[Ubuntu] UbuntuGIS - Google Summer of Code - packaging Java based OSGeo applications

[Cameron Shorter]

Jerome, Alan,

We discussed ideas about Jerome's contribution toward OSGeo-Live in our 
OSGeo-Live weekly meeting yesterday and we see this summer-of-code 
project as an excellent opportunity to tackle one of the difficult 
packaging issues we have had to date. Namely, the packaging of java 
based applications.

Historically, java packaging into ubuntu has been difficult, largely due 
to osgeo projects being dependant upon Sun Java, and Debian packaging 
OpenJDK. We the last OSGeo-Live release, we successfully moved all 
applications on OSGeoLive across to OpenJDK, so we should be in a good 
position to start packaging these java based applications.

The other part of the problem, is that java projects usually don't have 
much expertise in debian packaging (because they have not been doing 
it), and debian packagers have not had much experience with java (again 
because they have not been working with it).

What we really need is someone to work out how to bring these two 
processes (and communities) together by doing to hard work of working 
out what is required. Jerome's summer of code project provides an 
excellent opportunity to make a big difference in this regard.

So I'd like to propose:
1. Jerome's primary focus should initially be on working out how to 
package java applications into debian based systems (such as UbuntuGIS)
2. Start packaging the key java based applications. (I can introduce you 
to key java developers and projects to ask questions of)
3. I suspect we should start with the Geotools library first, then 
GeoServer (which is used by a number of other applications), then other 
java based applications (depending on which projects step up to work 
with Jerome)

Jerome, Alan,
How does that sound for an idea?


On 06/06/13 02:47, Alex Mandel wrote:
> On 06/05/2013 09:22 AM, Alan Boudreault wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> As some of you may already know, we got a OSGeo Google Summer of Code
>> slot for UbuntuGIS. I'd like to introduce Jérome Vileneuve Larouche (a
>> student at The University of Québec at Chicoutimi) You may already have
>> seen his name on the list since he was working part time with Mapgears
>> during the last year. As the mentor of the project, I'm going to work
>> with Jérome to update and improve UbuntuGIS.
>>
>> The main goals of the project is to:
>>
>> - Train the student to be comfortable with debian/ubuntu packaging.
>> - Provide the UbuntuGIS-Stable Upgrade (biannual upgrade)
>> - Provide packages for Ubuntu Raring.
>> - Update UbuntuGIS unstable packages with all latest softwares
>> (Collaborate and contribute to DebianGIS)
>> - Collaborate with the user on the mailing list to be aware of the known
>> issues and  provide new package and/or fixes
>> - Provide upstream patches to various osgeo projects.
>> - Create a new repository for debian stable (7.0) with all current
>> up-to-date packages
>> - Create more documentation for users and new contributors. (Howtos,
>> tutorial)
>> - Collaborate with the OSGeo LiveDVD project (more packaging for their
>> setup?)
>>
>> We would be happy to hear comments/suggestions from the community to
>> improve UbuntGIS.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> Alan
>>
>
> Awesome. I look forward to more Howtos to help us train more people to 
> become maintainers of packages.
>
> As a member of UbuntuGIS, and OSGeo Live I'll be happy to help 
> coordinate between the 2 projects.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
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Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Solutions Manager
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