Re: GSoC 2024

[Efraim Flashner]

On Thu, Mar 07, 2024 at 02:09:32PM +0000, Steve George wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I had a couple of ideas - but would need help from someone to mentor
> 
> 1. Moldable development in Guix
> Exploratory REPL experience is one of the hall-marks of 'moldable' systems. 
> This shortens the development cycle and improves the ability of users to 
> explore Guix.
> 
> The best REPL experience today is through Emacs. We have a modern nREPL 
> implementation that is compatible with Guile. This needs further development 
> and the Guix client side improved.
> 
> * Develop a basic CLI Nrepl experience in guile-ares-rs 
> (https://git.sr.ht/~abcdw/guile-ares-rs)
> * Add further CLI REPL functions to Guix 
> * Stretch goal to add a Guix / Guile Scheme nrepl support to Conjure 
> (https://github.com/Olical/conjure/issues/549) 
> 
> This would need co-ordination with Andrew Tropin (abcw) and Oliver Caldwell 
> (Olical), and some help from a Guix mentor. 
> 
> 2. Improving Docker image output (guix pack)
> Docker containers are a common deployment method for applications. While they 
> may be good for deployment, they have weak reproducibilty which Guix solves. 
> Docker containers generated by Guix for deployment are large compared to 
> similar deployments using Nix or Alpine. The purpose of this project is to 
> optimise the build and deployment pipeline in Guix.
> 
> * Examine the current 'guix pack' process for optimisations
> * Optimise the build process to add docker specific capabilities like 
> multi-stage builds
> * Explore using grafts or masking to reduce final image size
> 
> ** NOTE:** I know this is a bit weak - I don't know enough about this myself 
> yet - is this even a good target - I think it's interesting for scientific 
> computing?

This would also be useful for "deploy this guix service as a docker
container".

> 3. Add sandboxing to guix packages
> Improving the security for end-users by implementing optional sandboxing for 
> desktop applications. The likes of Bubblewrap and Flatseal are available for 
> Linux. There's some existing Nix prior-art that could be a good starting 
> point (https://nixos.wiki/wiki/Firejail) and 
> (https://sr.ht/~fgaz/nix-bubblewrap/)
> 
> * Figure out which of the available options is the most sustainable
> * Integrate policys and implementation into high-profile packages
> * Stretch would be to create a Guile native library / approach
> 
> Anyone interested in these - willing to mentor/co-mentor with me?
> 
> On  4 Mar, Gábor Boskovits wrote:
> > Hello guix,
> > 
> > I coordinated with the GNU org admins, and we can still do this round,
> > but we have to go fast to make this happen. I have already taken the
> > initiative to try to get an ideas page up, now I would like to confirm
> > if the mentors from last year are still available, and that the ideas
> > are still valid.
> > 
> > Hereby I quickly collected the projects with the respective mentors,
> > please pm me your availability:
> > 
> > Decentralized substitute distribution
> > pukkamustard (pukkamustard [at] posteo [dot] net)
> > attila.lendvai (ethswarm.org, scheme)
> > 
> > Robustify long-term support for Reproducible Research
> > Simon Tournier (zimoun)
> > 
> > Develop a Web interface to configure Guix System
> > Ludovic Courtès (civodul)
> > 
> > Trusted computing: Goblins for GNU Guix
> > Christopher Webber, Ludovic Courtès and Pjotr Prins
> > 
> > Guix Data Service revision processing instrumentation and performance
> > Christopher Baines
> > 
> > Guile based build-tool
> > Pjotr Prins
> > 
> > GNU Guix system monitor
> > Pjotr Prins
> > 
> > Booting via network
> > Danny Milosavljevic
> > 
> > Syntax and semantics of systemd units in the Shepherd
> > Ludovic Courtès (civodul)
> > 
> > GNUnet integration
> > no mentor available
> > 
> > Adding modules in support of continuous integration to cuirass
> > Ludovic Courtès (civodul)
> > 
> > Continue rewrite build daemon in Guile Scheme
> > Ludovic Courtès (civodul)
> > 
> > I myself am available to co-mentor, and also to be the formal mentor
> > in case someone does not feel like doing the official dance with
> > Google. Currently I can commit to devoting two hours a week to this.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > g_bor
> > 
> 

-- 
Efraim Flashner   <efraim@flashner.co.il>   רנשלפ םירפא
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