Hi! I'm currently studying Computer Science at Lyon 1, France and I was interested in writing an elisp backend for ragel to use in org-mode for the Google Summer of Code 2012. I hope GNU will have enough slot for this project because it's the one I would really like doing :)
Here's a draft of my application. I was hoping someone (mentors?) could help me improve it (suggestion, typo, correction). Keep in mind English is not my native language. --- Name: Aurélien Aptel E-mail: aurelien.ap...@gmail.com Project name: org-mode -- Implement an Elisp backend for Ragel Summary: The objective of the project is to implement an Elisp backend for Ragel (a "parser generator") in order to replace the slow, complex and error-prone parsing code in org-mode with fast code generated by Ragel from a clean and readable grammar. Benefits: * Clean, readable and reusable grammar for org-mode files * A new (fast) alternative for parsing in Elisp ; can be relevant for a lot of Elisp projects * New language backend for Ragel Deliverables: * New language backend for Ragel * New improved parsing code for org-mode * A grammar for org-mode files Plan: Communication: I can be reached via email or irc. I plan on using a DVCS like Mercurial and publish my commits on a public hosting service such as bitbucket.org so everyone can follow my progress. I will also post to the org-mode ML to present my progress after each meaningful steps. Qualification: * I've already contributed to emacs. I've added cross-platform "underwave" support, hopefully included in future releases. More info and patch at: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-gnu-emacs/2012-02/msg00238.html http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2012-01/msg00844.html * I'm familiar with FSM concepts I've had classes on languages and automata which involved the implementation of several algorithms. * I use emacs every day :) I read and sometime post on various emacs MLs and I keep up with Emacs-related news on the web. I'm familiar with Lisp-like language. I wrote an interpreter (in C) for my own Lisp-language with the help of SICP as a personnal project. I have enough Elisp knowledge to automate some of my tasks but I'm no expert at it. I have used org-mode few times but I can't say I'm a frequent user. I'm a C hacker at heart but I have an acceptable knowledge of C++ :) ---