SoCiS/2014/Ideas
KStars
KStars is a very powerful tool for anyone interested in astronomy. It is part of the KDE Edu suite.
Project: Fix our deep-sky data handling
Brief explanation: Currently, KStars handles data from deep-sky object catalogues in an SQLite database. While this is working well, there are some more features we would like to have, and some that should be implemented in order to sanitize the deep-sky data handling, such as automatic cross-referencing of deep-sky objects across catalogs, organizing deep-sky data better in the database etc using Hierarchical Triangular Mesh, etc.
More details here: http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Edu/KStars/Better_deep-sky_handling
Expected results: Some, or all of the improvements to deep-sky handling suggested above (or maybe even your own suggestions), implemented completely in solid, release-worthy code.
Knowledge Prerequisite: C++, Qt, understanding of astronomical catalogues, some experience with data structures.
Mentors: Rafal Kulaga (IRC: rkulaga), Rishab Arora (IRC:spacetime)
The student will need to:
- Look at the relevant code, and propose a tractable plan for implementing some of the improvements within the GSoC timeframe.
- Implement some of the improvements, producing production-ready code that can be included in the next release of KStars after GSoC 2014.
PS: If all this looks daunting, that's because you have not (yet) talked to us. If you're really interested, get onto #kde-kstars and ping the mentors.
Project: Propose your own project
Brief explanation: If you have some interesting ideas about KStars that can be implemented within the GSoC timeframe, you are very welcome to propose them, because we seem to have run out of ideas.
Mentors: Rafal Kulaga (IRC: rkulaga), Rishab Arora (IRC: spacetime)