Student Application Template
This is a suggestion for the kind of information we'll find useful from students in their submissions. Remember -- you're going to be committing to several months' work. The more information and planning you can provide up-front, the more we (and Google!) will have to go on when we're ranking your application. Do not forget adding your submission at SummerOfCode2016/StudentApplications
Name : Keerthana Krishnan
Contact/Email/IRC nick: IRC : #debian-soc : keekri
Email : contactkeerthana@gmail.com
Twitter : https://twitter.com/KeerthanaK17
Website : http://keerthanakrishnan.in/
Github : https://github.com/Keerthana17
?LinkedIn : https://in.linkedin.com/pub/keerthana-krishnan/57/755/393
Background:
* I'm currently completing my final year of my B.Tech Computer Science degree at Govt. Model Engineering College.
* I have been an ardent supporter of Open Source and I'm a student ambassador for my district at the International Center for Free and Open Source Software, (www.icfoss.in), an institution of Govt. of Kerala
* I have experience in C, python, ?JavaScript and XMPP with regards to this particular project.
* I have contributed to open source projects before, mainly to the Fedora project in Commops (Community Operations). I'm a relatively new contributor, little over 6 months, so I'm still learning.
* My most challenging project so far was my college miniproject called "?CryptoChat" where I helped to create a secure messaging application using python and XMPP. It was a group project where I wrote the client side code to send and receive messages using python.
*My favorite subject during my course was computer security and I've written and experimented with ciphers using python, one of which helped me win a competition.
* I was selected as a student scholar to the prestigious Grace Hopper Celebrations India in December 2015
Project title : Improving voice, video and chat communication with free software
Synopsis: Helping people to avoid using proprietary communications tools like Skype, Viber and ?WhatsApp by creating an open source application using XMPP as an alternative. The project aims to provide a safe and secure environment with support for the linux desktops.
Benefits to Debian : A secure open source messaging application for Debian users with native support.
Deliverables: A native linux application with web support which uses open source software and strong encryption to provide an alternative to traditional messaging apps
Project schedule: The project will take atleast 3 months. I can begin work as soon as my exams get over on May 13th. Expected time line for the project :
This is only a brief summary with the tasks I know I have to do. There might be slight variations in this plan according to the circumstance. Since the last of my exams get over on the 12th of May, I'm free to start from the 13th . All the goals described here are those modifications of issues for freeRTC taken from Here
1. Using libjingle library to improve security
I did my miniproject in the field of encrypted messaging and I have worked with security features before. I'd like to start off working on adding the security functionalities with libjingle to make the program more secure. This part is estimated to take atleast 140 hours, maybe more. So I'd like to start off with it.
May 15 - May 28 : Familiarising with libjingle and creating a basic structure
May 29 - Jun 04 : Focusing on real-time media streaming capability
Jun 05 - Jun 11 : Security with libjingle : encryption of messages
Jun 12 - Jun 18 : NAT traversal with libjingle
Evaluation week : Jun 19 - Jun 25
Jun 26 - Jul 02 : Finishing up the testing and integrating of the libjingle module to the software
2. Creating a connection manager for reSIProcate for desktops
A connection manager for a desktop would be an essential part of the application which I would like to target next. It is estimated to take 70 hours atleast by Daniel, so I have given a full three weeks to develop and fine tune it.
Jul 03 - Jul 09 : The connection manager will be created using C++.
Jul 10 - Jul 16 : Creating a basic structureTesting and fine tuning functionalities added with libjingle.
Jul 17 - Jul 23 : Testing and integrating the module
3. Front user client with great UX for ease of use (using Qt)
A good user interface will make the product more easily accessible to its users. Web development is my strength and I have experience with UI design which I can bring to this. Front end can only be done in the end after learning the system well and after all the other features are added.
Jul 17 - Jul 23 : Creating basic user interface with Qt
Jul 24 - Jul 30 : Hosting the UI to invite feedback from users
Jul 31 - Aug 06 : Taking user feedback to make improvements to the UI
Aug 07+ : Finishing up
Exams and other commitments: Nothing planned for the summer.
Other summer plans: Nothing planned for the summer.
Why Debian?: I was introduced to the world of linux and free software through the Debian OS which my dad had installed in our home pc. I learnt my first command 'cd' from my dad and remember impressing my teacher in 8th grade with it. It was an awesome experience which made me want to find out more and got me interested in programming. The feeling I get every time I hit enter in a command it works, especially after wrestling with some error in some part for a long time, there's nothing like it. And then there's a large and incredibly supportive community to help you out.
My previous Debian contributions: NA
My wider outreach efforts: I have been fortunate to have been mentored by a lot of wonderful people over the years and I've tried to give it back to the community.
*I have participated in a Lean In circle organised by GHCI student scholars where we shared our stories to motivate more people, especially girls into technology and overcoming our fears : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAXyVofsCuk
*I had an opportunity to interact with girls as a part of the IEEE Educational Outreach Program, on October 2nd, 13th and 14th at Prathyasha Bhavan Orphanage, Kochi where I was privileged to get an opportunity to explain programming to a curious group of teenagers, an experience that changed my life.
*I have been a volunteer with make a difference (MAD) an Indian NGO based in Bangalore and my project idea was inspired by trying to create a low cost and free open alternative to teach programming to novices which I tried to implement : https://github.com/Keerthana17/ProgramTest.
* Are you applying for other projects in GSoC? : Applied to Fedora Hubs
* Coding Test for GSoC : My task was to download and install drucall module in my system. I installed Drupal7 and other dependencies for and completed all the instuctions according to its official documentation. However, my system hardware seems to be unresponsive to the software, not just the module I installed but while trying to use the same on other websites such as Drucall Example. This is true for both Chromium and Firefox and I'm yet to figure the problem. Meanwhile, a screenshot of the work I have done :