Re: [Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
From: Kieren Diment dim...@gmail.com I'm still keen on the idea of an easy Perl/Catalyst installer. Something that might encompass local::lib, PAR and deployable on the three or four main OSs windows (strawberry perl), OS X (10.4 and 10.5, using the system provided perl) and linux (maybe debian and red hat based distros - again using the system perl). Also needs to work in an environment with no root/Administrator access. And a nice double click installer at the end would be good. I've rigged up an appalling hack to do this in windows that needs finessed, but I haven't looked at the other OSs. Mentoring? Well, what I can offer is to point a student in the right direction of who to talk to, not much else. I'm also very tolerant of stupidity being a somewhat mentally challenged programmer myself. It is a great idea for promoting Catalyst! A smart installer won't be necessary. I think a simple .tar.gz (or .zip) archive that contains all the modules which are not a part of the Perl distribution would be enough. The user could unarchive the file in a certain location like /home/user/Catalyst or C:\Catalyst then he could create new apps using a command like /home/user/Catalyst/bin/catalyst.pl MyApp or c:\Catalyst\bin\catalyst MyApp This would create the app in the current directory and the app would need to also add /home/user/Catalyst/lib or c:\Catalyst/lib in @INC. The user would be also able to install Catalyst under a server running Linux, create the apps under Windows and then he could archive the apps under Windows, upload them to the Linux server, unarchive them and run them. Of course, the only out of the box solution for running the apps would be the CGI way, because for running the testing server or for configuring fastcgi or mod_perl would need root permissions, but I think this is the same in case of other frameworks. (I don't know if using mod_php or mod_python requires the same permissions though...) Octavian ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
Re: [Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
On 3 Mar 2009, at 09:08, Octavian Râsnita wrote: Of course, the only out of the box solution for running the apps would be the CGI way, because for running the testing server or for configuring fastcgi or mod_perl would need root permissions, but I think this is the same in case of other frameworks. (I don't know if using mod_php or mod_python requires the same permissions though...) Nothing about mod_perl or fastcgi intrinsically requires root permissions. Editing your web server configuration involves having permission to edit your web server configuration.. That doesn't mean that whoever can edit your webserver configuration isn't able to set things up so that you can add mod_perl or fastcgi apps without needing those permissions. Now in the mod_perl case, this usually isn't done, as the security risks of allowing people to run code directly in the context of the web server are quite high. Shared hosting providers allowing dynamic fastcgi is much more common, and its quite possible to find a shared hosting provider which will host a fastcgi Catalyst app, without you needing root permissions. Cheers t0m ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
Re: [Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
I have a dream... project. A Catalyst Application Server (i.e. Websphere, Weblogic, JBoss in javaland). It would be a catalyst app for managing and deploying other catalyst apps. It would take care of starting separate perl processes (virtual servers), plug them into Apache/lighttpd config files (fcgi, mod_perl), or maybe even run the app in the same shared perl process where the catalyst app server is running. It would allow developers and admins to manage their apps (start/stop/restart), deploy .par/.tar/.zip files that would then be expanded into the app server directory, setup dbi datasources, have a common security realm, maybe a simple communication layer in between apps, etc. Web-console, web-service and CLI enabled. Well, you get the idea. I think it may appeal to a student to write something like this. It has good visibility. It scales well as a project, it could start as something simple, to fit the Summer of code timeline, then allow for extensions to be writen later. It wouldn't mess with Catalyst internals, which IMO makes it easier to tutor. It's something that would help sell Catalyst as a corporate-wide application infraestructure, or for webserver providers to manage installed apps, or simply for us mortals to manage our scattered cat apps from a central control panel. -rodrigo ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
Re: [Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
On Tue, Mar 03, 2009 at 06:06:10PM +1100, Kieren Diment wrote: I'm still keen on the idea of an easy Perl/Catalyst installer. Something that might encompass local::lib, PAR and deployable on the three or four main OSs windows (strawberry perl), OS X (10.4 and 10.5, using the system provided perl) and linux (maybe debian and red hat based distros - again using the system perl). Also needs to work in an environment with no root/Administrator access. And a nice double click installer at the end would be good. I've rigged up an appalling hack to do this in windows that needs finessed, but I haven't looked at the other OSs. Mentoring? Well, what I can offer is to point a student in the right direction of who to talk to, not much else. I'm also very tolerant of stupidity being a somewhat mentally challenged programmer myself. I think keeping each installer platform specific would be best. People on OS X expect a .dmg with a .pkg inside for things like frameworks. Windows users expect a .exe/msi installer. And if these installers install Catalyst to the system perl (or strawberry perl in Windows' case), even better, because then they can use CPAN to upgrade Catalyst later on. What would be really cool is if the Windows installer checked for the existence of Strawberry Perl, and offered to install it if it can not be found. I don't see a need for anything like this on Linux, though. Don't most dists have their own Catalyst packages? I know Debian's have served me fairly well for the past few years. I don't have any experience with the Windows platform, but I would consider helping out with an OS X package. -- Lee Aylward signature.asc Description: Digital signature ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
