code.edbaskerville.com

I just checked my Google Summer of Code status page for the four hundred millionth time in the last few weeks. Lo and behold: Application accepted!

More details to come. Let the coding begin!

I have just written a GridSweeper proposal from the outline for Summer of Code that I’m about to submit to Google.

There’s no extended discussion section, which I think is fine. The additional information can make it into a more detailed specification document before I start writing code.

I received word from Google that I can submit a proposal to their “alternate” process not on May 1, but right now. So I’ve slightly revised the proposal outline, and will try to ship off an actual proposal to the Summer of Code people later today.

If you haven’t heard of it, Summer of Code is a program started last year where Google pays students to work on open-source software projects. Last year, being out of school, I wasn’t eligible, but, now that I’m going back, I qualify.

I talked with Rick Riolo about getting UM CSCS signed up as a mentoring organization, so I might have the opportunity to work on some software relevant to the complex systems/agent-based modeling community. The most concrete, straightforward, and useful project we came up with was a general parameter sweep system that integrates with modern grid systems (Sun Grid Engine, Apple Xgrid, etc.).

Google denied the request for CSCS to be a mentoring organization (they used a rather odd first-come, first-served application process, and were out of spots), but it appears that I can still apply to Google as a mentoring organization and tell them I’d like someone else (Rick) to be the mentor.

Proposals from students can be submitted starting on May 1, so I have some time to think things through. Furthermore, I’d love any help from potential users out there in the ABM community.

I’ve written a draft outline of my proposal. I’d love your feedback on any and all of the following:

• would you use this?
• necessary features
• existing solutions and their successes/shortcomings
• comments on the proposal content/organization

Make hearty use of the Comments section!