Google Summer of Code 2010 ideas

Submission

Tentative mentors

• Doug Coleman
• Joe Groff
• Slava Pestov
• Daniel Ehrenberg

Overview

A language implementation such as Factor is a microcosm of computer science, and the Factor project in particular includes everything from compilers to garbage collection to internationalization and user interface design. Because Factor is mostly implemented in itself, students who study it can learn how an entire self-contained language system works. Factor is both more advanced than most scripting language implementations and simpler than the JVM, making it ideal for study.

Compiler

• Port Factor to ARM
• More advanced compiler optimizations
• Generating shared libraries

Language

• Improve walker tool
• Improve help system
• Destructuring locals bindings

Libraries

• SSL on Windows
• Audio and video libraries
• Improve XML library
• Improve Unicode library
• Support more calendars

1. idea: a constraint solving library (could be a binding to gecode) with syntax similar to the Oz language.

backtracking code is already available, but no declarative api.

Desktop

• Drag and drop
• Improve UI performance
• Vector graphics API-based UI
• Input methods support
• Document-based application framework
• Replace X11 backend with a GTK or Qt backend
• Qt versions of the developer tools

Web

• Work on Furnace
• Spruce up web apps
• Remote listener and inspector apps