GSoC participation in 2015

166 views
Skip to first unread message

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 12, 2015, 9:18:50 AM2/12/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Dear all:

Google Summer of Code is open (one week until deadline). It is certainly a great opportunity to get more hands in the Android mobile app and some developments in the core. 

Is there any plan to apply for it this year? The deadline is on Feb., 20th. I can help in writing the proposal.

Thanks,
Mohamed.

Stefan Steiniger

unread,
Feb 12, 2015, 11:12:14 AM2/12/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hei Mohamed,

would be good. But there isn't much time.
First thing to do is to gather a couple of topics for students - asap.

Problem is, I can't help as I will be on vactions until Feb 25.

Perhaps you/one could also contact OSGeo folks if there is an option to be under their umbrella for GSoC, as for instance OpenStreetMap was (is?). Hamish Bowman will be the Admin this year, but Anne Ghisla, admin for the last two years, may be able to answer the question too. BUT: being under the OSGEO umbrella means usually less spots, and OSGeo had a bit of trouble to find a Primary Admin for this year, who has the necessary free time. So the situation is that they will have two-three Secondary Admins and most likely will reduce the number of students to take on this year (perhaps to 10, which is like 1-2 for each projekt). Being an Admin is somehow a full-time job. Or at least a serious half-time job. And one needs to be available over the northern hemisphere's summer.

cheers
stefan
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 14, 2015, 1:09:30 PM2/14/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com

Hello Stefan:

The some topics that I see at the moment:
1. There is a good list of issues labeled as new feature or improvement that correlate to the APIs in the core. For example (but not limited to), 
  • stop/street search API improvement
  • Timetables of each bus/train stop
  • Realtime updates status
2. Support for uploading GPS traces from external sources to update the current speed of a road. Traces are analyzed and average speed in each road is calculated and added to the graph. (Think of Waze). This feature would be very interesting to have.
3. The Android app: This one is pretty good but it needs support and usage of Material Design to make it more appealing.

Since I can't be extremely helpful in choosing the most helpful ones for the future of OTP, I would ask you/someone who have hands-on with the project to nominate best improvements to work on.

In the other hand, I can contact Hamish and Anne to see if we can have one or two spots under their umbrella. Just to save sometime, I can contact them now until we all agree on one or two places. 

Thanks,
Mohamed Taher Alrefaie.

Sstein

unread,
Feb 15, 2015, 8:49:49 PM2/15/15
to Mohamed T. AlRefaie, opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hi Mohamed,

All good ideas, and all good to propose.
At the end , we shouldn't be proposing only one or two which we think is best, but rather a student should take it as suggestion and then apply with one topic. So it usually works the way that he/she say he/she wants to work on this an that and comes up with a proposal draft. Ideally, then there should be some refinement with a possible mentor on this draft before the applicaton deadline. However, in case of multiple submission, we shall do a ranking based on proposal and success potential of the student (as OSGeo does).

Btw., the Android app you linked to: on my tablet there was no link shown - but i guess you mean the one the play store by USF and worked on in the last GSofC. If so, I'm sure Sean Barbeau will also be available as co-mentor.

Thanks for your efforts,
Stefan

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 16, 2015, 9:06:41 AM2/16/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com, moh...@gmail.com
Hello Stefan:

I guess that's a great way then. I have already contacted Hamish and Anne and waiting for their answer. I will keep you posted.

Yes, I meant the USF Android app. For the availability of Sean, that will help a lot. I guess we should wait until we see if OSGeo has some space for us.

Best, 
Mohamed Taher Alrefaie.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner-dev+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

Sean Barbeau

unread,
Feb 16, 2015, 9:53:58 AM2/16/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com, moh...@gmail.com
Mohamed/Stefan,
Yes, I'd be interested in seeing more work on the OTP Android app as part of GSoC:
https://github.com/CUTR-at-USF/OpenTripPlanner-for-Android/wiki

Top new feature in OTP Android I'd like to see is real-time turn-by-turn navigation:
https://github.com/CUTR-at-USF/OpenTripPlanner-for-Android/issues/297

...but there are a number of other tickets labeled as "enhancements" that would be possible new work as well:
https://github.com/CUTR-at-USF/OpenTripPlanner-for-Android/labels/enhancements

Another possibility for a GSoC project, indirectly related to OTP, is work on an open-source GTFS-realtime validation tool.  See additional discussion here:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/gtfs-realtime/wm3W7QIEZ9Y/iqaARBOhOxoJ

Please keep me posted!

Sean

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 16, 2015, 3:18:06 PM2/16/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hello Sean:

Thanks for jumping into this. These are great topics to work on. I also like the GTFS-rt validator idea.