Re: [Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
On 04/03/2009, at 3:41 AM, Lee Aylward wrote: On Tue, Mar 03, 2009 at 06:06:10PM +1100, Kieren Diment wrote: I'm still keen on the idea of an easy Perl/Catalyst installer. Something that might encompass local::lib, PAR and deployable on the three or four main OSs windows (strawberry perl), OS X (10.4 and 10.5, using the system provided perl) and linux (maybe debian and red hat based distros - again using the system perl). Also needs to work in an environment with no root/Administrator access. And a nice double click installer at the end would be good. I've rigged up an appalling hack to do this in windows that needs finessed, but I haven't looked at the other OSs. Mentoring? Well, what I can offer is to point a student in the right direction of who to talk to, not much else. I'm also very tolerant of stupidity being a somewhat mentally challenged programmer myself. I think keeping each installer platform specific would be best. People on OS X expect a .dmg with a .pkg inside for things like frameworks. Windows users expect a .exe/msi installer. And if these installers install Catalyst to the system perl (or strawberry perl in Windows' case), even better, because then they can use CPAN to upgrade Catalyst later on. What would be really cool is if the Windows installer checked for the existence of Strawberry Perl, and offered to install it if it can not be found. I don't see a need for anything like this on Linux, though. Don't most dists have their own Catalyst packages? I know Debian's have served me fairly well for the past few years. Well, yes, Linux is the odd man in the pack. But once you sort the toolchain stuff for the other environments, then linux should *ahem* almost write its own toolchain. Also useful for single user apps, and when you don't want to use the outdated packages. I don't have any experience with the Windows platform, but I would consider helping out with an OS X package. ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
Re: [Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
I'm still keen on the idea of an easy Perl/Catalyst installer. Something that might encompass local::lib, PAR and deployable on the three or four main OSs windows (strawberry perl), OS X (10.4 and 10.5, using the system provided perl) and linux (maybe debian and red hat based distros - again using the system perl). Also needs to work in an environment with no root/Administrator access. And a nice double click installer at the end would be good. I've rigged up an appalling hack to do this in windows that needs finessed, but I haven't looked at the other OSs. Mentoring? Well, what I can offer is to point a student in the right direction of who to talk to, not much else. I'm also very tolerant of stupidity being a somewhat mentally challenged programmer myself. On 23/02/2009, at 3:27 AM, Matt S Trout wrote: So, the Summer of Code is fast approaching, so I need two things out of you wonderful people: (1) if you think you might be able to mentor, yell - and outline what areas you think you'd prefer doing so in[0] (2) suggestions for projects that *would appeal to a student to work on.[1] Note that your suggestion will carry a lot more weight if you're willing to do the doc/writeup and even more if you're willing to mentor it :) We have a few people working on student recruitment, and I'll post later about how anybody else who wants to work that side of things can help out. For now, we need to make a list of mentors and projects so we can get that sent out and set up - if we don't get slots, nothing else matters sadly. Excessive bikeshedding will result in me resetting the thread with a new summary email and killfiling the old one; we don't have time for it, sorry. [0] note that you shouldn't worry too much about expertise here - I intend for a number of us to provide backup services to mentors in terms of technical knowledge, the key requirements here are interest and time [1] I'm not interested in your personal wishlist of features here, mine's probably at least as long as yours and I'm not inflicting it on the list just now so please show the same courtesy :) -- Matt S Trout Need help with your Catalyst or DBIx::Class project? Technical Directorhttp://www.shadowcat.co.uk/catalyst/ Shadowcat Systems Ltd. Want a managed development or deployment platform? http://chainsawblues.vox.com/http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/servers/ ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/ ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
[Catalyst] Google Summer of Code: mentors, projects
So, the Summer of Code is fast approaching, so I need two things out of you wonderful people: (1) if you think you might be able to mentor, yell - and outline what areas you think you'd prefer doing so in[0] (2) suggestions for projects that *would appeal to a student to work on.[1] Note that your suggestion will carry a lot more weight if you're willing to do the doc/writeup and even more if you're willing to mentor it :) We have a few people working on student recruitment, and I'll post later about how anybody else who wants to work that side of things can help out. For now, we need to make a list of mentors and projects so we can get that sent out and set up - if we don't get slots, nothing else matters sadly. Excessive bikeshedding will result in me resetting the thread with a new summary email and killfiling the old one; we don't have time for it, sorry. [0] note that you shouldn't worry too much about expertise here - I intend for a number of us to provide backup services to mentors in terms of technical knowledge, the key requirements here are interest and time [1] I'm not interested in your personal wishlist of features here, mine's probably at least as long as yours and I'm not inflicting it on the list just now so please show the same courtesy :) -- Matt S Trout Need help with your Catalyst or DBIx::Class project? Technical Directorhttp://www.shadowcat.co.uk/catalyst/ Shadowcat Systems Ltd. Want a managed development or deployment platform? http://chainsawblues.vox.com/http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/servers/ ___ List: Catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk Listinfo: http://lists.scsys.co.uk/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/catalyst Searchable archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/catalyst@lists.scsys.co.uk/ Dev site: http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/
