[Need Ideas] Open-Source Project

Cake and I want to start a long term open-source project with a few programmers, if anyone wants to join up.
We hope it to become something that will become commonplace. Therefore we need it to be something a large user base will have a need for.
Our language of choice is currently Perl, but we may change if we like your idea enough.
We come to you for ideas. What do you have?
If you know us, please keep it to things you would expect us to be interested in, we know you can’t always do this, but we do ask that you try. Don’t be discouraged. If in doubt, post your idea.
We intend to keep it cross-domain, and I may move to a Linux environment to make sure I can accomplish this. I’m not sure if Cake will move, but if necessary, I’m sure he’ll use VMWare or a similar tool.
We’re waiting for your ideas. Don’t hesitate to post.

When we decided on our project we will post the homepage (Probably on SourceForge) and the list of features we intend to include. This information will be added to this post along with the release thread for the first working version of our project once we have it up and running.

What this will and will not be:

Will be:
This is going to be written in Perl, unless you convince me otherwise with some amazing idea.
This is going to be used by common people, not just computer savvy people (Unless you have an amazing idea)
This is going to be long term.

Will not be
This is not going to be online based.
This is not going to be for "haxxing".
This is not going to be directed towards exploiting a website.
This is not going to be short term.

Ideas on the Table:
Nothing at the moment

The problem with doing something commonplace is that it's already been done. I love the idea of open-source, so I'd love to help. Although I only installed Perl literally a few days ago, so I won't be much help up front until I get the hang of it or am inspired to actually do anything with it.

There's really nothing I can think of that hasn't been done (including open-source) - especially that's commonplace - so I have no suggestions. But I'll be willing to help. I'd probably come in most handy in converting codes from other languages to Perl.

Probably something that interacts with websites automatically would be an easy suggestion.

GAMEchief wrote:

The problem with doing something commonplace is that it's already been done. I love the idea of open-source, so I'd love to help. Although I only installed Perl literally a few days ago, so I won't be much help up front until I get the hang of it or am inspired to actually do anything with it.

There's really nothing I can think of that hasn't been done (including open-source) - especially that's commonplace - so I have no suggestions. But I'll be willing to help. I'd probably come in most handy in converting codes from other languages to Perl.

Probably something that interacts with websites automatically would be an easy suggestion.

The idea isn't something that's already commonplace, but to do something that will become commonplace. Eg. Notepad++ became commonplace, but that sort of thing has been done. Redoing an existing idea would be pointless.

Also, I haven't used Perl in months, and I didn't know it well when I was using it. I don't even remember the syntax at the moment. My intention with this is to learn Perl the way I intended to in the first place, provide a new tool to a lot of people, and get an idea of that kind of environment to fuel more ideas.

Truthfully until you actually know what you are going to make it is pointless to setup this entire recruiting thing.

It's like "We are looking to higher rocket scientists for a job, but...we don't know what you will be doing."

But it's okay. I'm currently taking a General Physics class, so we'll be building rockets in no time. Right?
I'll get started on the flux capacitor right away.

Anyway, writing a framework that does basic things isn't necessarily a bad idea. Trying to create something that will be mainstream is pretty much out of a beginner's league. But perhaps doing a framework for mathematical conversions (and other beginner tutorials) and what-not would be... maybe useful?

Mathematical conversions? Sounds fun.

I've been building a math framework in PHP to solve advanced equations (like wolfram alpha). Maybe try something similar in perl?

Artificial wrote:

Mathematical conversions? Sounds fun.

I've been building a math framework in PHP to solve advanced equations (like wolfram alpha). Maybe try something similar in perl?

I'm not sure I know enough math/advanced math to do this. It would either involve a lot of copy/pasted code or a lot of porting from X languages.

Nothing necessarily wrong with the latter. The point of making it would be to learn, remember? By creating the math framework - or whatever framework, math was just an example - you'll be learning Perl.

Artificial wrote:

Mathematical conversions? Sounds fun.

I've been building a math framework in PHP to solve advanced equations (like wolfram alpha). Maybe try something similar in perl?

Dibs on your framework to put it inside my own.

I'd say if you want to do something do it in Java, not only can you run the derived works on almost every platform, but you can easily develop it from any platform as well. You could even run it on phones and such, plus there is a massive amount of resources in the Java community, or just google for that matter.

I never liked Perl, I found its syntax a bit too strange and annoying lol. Anyway, good thing about Java is you have so many packages you can re-use for many things you may need to accomplish. It's Object Oriented as well, people try to say 'Java is Slow' but that's just old school bullshit, nowadays we have faster computers as opposed to 4 years ago, and besides if Java is so slow, why would Microsoft have ripped off Java, their so-called .NET 'Framework' is literally their way of ripping off Java, even thought I can't deny .NET is sort of epic, but anyway, I don't really know what you're trying to make, but your best bet is Java, people are more likely to already have Java installed than Perl anyway.

