Backport SAGA-C++ to boost-1.33, and create binary SAGA distributions (deb, rpm, ...)

Google Summer of Code 2009 ideas

Primary Mentor: Andre Merzky andremerzky@gmail.com.
Secondary Mentor: Shantenu Jha sjha@cct.lsu.edu
OMII Project: OMII-SAGA.

Background

OMII-UK funds SAGA development to further code stability and feature completeness of the SAGA API standard implementation. To further this goal, we want to backport SAGA's C++ implementation to boost-1.33 (currently boost-1.34.1). Also, we want to establish mechanisms to create binary distribution for SAGA releases, for major Unix/Linux platforms.

Project Goals

The project should provide a patch set to allow SAGA-C++ to compile against boost-1.33, which is still widely deployed in SAGA's target community. Also, a set of tools or scripts should be created which allow to automatically create binary distributions of SAGA, including correct dependency specifications etc.

Project Description

The SAGA C++ implementation heavily relies on boost. At the moment, we require at least boost-1.34.1. The Student is expected to sift through the SAGA code base, and to check if a backport to boost-1.33 is in fact feasible. If so, a separate svn branch is to be derived from trunk to implement that backport. Merging back into trunk is an *optional* part of the project.

In the second (and probably simpler) part, we expect the project to provide a set of tools or scripts to automatically create binary distributions for major Linux/Unix platforms. Reuse of existing tools is encouraged!

Project Requirements

The applicant should be aware that the SAGA C++ code base is not a trivial one, and is not fully documented either. OTOH, we have a very responsive devel mailing list, and the backport work will not require the student to understand all functional details of the SAGA implementation. Nevertheless, excellent C++ skills and familiarity with boost will definitely help.

The second part requires moderate to good knowledge of Linux, Unix, and binary package formats.