Google Summer of Code - 2016 ============================ Introduction ------------ Kivy is a cross-platform, business friendly, GPU accelerated open source Python library for rapid development of applications that make use of innovative user interfaces, such as multi-touch apps. The Kivy Organization oversees several major projects: * The `Kivy `_ GUI Library * The `Python-For-Android `_ compilation tool. * The `Kivy-iOS `_ compilation tool. * The `PyJNIus `_ library for interfacing with Java from Python. * The `PyOBJus `_ library for interfacing with Objective-C from Python. * The `Plyer `_ platform-independent Python wrapper for platform dependent APIs. * `Buildozer `_ - A generic Python packager for Android, iOS, and desktop. * `KivEnt `_ - A 2d Game Engine that provides optimized methods of handling large amounts of dynamic visual data. * `Kivy Designer `_ - A graphical GUI designer for Kivy built in Kivy. Altogether, these projects allow the user to create applications for every major operating system that make use of any native APIs present. Our goal is to enable development of Python applications that run everywhere off the same codebase and make use of platform dependent APIs and features that users of specific operating systems have come to expect. Depending on which project you choose you may need to know Cython, OpenGL ES2, Java, Objective-C, or C in addition to Python. We make heavy use of Cython and OpenGL for computational and graphics performance where it matters, and the other languages are typically involved in accessing OS or provider level APIs. We are hoping to participate in Google Summer of Code 2016. This page showcases some ideas for GSoC projects and corresponding guidelines for students contributing to the Kivy Framework. Requirements ------------ It is assumed that the incoming student meets some basic requirements as highlighted here: * Intermediate level familiarity with Python. * Comfortable with git and github (Kivy and its sister projects are all managed on github) If you have never used github before you may be interested in this `tutorial `_. * Comfortable with event driven programming. * Has suitable tools/environment for Kivy or the sister project you are going to work on. For example to be able to work on PyOBJus you would need access to an iOS device, OS X with Xcode and a developer license, to work on PyJNIus you would need an Android device, and to work on plyer you would need access to hardware for both platforms. Additional desired skills may be listed with specific projects. Familiarize yourself with the `contribution guide `_ We can help you get up to speed, however students demonstrating ability in advance will be given preference. How to get started ------------------ For Kivy, the easiest way is to follow the installation instructions for the development version for your specific platform: http://kivy.org/docs/installation/installation.html#development-version For the rest it's usually sufficient to install the relevant project from git and add it to your PYTHONPATH. e.g. for PyJNIus:: git clone http://github.com/kivy/pyjnius export PYTHONPATH=/path/to/pyjnius:$PYTHONPATH Project Ideas -------------- Here are some prospective ideas sourced from the Kivy development team, if none of these projects interest you come talk to us in #kivy-dev about a project idea of your own. Beginner Projects ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These projects should be suitable for anyone with a college level familiarity with Python and require little knowledge of platform specifics. Intermediate Projects ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These projects may involve cursory level knowledge of several OS level details, some OpenGL interaction, or other topics that may be a bit out of the wheelhouse of the average Pythonista. **Plyer:** Description: Plyer is a platform-independent Python API to use features commonly found on the desktop and mobile platforms supported by Kivy. The idea is to provide a stable API to the user for accessing features of their desktop or mobile device. The student would replace some `.java` code currently in the p4a project to a more appropriate place in Plyer. In addition, the student would work on improving access to platform specific features through Plyer, including accessibility, Bluetooth Low Energy, accessing and editing contacts, sharing, NFC, in-app browser, Wi-Fi (enable, disable, access to Wi-Fi services (Wi-Fi direct, network accessibility, current IP info on network etc.), Camera capture (video), camera display, Google Play integration, launch phone call interface, sms interface, geolocation, interaction with notifications, internationalization (I18N), and all the missing platform implementations from existing features. Under the hood you'll use PyJNIus on Android, PyOBJus on OS X and iOS, ctypes on Windows, and native APIs on Linux. This probably would also include improving PyOBJus and PyJNIus to handle interfaces that they can't right now. References: - https://github.com/kivy/plyer - https://github.com/kivy/pyjnius - https://github.com/kivy/pyobjus - https://github.com/kivy/python-for-android - https://github.com/kivy/kivy-ios Expected outcome: A successful outcome would include moving the Java/PyOBJus code from p4a/kivy-ios to plyer and implementing some or all of the new facades to be decided with the student. - **Mentors**: Akshay Arora, Ryan Pessa - **Requirements**: Access to Linux, Windows, OS X, iOS device, Android device. - **Task level**: Intermediate - **Desired Skills**: Familiarity with PyJNIus, PyOBJus. Advanced Projects ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These projects may involve very in-depth knowledge of Kivy's existing internals, the hairy details of cross-platform compilation, or other fairly advanced topics. If you are comfortable with the internals of Python, working with C code, and using Cython to build