Online Developer Meeting (2021-04-27): Difference between revisions

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* Meet and greet 5 minutes before meeting (audio testing).
* Meet and greet 5 minutes before meeting (audio testing).


=== MXE Octave branches and buildbots ===
=== MXE Octave branches ===


*  
* Which changes should go on which branch?
** "default": everything new
** "release": conservative updates
*** new Octave packages + dependent libraries (if necessary and applicable)
*** MXE libraries which have severe bugs / security issues.
* Which branch should the buildbots use?
** http://buildbot.octave.org:8010/ (jwe)
*** Probably add builders to jwe's buildbot that build the current Octave stable branch with MXE Octave's release branch.
*** Is there a way to trigger daily builds of the mxe builders only if there have been changes in Octave or MXE Octave.
** https://buildbot.octave.space/ (Kai)
*** General move to "release" branch (probably May)
*** One additional build of "w64" with "default" branch
 
=== Buildbots ===
 
* Find out how to trigger a build on changes in two repositories?
** Untested idea: https://github.com/gnu-octave/octave-buildbot/pull/9/files
 
=== GitHub ===
 
* Markus wants to try out using GitHub runners
** https://octave.discourse.group/t/ci-with-github-hosted-runners/1081
** Try out macOS runners
* Therefore a folder ".github" will be added to the Octave main repo
** Can be removed anytime if it proves as not useful.
* If other services (despite GitHub) are going to be tested, respective files might be added too.


=== String class strategy ===
=== String class strategy ===


* Strategy for transition to string class syntax (incompatible to current double-quoted character vectors in Octave)?
* Strategy for transition to string class syntax (incompatible to current double-quoted character vectors in Octave)?
** Issue treatment of escape characters (first interpreted when Xprintf is applied).
*** https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/string.html
* Suggestion to implement an initial string class at one point
** Many existing Octave code (packages) might break.
** In the transition time using
*** Octave .oct-config files to manage how double quoted strings are treated
*** Implement convertStringsToChars and solve issue per function basis (Matlab compatible, probably straight forward, but many changes).
**** https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/convertstringstochars.html
* Initial implementation by Andrew Janke
** https://github.com/apjanke/octave-tablicious/blob/master/inst/string.m
** http://blog.apjanke.net/2019/04/20/matlab-string-representation-is-a-mess.html
=== Classdef ===
* Wish to define classdef classes from C++ "nicely" (currently only from m-files comfortable usable).
* This would also help implementing the string class.


=== C++17 ===
=== C++17 ===
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* Updates: https://octave.discourse.group/t/using-c-17-features/1026
* Updates: https://octave.discourse.group/t/using-c-17-features/1026
* Allow using more modern C++ dialects (C++17 STL std::filesystem or boost::filesystem)?
* Allow using more modern C++ dialects (C++17 STL std::filesystem or boost::filesystem)?
** qt6 requires C++17 https://www.qt.io/blog/qt-6.0-released
** gcc 8.x (2018) still not C++17 feature complete (e.g. std::filesystem cannot fully be used, no benefit)
*** https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/compiler_support#cpp17
*** https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/libstdc++/manual/status.html#status.iso.2017
General consensus was to stay with C++11 until a "killer application" shows up that rectifies changing to a newer standard.


=== Short introduction: SavannahAPI ===
=== Short introduction: SavannahAPI ===
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* Former [https://octave.discourse.group/t/remaining-items-for-the-6-1-release/350 "Release burn down chart"].
* Former [https://octave.discourse.group/t/remaining-items-for-the-6-1-release/350 "Release burn down chart"].
* https://octave.space/savannah/
* https://octave.space/savannah/
=== Bug Maintenance/Clean Up ===
:''The author of this topic did not attend the meeting.  There was a short discussion about [[GSoC]] and the [[Short projects]] page.''
There are already ~1600 open bugs at 1 min/bug this is over 1 day.
This is not manageable. Many of these could be closed:
* Are complete because a new version is released {{bug|53576}}
* Can be implemented since there is a new version {{bug|50820}} notice comments 24 & 25
* Maintainers have the function but have not submitted it {{bug|58530}}
For preparing for [[GSoC]] it states to fix bugs, missing functions, etc.
The ideal scenario would mean being inundated with fixes, and new functions.
A maintained [[Short projects]] page would be necessary to avoid comments as in {{bug|32088}}.
What is the best approach to resolving this?
* <strike>A new wiki page</strike> so one with permission can see all the "easy closes".
** Please reuse the [[Short projects]] page for this purpose, which is currently unmaintained.
* Pinging bugs/patches for a status update.
** Yes, always a good idea and this is basically what happens very slowly.  It would be great to see more volunteers triaging the bug and patch trackers.