I'm still waiting for Hamish and Anne to respond. I will keep you all posted. Though, we are 3 days away from deadline. Do you have any alternative ways for submitting to GSoC?

Regards,
Mohamed Taher Alrefaie.

Barbeau, Sean

unread,
Feb 16, 2015, 3:20:19 PM2/16/15
to Mohamed T. AlRefaie, opentripp...@googlegroups.com

Sorry, no other ideas on my end.  Stefan was the main contact on GSoC last time we worked together, so he’s much better connected than I am.

 

Sean

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.


For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/opentripplanner-dev/MxRnbJoQ1G8/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.

Stefan de Konink

unread,
Feb 16, 2015, 4:36:38 PM2/16/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
If some student wants to make a GTFS-RT validator. I wouldn't mind to
mentor him or her. I have done two GSoC mentorships in the past for
OpenStreetMap.

Stefan

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 21, 2015, 3:35:05 PM2/21/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Dear all:

Good news, OSGeo finally responded and they have reserved one slot for OTP. 

What we need to do now is:
1. Choose one idea and write it in the same format of shared ideas in OSGeo. I guess the idea for the validator for GTFS-rt is gaining popularity in this thread. Any other ideas?
2. Choose two mentors who would generously work on directing students. OSGeo will retain their stipend so that's a voluntary job as I can see.

What are the ideas that you support for the GSoC ? Who is willing to mentor it?

For more details, let me share a snippet of the email I received from them.


The requirements to participate with us are the following:
- provide an ideas page like the ones already provided by all projects, we will add it to: http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code_2015_Ideas
- make sure that each idea is supported by two mentors who already plan to commit their time for the summer. Please list the names (+ profile pages/contact information) alongside each idea.

May we remind that mentors commit themselves to be on call for the whole duration of the program, and are expected to be in touch with students and admins with maximum 1 day lag. It is very important for us admins and for the students to be able to rely on fast communication.
More info about mentoring is available here:

Like past years, OSGeo will retain all mentor stipends and allocate the sum for code sprints and/or education initiatives around geospatial software. We hope this is fine with you.


Thanks,
Mohamed Taher Alrefaie.

Stefan de Konink

unread,
Feb 21, 2015, 3:39:45 PM2/21/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
On Saturday, February 21, 2015 9:35:05 PM CEST, Mohamed T. AlRefaie wrote:
> What are the ideas that you support for the GSoC ? Who is
> willing to mentor it?

As mentioned before, for the GTFS-RT part I am willing to mentor :)

Stefan

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 21, 2015, 3:42:34 PM2/21/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hello Stefan:

Thank you for your prompt response. That sounds great. 
 
I just want to make sure, are you okay with OSGeo retaining your stipend? Sorry, this might be silly but just to make sure.

If so, we now need one more mentor. 

Thanks,
Mohamed Taher Alrefaie.

Stefan de Konink

unread,
Feb 21, 2015, 4:15:15 PM2/21/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
On Saturday, February 21, 2015 9:42:34 PM CEST, Mohamed T. AlRefaie wrote:
> I just want to make sure, are you okay with OSGeo retaining
> your stipend? Sorry, this might be silly but just to make sure.

If OSGeo formally earmarks this money to the development of
OpenTripPlanner, I am happy about that. It seems quite unfair if OSGeo
keeps $500 while not doing anything for it.

--
Stefan

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 21, 2015, 4:19:20 PM2/21/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
It's clearly for the code sprints and educational initiatives. Check this snippet from their email

Like past years, OSGeo will retain all mentor stipends and allocate the sum for code sprints and/or education initiatives around geospatial software. We hope this is fine with you.

Sean Barbeau

unread,
Feb 23, 2015, 3:04:10 PM2/23/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
I'd be interested in being a mentor for a GTFS-rt validator project as well.  That should get us to the requisite 2. :)

Sean

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 24, 2015, 12:46:09 PM2/24/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hello Sean:

That's great news. Thanks for supporting this. You are now a mentor for the gtfs-rt validator.

Unfortunately, Stefan de Konink is no longer committed to this. And we are indeed still looking for one more mentor. Anyone interested?

Thanks,
Mohamed.

Stefan Steiniger

unread,
Feb 25, 2015, 4:22:49 PM2/25/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hi all,

this is good news Mohamed. Thanks for your initiative.

I can also be mentor. Perhaps not necessarily providing the technical guidance, but helping with the general stuff (admin, scheduling, reporting, etc.). Have done this already a couple of times.

I have no problems with OSGeo retaining the mentor stipends. As I know OSGeo since their foundation, they will put it to good use for free USB OSGeo software sticks at the FOSS4G, running email/source code servers, and edu events/material (there is a edu group starting to work slowly on GIS edu documents and prices).

