User:Balasankarc/GSoC 2013 Application Balasankar C: Developing Malayalam Calendar Support

Personal Details

• Name : Balasankar C
• Education : Pursuing B.Tech - 3rd year
• College and University : Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kalady, Ernakulam - MG University
• Email Address : <c.balasankar@gmail.com>
• Blog : www.balasankarc.comule.com
• FreeNode IRC Nick : balasankarc
• Why do you want to work with the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing?

Anything related to Malayalam and Computers attract me. I like the idea of having my computer displaying stuff in my native language and SMC is doing the same. Moreover it is an open source initiative so that I can also participate in that.

• Do you have any past involvement with the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing or another open source project as a contributor?

I have been working with SMC for about 1 year in its Gnome localisation team. I am currently working as reviewer in the same.

• Did you participate with the past GSoC programs, if so which years, which organizations?

First time participation in GSoC

• Do you have other obligations between May and August ? Please note that we expect the Summer of Code to be a full time, 40 hour a week commitment

Obligations during may and august - Educational constraints - But will be able to do 30h/week

• Will you continue contributing/ supporting the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing after the GSoC 2013 program, if yes, which area(s), you are interested in?

I have been contributing to SMC in the past will ofcourse continue contributing to SMC even after GSoC. SMC is the primary concern whereas GSoC is only secondary. GSoC or not, will continue my journey with SMC. I am interested in localisation and internationalisation of different packages.

• Why should we choose you over other applicants?

I am quite thourough in C, C++, C#, Visual Basic, VB.NET and ASP.NET. I also have experience in Python, Java, JS and jQuery. I am quite fluent in reading, writing and typing malayalam. I am also a reviewer of SMC's Gnome Localisation Team and am an administrator of Malayalam Wikisource. My technical as well as literary background definitely proves me good. I also have experience in astronomy which will aid me better in completing this project as the core of the project lies in astronomical algorithms.

Proposal Description

• An overview of your proposal

I intend to add a Malayalam (Kollavarsham) Calendar to KOrganizer where it is displayed along with the Greogiran and Saka Calendar. For that, first I plan to build an API for the same, containing functions to calculate indic calendar terminologies from given gregorian counterparts. This API will be the core of the project as it completes all the complex algorithmic work. After that, the GUI of Malayalam Calendar wil be designed in such a way that it can be incorporated to KOrganizer.Users should be able to do all calendar activities like marking to-do, setting up remainders etc on the basis of Malayalam Months and Dates. I always dreamt of doing this and as I often say, my aim is a day when we set up remainders for each 'Ekadashi'.

• The need you believe it fulfills

Currently there is no API for indic calendar generation. Programmers have to calculate it manually inorder to use it for some productive work. This project makes it easy for the programmers so that they can just use the API inorder to do all calendar activities. Moreover, it would be really helpful to Keralites to have a digital version of the calendar they use daily. Keralites are still culturally and religiously attached to astronomy and hence this project will help them.

• Any relevant experience you have

Have experience in the field of astronomy and algorithms related to calendar and panchangam development, algorithm formulation. Also experienced in both console and GUI programming.

• How you intend to implement your proposal

I intend to use Python/C as backend for the algorithm. KDE will be the frontend as it is planned to be incorporated to KOrganizer.

• A rough timeline for your progress with phases

June 17 - July 15 - Generating algorithm and coding functions for calculating helio-related terminologies in indic calendars.

July 15 - August 5 - Generating algorithm and coding functions for calculating lunar-centric terminologies in indic calendars.

August 5 - August 30 - Generating GUI necessary for incorporating with KOrganizer

August 31 - September 10 - Testing

September 10 - September 27 - Debugging and Documentation

• Any other details you feel we should consider

I believe I am eligible for this project due to my knowledge in the astronomical field, mathematics and algorithm formulation and I am also familiar with both console and GUI programming. There were several works done in this area, but I believe all of them are database-centric and hence applies only between a specific range of time. I intend to do it in an algorithm-centric way so that it will be efficient always.

• Tell us about something you have created.

Some softwares I have created includes an image to DJVU converter (written in python), a tax calculator for college teachers (written in VB), a library management software (work in progress) and an agricultural information website.

• Have you communicated with a potential mentor? If so, who?

Yes. I have communicated with Praveen A and he gave me guidance in finding existing systems trying to accomplish this project.

• SMC Wiki link of your proposal

Malayalam Calendar support for KOrganizer