Another thing I love about Java is that if you don't like how someone formats their source code you can easily reformat it to your own liking, and Eclipse is pretty sexy really.

GAMEchief wrote:

Nothing necessarily wrong with the latter. The point of making it would be to learn, remember? By creating the math framework - or whatever framework, math was just an example - you'll be learning Perl.

To learn Perl isn't the only purpose we have in mind. Also, I was decent with Perl a few months back. My computer died for a while and I was putting off reforming it until I could get backups. Result being that I stopped using Perl for so long that I forgot the basics. I had only been using it for like a week and was still getting used to it. Cake was doing more work than I was because last time we worked on something together, it was over half done by the time he got the sauce and started messing with it. He called dibs on somethings, so I let him build most of them. They were part of the base of the program, so he got a lot more experience than me and I forgot my shit.

Moogly wrote:

I'd say if you want to do something do it in Java, not only can you run the derived works on almost every platform, but you can easily develop it from any platform as well. You could even run it on phones and such, plus there is a massive amount of resources in the Java community, or just google for that matter.

I never liked Perl, I found its syntax a bit too strange and annoying lol. Anyway, good thing about Java is you have so many packages you can re-use for many things you may need to accomplish. It's Object Oriented as well, people try to say 'Java is Slow' but that's just old school bullshit, nowadays we have faster computers as opposed to 4 years ago, and besides if Java is so slow, why would Microsoft have ripped off Java, their so-called .NET 'Framework' is literally their way of ripping off Java, even thought I can't deny .NET is sort of epic, but anyway, I don't really know what you're trying to make, but your best bet is Java, people are more likely to already have Java installed than Perl anyway.

Another thing I love about Java is that if you don't like how someone formats their source code you can easily reformat it to your own liking, and Eclipse is pretty sexy really.

At the moment, Cake is opposed to Java. I was going to start using it, but we can't really have a group project if we aren't using the same language.

Oh that's understandable... Still I'd pick something where people could actually work on it, I rarely have met any Perl programmers, I've only known of one guy who did Perl where I used his app and this was like 5 years ago lol anyway, there's also FreePASCAL it's like Delphi except "free" has a nice RAD IDE called Lazarus that runs on any platform, their motto is "Write Once, Compile Anywhere" you also natively compile apps unlike in Java and Perl. The trick is learning Pascal and such, it's not exactly the neatest language if you're not used to it but if you are devoted enough you would have a language literally as powerful as C or C++ at your fingertips

Which begs the question, why not use c++?

Artificial wrote:

Which begs the question, why not use c++?

I have a personal problem with the idea of learning C++.
I feel like it's over-rated/over used.
It's like VB, so many kids go "I know C++; I'm a hacker."
It's something I'll probably get over in time, but not for now.

C++ is such a fundamental language. That kind of mindset really is holding you back. Personally, I'de rather be more adapt at c++ than perl.

Artificial wrote:

C++ is such a fundamental language. That kind of mindset really is holding you back. Personally, I'de rather be more adapt at c++ than perl.

I might learn C/C++ for the sake of learning it. Mostly it's just because it is considered a fundamental language.
Like, I said, Perl is what we chose, but we are subject to change depending.

Personoid wrote:

I might learn C/C++ for the sake of learning it. Mostly it's just because it is considered a fundamental language.
Like, I said, Perl is what we chose, but we are subject to change depending.

C/C++ is almost exactly the same except C++ you use -> instead of dots.
Do something In C#.

Chad wrote:

C/C++ is almost exactly the same except C++ you use -> instead of dots.
Do something In C#.

Why?
What does C# have to offer that C or C++ don't?

Also, just noticed the post by Chris:

Chris wrote:

Truthfully until you actually know what you are going to make it is pointless to setup this entire recruiting thing.

It's like "We are looking to higher rocket scientists for a job, but...we don't know what you will be doing."

What the hell are you talking about? It's not a recruiting thing. The whole thread is about the idea. The bit about people joining is mentioned once, and the rocket scientist shit doesn't make sense. It's more like, "We don't know what you're going to be working on in this project, but you know your shit, so you have a shot at being hired."

I said we need ideas, and the people joining bit was only to see who might be interested in a long term project that would be open source and fit the criteria I mentioned.

I can tell Moogly is going to suggest Java in every topic, even though it's laggy as Hell, so most people don't like using it. I don't think Java can do anything other languages can't, outside of its cross-platform abilities that can be worked around via other languages.

Personoid wrote:

Why?
What does C# have to offer that C or C++ don't?

C# is Multi-Platform through mono. It's also microsoft's current top language tbfh. Why code something in C++ when you can create it in C# in less code and just as efficient. Even though it's just like Java (Virtual Machine required to run, compiles to byte code, etc..).