== Previous topics ==
== Previous topics ==
:''The following items were not discussed.  Just some links to progress on those items are displayed.''


=== Octave 7 ===
=== Octave 7 ===

Latest revision as of 06:18, 28 April 2021

Todays topics[edit]

  • Meet and greet 5 minutes before meeting (audio testing).

MXE Octave branches[edit]

  • Which changes should go on which branch?
    • "default": everything new
    • "release": conservative updates
      • new Octave packages + dependent libraries (if necessary and applicable)
      • MXE libraries which have severe bugs / security issues.
  • Which branch should the buildbots use?
    • http://buildbot.octave.org:8010/ (jwe)
      • Probably add builders to jwe's buildbot that build the current Octave stable branch with MXE Octave's release branch.
      • Is there a way to trigger daily builds of the mxe builders only if there have been changes in Octave or MXE Octave.
    • https://buildbot.octave.space/ (Kai)
      • General move to "release" branch (probably May)
      • One additional build of "w64" with "default" branch

Buildbots[edit]

GitHub[edit]

  • Markus wants to try out using GitHub runners
  • Therefore a folder ".github" will be added to the Octave main repo
    • Can be removed anytime if it proves as not useful.
  • If other services (despite GitHub) are going to be tested, respective files might be added too.

String class strategy[edit]

Classdef[edit]

  • Wish to define classdef classes from C++ "nicely" (currently only from m-files comfortable usable).
  • This would also help implementing the string class.

C++17[edit]

General consensus was to stay with C++11 until a "killer application" shows up that rectifies changing to a newer standard.

Short introduction: SavannahAPI[edit]

Bug Maintenance/Clean Up[edit]

The author of this topic did not attend the meeting. There was a short discussion about GSoC and the Short projects page.

There are already ~1600 open bugs at 1 min/bug this is over 1 day. This is not manageable. Many of these could be closed:

  • Are complete because a new version is released #53576
  • Can be implemented since there is a new version #50820 notice comments 24 & 25
  • Maintainers have the function but have not submitted it #58530

For preparing for GSoC it states to fix bugs, missing functions, etc. The ideal scenario would mean being inundated with fixes, and new functions. A maintained Short projects page would be necessary to avoid comments as in #32088.

What is the best approach to resolving this?

  • A new wiki page so one with permission can see all the "easy closes".
    • Please reuse the Short projects page for this purpose, which is currently unmaintained.
  • Pinging bugs/patches for a status update.
    • Yes, always a good idea and this is basically what happens very slowly. It would be great to see more volunteers triaging the bug and patch trackers.

Previous topics[edit]

The following items were not discussed. Just some links to progress on those items are displayed.

Octave 7[edit]

Improve graphics[edit]
  • Consult professional OpenGL developer to review code Any news here?
    • General agreement to spend Octave project money on this
Implement Matlabs new input validation[edit]
  • jwe can create dummy tree-elements
    • Problem if values are evaluated, the "right" action must be done
  • Can those validation statements come at arbitrary positions or only at the beginning of the file?
Command Window Widget[edit]
Backend code improvements[edit]
  • "Ditch" old UNIX system functions (e.g. popen)
  • performance of symbol lookup
    • use std::unordered_map, rather than std::map to increase performance (e.g. of interpreter lookups)
    • Potentially implement "import" keyword? That would probably slow down symbol lookup some more.
  • Replace custom reference counters with implementation using std::shared_ptr
    • Some instances are more difficult to replace. jwe will post something about this on the discourse forum.
  • improve HDF5 integration

Documentation[edit]

Ideas for next meeting[edit]

See also[edit]