SoC 2008 projects

Here is a list of the accepted projects for Google Summer of Code 2OO8.

List of current projects

Panorama Viewing

• Project page: SoC 2008 projects/PanoramaViewing
• Student: Michael Ploujnikov
• Mentor: Yuval Levy, Jean-Baptiste Kempf, Antoine Cellerier
• Abstract:

The goal of this project is to make VLC a one-stop solution for viewing panoramas of various formats. Currently, FreePV is the best/only cross-platform, non-proprietary solution for viewing QuickTimeVR and plain image panoramas. However it suffers from a few drawbacks, which include difficult installation, browser plug-in conflicts and low popularity. The intent is to integrate the FreePV rendering code with VLC. This should not only automatically alleviate installation difficulty and plug-in conflicts, but also bring panorama viewing to a much larger audience. This project will initially focus on basic support for QTVR files and equirectangular images.

Qt improvements

• Project page: SoC_2008/Qt_improvements
• Student: Lukas Durfina
• Mentor: Jean-Baptiste Kempf
• Abstract:

In my project I should do fullscreen controller, backend for Phonon and playlist improvements. FS controller have to be clickable, dragable with all VLC functionality. Phonon backend will help spread VLC and support its using by other developers. And finally I will upgrade playlist, fix and update DragAndDrop and other bugs.

Enhance PVR capabilities of VLC

• Project page: SoC 2008/Enhance PVR capabilities of VLC
• Student: Dylan Yudaken
• Mentor: Pierre d'Herbemont
• Abstract:

VLC has fast become one of the most common video players available for 'non-technical' users. The ability to watch streams easily and efficiently is a huge advantage for VLC. The ability to timeshift streams has been added to the latest unstable builds, however it is vastly underfeatured and not nearly ready for release. The features would enhance VLC to a new level which would allow a new set of users to use it.

I propose to extend & improve the PVR capabilities of VLC. The current version is severely lacking in functionality and performance. There is a very basic timeshift capability already. To this I will add the ability to randomly seek through the buffer (fast forward, rewind, etc ). The ability to save buffers and continue recording to the new file will be added. These recordings will be in any chosen format. These features will help anyone who uses VLC to watch TV shows to easily turn their client into a MythTV/Media Centre style client.

I will tie the module in with the user interface properly so that the state of the buffer and the current position can be easily seen.

I then plan to begin work on a framework that combines all of these features into a simple interface easily accessible with a remote control. The interface will combine VLM and the media library into a single easily accesible place. The interface will have the ability to 'talk' to the server sending commands such as changing tv channel or switching input source.

With this and the completion of VLM and the playlist managing system VLC will have the capabilities to become a fully featured PVR system with the massive advantage of it being run off a streaming server if need be.