GAMEchief wrote:

I can tell Moogly is going to suggest Java in every topic, even though it's laggy as Hell, so most people don't like using it. I don't think Java can do anything other languages can't, outside of its cross-platform abilities that can be worked around via other languages.

Not really, I suggest languages based on what the end project requires, for example I always recommend Java for servers, or Erlang but not many people know Erlang so I think back to Java, and if they don't want Java then I suggest using C#.

Also have you guys thought about doing it in Python? That's another 'alternative'.

Moogly wrote:

C# is Multi-Platform through mono. It's also microsoft's current top language tbfh. Why code something in C++ when you can create it in C# in less code and just as efficient. Even though it's just like Java (Virtual Machine required to run, compiles to byte code, etc..).



Not really, I suggest languages based on what the end project requires, for example I always recommend Java for servers, or Erlang but not many people know Erlang so I think back to Java, and if they don't want Java then I suggest using C#.

Also have you guys thought about doing it in Python? That's another 'alternative'.

I hear C# is shit. I don't know that myself, so I'd have to look into it. Not sure.
I don't get why everyone is suggesting languages, though. This was supposed to be about ideas for a project. If the project you mention could be better done with X language, feel free to suggest that language along with the project, but I'm not interested in one of those "What should be my next language" threads. These suggestions are getting pretty far away from the actual topic.

@Python, I've seen python and I absolutely hate the syntax and over-all design of it.

Personoid wrote:

I hear C# is shit. I don't know that myself, so I'd have to look into it. Not sure.
I don't get why everyone is suggesting languages, though. This was supposed to be about ideas for a project. If the project you mention could be better done with X language, feel free to suggest that language along with the project, but I'm not interested in one of those "What should be my next language" threads. These suggestions are getting pretty far away from the actual topic.

@Python, I've seen python and I absolutely hate the syntax and over-all design of it.

C# is one of the most commonly used languages so I don't see how it's shit unless you don't know it you say it's shit blah blah. It's a really good language.

If you want ideas you need to start us off. Such as: make a new cCleaner that can clean multi-drives and is officially free and has all the features of the original cCleaner which you can find via google. It would be easy to make.

You can make your own WAMP Server or XAMP Server program. Your own self server.

You can make bots for runescape, WoW, And a bunch of other Java / javascript based games.

You can make tons of programs just need to start us off with one instead of saying, "do it in pearl. Make a program open source" Whats the idea in that?

@Python: I don't like python either but some would like to differ, why because python was built to be optimized and to the point although GUI's do require around 150 + lines of coding (from what I've read).

@Chris's post that you don't understand. It makes perfect sense.

EDIT:

Erlang:
http://ftp.sunet.se/pub/lang/erlang/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlang_%28programming_language%29

"Erlang is a general-purpose concurrent programming language and runtime system. The sequential subset of Erlang is a functional language, with strict evaluation, single assignment, and dynamic typing. For concurrency it follows the Actor model. It was designed by Ericsson to support distributed, fault-tolerant, soft-real-time, non-stop applications. The first version was developed by Joe Armstrong in 1986.[1] It supports hot swapping thus code can be changed without stopping a system.[2] Erlang was originally a proprietary language within Ericsson, but was released as open source in 1998.

While threads are considered a complicated and error-prone topic in most languages, Erlang provides language-level features for creating and managing processes with the aim of simplifying concurrent programming. Though all concurrency is explicit in Erlang, processes communicate using message passing instead of shared variables, which removes the need for locks."

  %% Second version

  -module(counter).

  -export([start/0, codeswitch/1]).

 

  start() -> loop(0).

 

  loop(Sum) ->

    receive

       {increment, Count} ->

          loop(Sum+Count);

       reset ->

          loop(0);

       {counter, Pid} ->

          Pid ! {counter, Sum},

          loop(Sum);

       code_switch ->

          ?MODULE:codeswitch(Sum)

    end.

 

  codeswitch(Sum) -> loop(Sum).

Looks like C++ and C# and some custom shit thrown in it.[/2][/1]

I didn't say that I personally think C# is shit. In fact, I specifically said that I don't know and would have to look into it. I then pointed out that I don't want more about "YOU SHOULD USE ______ LANGUAGE."

Actually, the reason I didn't post a general idea, is because I only want the general idea. We're going to build it ourselves; we just need the place to start. I wanted some people to toss ideas. Instead, you've all gone in the direction of suggesting that I use a language besides Perl. Also, Chris' post made no sense. We don't have a general idea of what we want to do. I only included the "if some people want to join" part as an after thought. I wondered if anyone would be interested in an open source app in Perl. We obviously didn't expect someone to be like, "Yeah, I'm in no matter what". More like, "I might be interested if the project grows to that point; keep me in mind."