Re: [boost] Summer of Code 2006

From: Jeff Garland (jeff_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-04-20 10:19:01

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:12:21 -0700, David Abrahams wrote
> "Jeff Garland" <jeff_at_[hidden]> writes:
> 
> I worry that most C++ libraries of any real importance require a 
> level of experience that most students, even with an experienced 
> Boost mentor to guide them, do not have.  

I think that some rather well known Boosters were students (some still are) --
mostly PHD students mind you -- when they contributed a library. 

Julio V. is a student and has posted a particular interest in developing
Boost.Process, which would be a highly useful and I think doable contribution.
  And if no one else wants to mentor him on this, I'll step up, but I think we
should definately support this.  Julio has already written quite alot about
the scope, requirements, and issues for this library:

http://www.crystalclearsoftware.com/cgi-bin/boost_wiki/wiki.pl?BoostProcess  

> I also get the impression 
> that the pool of students interested in developing C++ libraries 
> will be rather limited, in part because of the way CS is taught 
> these days.

True, but we can probably only handle a few participants.

> That said, we have a great many infrastructure projects that would be
> interesting and incredibly useful to have done -- documentation 
> tools, website redesign, work on the build system, etc. -- and IMO 
> some of these are likely to have a broader resonance.
> 
> Maybe we should propose both kinds of project?

For sure.

Jeff