Improve one of the Debian MIPS ports - Student Proposal
Name: Gustavo Prado Alkmim
Contact/Email:
alkmim on irc.debian.org #debian-mips
Background:
General: In 2009, I graduated in Computer Science at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA/Brazil) in which I worked with live-migration of virtual machines using Xen and iSCSI. In 2012, I finished my master at State University of Campinas (Unicamp/Brazil), working with Virtual Network Mapping. Currently, I'm working on my PhD at the same university.
Skills on Linux and programming: I started using Linux very early during my undergraduate studies. I am one of the administrators of the LRC (Network Computer Laboratory) at Computer Institute, also in Unicamp, in which we use just Debian and Ubuntu Linux systems. I have skills on C, C++, java, python, perl, shell script and others. If necessary, I have no problem starting to learn new technologies.
Experience related with the project: I have good experience on how the Debian Package System works, acquired during the GSoC 2011 and GSoC 2013. In both of them, I worked with the "Bootstrappable Debian" Project, in which I was required to modify some package sources to enable them for crossbuild and native build inside a minimal build system. The knowledge acquired includes: changes on the debian control/rules files, work with staged-build process, crossbuild packages, modify build-dependencies, use of Botch, setting up repositories, debhelper, CDBS and the basic tools necessaries for build/crossbuild like dpkg-cross, Autotools, dpkg-buildpackage, dupload, sbuild, chroot, etc. Also the Multi-Arch concepts was also learned. The results of GSoC 2011 and GSoC 2013 can be found here here and here. In GSoC 2013 several scripts were developed to automate the enrionment setup and the build process. They can be found on the git repository Autobootstrap.
Patches made for Debian: I made several patches for Debian during the GSoC 2011 regarding crossbuild (Link for patches). I already submitted a patch for xdeb (Link for bug).
Project title: Improve one of the Debian MIPS ports (mips, mipsel, mips64el)
Synopsis:
Ports of Debian on mips/mipsel/mips64el has been implemented for some time. However, many of the packages which could previously pass compilation can no longer pass. Also, some of the recently uploaded packages cannot pass compilation either.
I propose that the abnormal packages of Debian port on mips/mipsel/mips64el be rebuilt and fixed, so that the quality of Debian in these architectures can be improved.
Benefits to Debian:
Since the mips/mipsel/mips64el are used in several system, improving the ports for those architecture is important.
Deliverables:
- The objective of this project is to rebuild and fix the abnormal packages of one of the Debian port for mips/mipsel/mips64el. The deliverables include:
- Reports about the on going work
- Patches solving port problems
- Scripts to automate some tasks (optional)
Project details
The MIPS is a clean RISC architecture developed by MIPS Computer Systems. Currently the MIPS is used in Cisco routers, Nintendo64, ?PlayStation 2, devices running Windows CE, Silicon Graphics computer, some Broadcom computers and several other embedded systems. Usually the MIPS processors have a lower price compared with others embedded processors. Since the MIPS architecture is used in several devices it is important that the Debian Linux has its packages being able to build on a MIPS architecture.
The port of Debian on MIPS architecture has been implemented for some time, but many of the packages cannot be built anymore. In the Debian Package Auto-Building, there are 13 packages in "Failed" state, 59 in "Build-Attempted" state, 257 in "BD-Uninstallable" and 384 in "Auto-Not-For-Us" state for Sid distribution. The objective of this project is to rebuild and fix the abnormal packages of one of the Debian port for mips/mipsel/mips64el. The port will be chose during the project, considering which the mentor and the community consider that is more important to Debian. During an initial
Project Schedule
- Mar 27 - Submit proposal
Apr 27: 19:00 UTC
- - Accepted student proposals announced on the Google Summer of Code 2015 site.
- Apr 27 - May 27: Community Bonding Period
- Work on knowing more about the mentor and the community
- Choose the best architecture to port (mips, mipsel or mips64el)
- Understand better the current situation of the debian MIPS port
- Define what needs to be done to get the debian MIPS port working fine
- Set up Elida [] to be able to trigger builds by mail on a remote machine
- Start working on patching sources and builds
- May 25 - June 26: Work Period
- Working on patching sources, build and file bugs
- Jun 26 - Jul 03: Work on Mid-Term evaluation
- Jul 03 - Aug 17: Work Period
- Working on patching sources, build and file bugs
- Aug 17 - Aug 21: Pencils down
- Aug 21 - Aug 28: Final Evaluation
- Aug 28: Submit code samples to Google
- Aug 31: Final Result
Other summer plans: Since I'm a phd student, I have to work on GSoC while working on my thesis, but I already have time reserved. This will not be problem.
Exams and other commitments: I have no class or exams in the GSoC period.
Why Debian?: I choose Debian because I am familiar with the development environment. I worked in a related project in 2011 and 2013. Also I got very interested on work with ports. This year I want to become a Debian Developer
* Are you applying for other projects in SoC? No.