your own C extensions these projects may appeal to you. **Kivent: Tiled Integration** Description: KivEnt is a modular entity-component based game engine built on top of Kivy. KivEnt provides a highly performant approach to building games in Python that avoids some of the worst overhead of Python using specialized Cython constructs. The student would work to finish creating a fully functional Tiled module that supports the full range of map types Tiled supports: hex, square, and isometric square tiles. This task will likely involve writing both logic and rendering game systems. In addition, the student will be responsible for completing an MIT licensed tmx (the tiled file format) loader for use in KivEnt. References: - http://www.mapeditor.org/ - https://github.com/kivy/kivent Expected Outcome: A successful outcome involves a new kivent_tiled module being released for the KivEnt game engine. - **Mentors**: Jacob Kovac, Gabriel Pettier - **Requirements**: Access to at least one Kivy platform. - **Task level**: Advanced - **Desired Skills**: Familiarity with Cython, Python, and game dev related math concepts. **Python for Android: New features** Description: Python for Android is a project to create your own Python distribution including the modules you want, and create an APK including Python, libs, and your application. This tool was recently rewritten to provide a new, easier to use and extended interface. The student would work to help bring this new toolchain to feature parity with the old toolchain and improve it with new features like:: custom splash screen support including animation, ability to fully customize AndroiManifest.xml, and work on known missing stuff (linked below). References: - https://github.com/kivy/python-for-android#known-missing-stuff-from-p4a Expected Outcome: A successful outcome involves the new p4a toolchain being at feature parity with the old toolchain, including extra functionality as outlined above. - **Mentors**: Alexander Taylor, Ryan Pessa - **Requirements**: Access to Linux and Android. - **Task level**: Advanced - **Desired Skills**: Familiarity with Cython, Python and PyJNIus How to Contact devs ------------------- All communication must happen via public channels, private emails and IRC messages are discouraged. Ask your questions on the Kivy Users forum https://groups.google.com/group/kivy-users or send a mail at kivy-users@googlegroups.com Make sure to join the kivy-dev user group too: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/kivy-dev. You can also try to contact us on IRC (online chat), to get the IRC handles of the devs mentioned above visit https://kivy.org/#aboutus. Make sure to read the `IRC rules `_ before connecting. `Connect to webchat `_. Most of our developers are located in Europe, India, and North America so keep in mind typical waking hours for these areas. How to be a good student ------------------------ If you want to participate as a student and want to maximize your chances of being accepted, start talking to us today and try fixing some smaller problems to get used to our workflow. If we know you can work well with us, you will have much better chances of being selected. Here's a checklist: * Make sure to read through the website and at least skim the documentation. * Look at the source code. * Read our contribution guidelines. * Make a contribution! Kivy would like to see how you engage with the development process. Take a look at the issue tracker for a Kivy project that interests you and submit a Pull Request. It can be a simple bug or a documentation change. We are looking to get a feel for how you work, not evaluating your capabilities. Don't worry about trying to pick something to impress us. * Pick an idea that you think is interesting from the ideas list or come up with your own idea. * Do some research **yourself**. GSoC is about give and take, not just one sided interaction. It is about you trying to achieve agreed upon goals with our support. The main driving force in this should be, obviously, yourself. Many students pop up and ask what they should do. You should base that decision on your interests and your skills. Show us you're serious about it and take the initiative. * Write a draft `proposal `_ about what you want to do. Include what you understand the current state of the project to be, what you would like to improve, how, etc. * Discuss that proposal with us in a timely manner. Get feedback. * Be patient! Especially on IRC. We will try to get to you if we're available. If not, send an email and just wait. Most questions are already answered in the docs or somewhere else and can be found with some research. Your questions should reflect that you've actually thought through what you're asking and done some rudimentary research. * Most of all don't forget to have fun and interact with the community. The community is as big a part of Open Source as the code itself. What to expect if you are chosen -------------------------------- * All students should join the #kivy and the #kivy-dev irc channels daily, this is how the development team communicates both internally and with the users. * You and your mentors will agree on two week milestones for the duration of the summer. * Development will occur in your fork of the master branch of Kivy, we expect you to submit at least one PR a week from your branch into a branch reserved for you in the primary repo. This will be your forum for reporting progress as well as documenting any struggles you may have encountered. * Missing 2 weekly PR or 2 milestones will result in your failure unless there have been extenuating circumstances. If something comes up, please inform your mentors as soon as possible. If a milestone seems out of reach we will work with you to reevaluate the goals. * Your changes will be merged into master once the project has been completed and we have thoroughly tested on every platform that is relevant.