User:Alcedine

A: An introduction

• Please describe yourself in three sentences, one of them regarding your current studies.

It is currently my third year studying for an engineer's degree (DI) at Aalto university in Finland. I am by nature wired to analyze and try to figure things out, and problem-solving for me is almost synonymous with fun. I'm probably going to end up being a software gardener "when I grow up", and hopefully mine will be a beautiful garden.

• • Which languages do you speak?

Finnish, English and Estonian. I also know basic German and Swedish.

• • What's your overall background?

I am studying engineering physics, and I have a solid foundation in mathematics and physics from my studies. I have also taken courses in Python, C and C++, and I'm currently taking a course in data structures and algorithms (although most of that material I know already).

• Why do you want to participate in the Google Summer of Code? What do you hope to gain by doing so?

Two of my main goals right now are to work on my C++ skills and to accumulate some tangible experience with software design. Google Summer of Code allows me to do both of these things while helping to improve the state of free software. I really can't think of a downside to it! I first heard of GSoC a few months ago, and I knew instantly that it was something I wanted to do.

• • Please also describe your previous experience with the GSoC, if any.

I have no previous experience with GSoC.

• Why are you choosing Octave?

Octave lets me make use of my existing skills in C++ and mathematics, as well as to build new ones. Besides that, Octave has been useful to me, so I'd like to be useful to Octave as well. (:

C: Contact

• Please state the (unique and identical where possible) nick you use on IRC and any other communication channel related to Octave.

alcedine

• Which time zone do you live in? Will that change over GSoC duration?

UTC+3. This will not change.

• Please state the timeframe (in UTC+0) when you feel most comfortable working during GSoC. Where are your time buffers?

12.00-24.00 UTC, though I can also go later if necessary. I will also probably be available on IRC earlier than that.

E: Coding experience

This part is one of the more important ones in your application. You are allowed to be as verbose as you want, as long as you stay on topic ;-)

• Please describe your experience with C++, Octave or Matlab m-scripts, OpenGL and Qt.

My most significant C++ experience is a four-person project for a university programming course in Fall 2013; the sources are available on GitHub (my account is lippinj). It's a clone of and old Finnish game called minebombers. I have hosted the project doc here for convenience.u

I have taken a course on mathematical computer programs, about half of which was about Matlab. I've since used Matlab or Octave here and there to help with my studies.

• Please describe your experience with other programming languages.
• Please describe your experience with being in a development team.

The C++ course project I mentioned above was done in a group of four people. We discussed our project on IRC Besides that, I have no experience with team development.

• Please describe the biggest project you have written code for and what you learned by doing so. Also describe your role in that project over time.

• Please state the commits and patches you already contributed to Octave. This question (one of the most important parts by the way) is the only part of your application our wiki admins will edit for you even after the application deadline. Code sometimes speaks louder than many words do.

F: Feeling fine

• Please describe (in short) your experience with the following tools:
  • IRC and mailing lists

I'm very comfortable using IRC. I don't have any experience with mailing lists outside of stumbling on some archive every now and then.

• • Mercurial or other source code management systems

I've used svn for a school project. I've also used git a little.

• • Mediawiki or other wiki software

My experience is limited to editing wiki pages a couple of times.

• • make, gcc, gdb or other development tools

I know how to use g++. I also have one school project's worth of experience with gdb and make.

• What will make you actively stay in our community after this GSoC is over? You can also tell us after applications close and we'll happily try to fulfill :-)

O: Only out of interest

• Did you ever hear about Octave before?
  • If so, when and where? How far have you been involved already?
  • If not, where would you expect or advise us to do advertising?
• What was the first question concerning Octave you could not find an answer to rather quickly? Of course more than one question can be stated. We try to improve based on this each year! Includes learning how to use it, code, website, GSoC application, …

P: Prerequisites

• Please state the operating system you work with.

Arch Linux

• • If you have access to more than one, please state them and the conditions under which you are granted this access.

I have access my university's Windows and Linux workstations (well, the OSX workstations too, although that is probably not that useful, since the last Apple computer I've ever used was a G3).

• Please estimate an average time per day you will be able to (if separated) access
  • an internet connection

unlimited

• • a computer

unlimited

• • a computer with your progressing work on

unlimited

• Please describe the degree up to which you can install new software on computers you have access to.

unlimited on my personal computers; can't install on university computers

S: Self-assessment

• Please describe how useful criticism looks from your point of view as committing student.
• How autonomous are you when developing? If you answer both subquestions with "Yes, definitely", we are a tad confused. ;-)
  • Do you like to discuss changes intensively and not start coding until you know what you want to do?
  • Do you like to code a proof of concept to 'see how it turns out', modifying that and taking the risk of having work thrown away if it doesn't match what the project or original proponent had in mind?

Y: Your task

• Did you select a task from our list of proposals and ideas?
  • If yes, what task did you choose? Please describe what part of it you especially want to focus on if you can already provide this information. Please also wiki-link the page for your elaborated proposal here.
  • If you apply for a task you have added yourself instead, please describe this task, its scope and people you already talked to concerning it. What field of tasks did you miss on the list?
• Please provide a rough estimated timeline for your work on the task. This should include the GSoC midterms and personal commitments like exams or vacation ("non-coding time"). Optionally include two or three milestones you expect.