So, then on the webpage/wiki (OSGeo) we should put the 3-4 ideas Mohamed had, while favouring one particular to possible students.


sorry for the late reply - was in holidays.

best,
stefan
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.

Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Feb 26, 2015, 6:27:25 AM2/26/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hello Stefan:

That sounds great. So the team now is set and all we need to finish next is the document. I just wonder why would we place many ideas if we are focused on a single one?

Thank your for committing to this.

Mohamed.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner-dev+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

Barbeau, Sean

unread,
Feb 26, 2015, 10:26:57 AM2/26/15
to Mohamed T. AlRefaie, opentripp...@googlegroups.com

Mohamed/Stefan,

I think at this stage, we should be down to just one idea?  We’re helping Mohamed with his application for something to work on, right?

 

The multiple ideas, I believe, would have been appropriate if applying for the GSoC organization status.

 

Sean

 

From: opentripp...@googlegroups.com [mailto:opentripp...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mohamed T. AlRefaie
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 6:27 AM
To: opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [OpenTripPlanner] GSoC participation in 2015

 

Hello Stefan:

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.


For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/opentripplanner-dev/MxRnbJoQ1G8/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.

Sstein

unread,
Feb 26, 2015, 11:13:37 AM2/26/15
to Mohamed T. AlRefaie, opentripp...@googlegroups.com

See below

El 26-02-2015, a las 8:27, Mohamed T. AlRefaie <moh...@gmail.com> escribió:

Hello Stefan:

That sounds great. So the team now is set and all we need to finish next is the document. I just wonder why would we place many ideas if we are focused on a single one?

Because it looks better to Google ;)
Google needs to see that there are many developers and many ideas to improve the software.
So, this is mainly to support that OSGeo will be accepted as organization to GSoC.

When student application time starts (or OSGeo is accepted) we can, perhaps, modify it?

Also, it may be possible to have more than one student applying or being interested. If we can get two spots from OSGeo is doubtfull though. Well, i am not sure if this happened at the end, but i heard of one-two students proposing to work on a topic also when not accepted, as they chose it for their university degree proyect... or so

Also, what I may add is: a GSoC project may not be necessarily successfull, with respect to the goals set out at the beginning (i assume < 50% are?) - for several reasons. Therefore one particular goal is to attract students that are interested in the project for the time after the GSoC, and see this rather short GSoC time primary as learning experience with hopefully some useful results for the project.

Just my 2cents
Stefan

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.

Sstein

unread,
Feb 26, 2015, 11:36:58 AM2/26/15
to Barbeau, Sean, Mohamed T. AlRefaie, opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Ah well, ok so then lets go with only one idea.

Stefan


Mohamed T. AlRefaie

unread,
Mar 1, 2015, 1:41:19 PM3/1/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com, bar...@cutr.usf.edu, moh...@gmail.com
Hello Stefan and Sean:

I initiated this only to contribute to OTP and make a difference here. So, this application would be open to whoever finds it interesting.

So, having one idea is still better? Who should write it and how long should it be?

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner-dev+unsub...@googlegroups.com.


For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/opentripplanner-dev/MxRnbJoQ1G8/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to opentripplanner-dev+unsub...@googlegroups.com.


For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner-dev+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

Stefan Steiniger

unread,
Mar 5, 2015, 9:17:08 AM3/5/15
to opentripp...@googlegroups.com
Hi Mohamad, Sean, Andrew

as I am not into the details of GTFS RT (function + needs), I would suggest Sean writes it?
Also we should have a wiki page or something for putting the GSoC project idea(s).

@Andrew:
Where do you think can we create such ideas page? Who has edit rights? (Sean?)
Most projects have links to GitHub... see here (under pgRouting or PyWPS):
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code_2015_Ideas

Such ideas page might be also helpful for the future.

Then we need to contact Madi (see wiki page above), to put us in the list.

cheers,
stefan
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.

Barbeau, Sean

unread,
Mar 5, 2015, 10:39:04 AM3/5/15
to Stefan Steiniger, opentripp...@googlegroups.com

Just added a wiki page here:

https://github.com/opentripplanner/OpenTripPlanner/wiki/2015-Google-Summer-of-Code-Ideas

 

I’ll fill out a GTFS-realtime validation tool idea there.

 

Sean

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

 

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/opentripplanner-dev/MxRnbJoQ1G8/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.


For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

 

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "OpenTripPlanner Developers" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/opentripplanner-dev/MxRnbJoQ1G8/unsubscribe.

To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to opentripplanner...@googlegroups.com.

Barbeau, Sean

unread,
Mar 5, 2015, 11:03:14 AM3/5/15
to Barbeau, Sean, Stefan Steiniger, opentripp...@googlegroups.com

Done, also added some OTP Android ideas as well.

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages