancements can be easily added.
Project Schedule: The project can be completed in a time of three months. I have already started working on the project.