MelangeIntro.wiki - wiki - Git at Google

 #summary An introduction to Melange
 #labels Contents-Draft,Phase-Guidelines,Importance-Overview

 = Melange, the Spice of Creation =

 == What is Melange? ==

 Melange is the combination of a [SoCOverview framework] and multiple web
 applications (including [GSoC GSoC] and [GHOP GHOP]) implemented to be
 [AppEngine deployed on Google App Engine].

 === Replacing the GSoC web application ===

 Originally, Melange was envisioned as an effort to produce an
 open-source implementation of the [GSoC Google Summer of Code]^TM^ web
 application.  At first, the GSoC web application appears to be part
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system content management system],
 part
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticketing_system issue tracking system],
 and part
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management customer relationship manager].

 But, while the GSoC web application shares some features in common with
 those systems, it is quite different in its purpose.  The purpose of GSoC
 (which is facilitiated by the web application) is to serve as a catalyst
 for introducing college students to open source and free software
 communities, in the hopes that these students would find a homes in those
 communities and thrive.  To that end, the GSoC web application tends to
 be more specific and less general than existing systems like those
 mentioned previously.

 As much as GSoC attempts to inspire new open source developers, it has not
 previously been able to actually embrace them in the development of the
 GSoC web application itself.  Initially, with the launch of the enabling
 [http://code.google.com/appengine/ Google App Engine], the plan was to create
 an open-sourced GSoC web application.  It would have to be created from
 scratch, because the existing code is (unfortunately) wired directly to
 Google infrastructure interfaces, which are old enough to be quite
 unlike AppEngine.

 The [http://code.google.com/opensource/ Open Source Programs Office (OSPO)]
 at Google believes in promoting the release of Google source code under
 open source licenses.  [GSoC Google Summer of Code]^TM^ is a major
 program for the OSPO team.  So, it makes sense for the OSPO team to
 develop the GSoC web application as open source and in the open.  And,
 now that hosting infrastructure with Google scalability is available
 via AppEngine, we intend to do just that.

 === Moving beyond the GSoC web application ===

 It seems there are other real-world programs and sponsors that are
 interested in a workflow similar to that found in the GSoC web
 application.  In order to take advantage of hosting on AppEngine,
 the existing GSoC web application needs to be rewritten from scratch.
 Given that necessity, _now_ seems like the ideal time involve the
 community of users (mentors, students, and organization administrators)
 of the existing web application in the creation of something that can
 be used not just by Google, but by anyone, to host programs like the
 [GSoC GSoC] and [GHOP GHOP], to the continued benefit of open source
 and free software.

 So, the goal of this project is not merely to open-source the GSoC web
 application, but to create a framework for representing open source and
 free software contribution workflows. Using this framework, and copying
 and modifying the Melange web applications built upon it, it should be
 possible for anyone to host future programs similar to
 [GSoC GSoC] and the
 [GHOP Google Highly Open Participation]^TM^ Contest) on the
 [http://code.google.com/appengine/ Google App Engine].

 This project will be a success if these real-world programs continue
 to bring students and other open source and free software contributors
 together with existing open source and free software organizations.
 As previous years of _Google Summer of Code_ have shown, the open source
 and free software communities benefit greatly from the catalyst for
 development that these programs provide.

 === Building a community to help open source and free software build theirs ===

 This project is not just about code.  It is about forming a thriving
 community. The results of the Melange project will not be
 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYJoatnHb8 thrown over the wall or worked on in secret],
 with only occasional releases and annual sponsorship of
 _Google Summer of Code_ programs. Instead, we will actively engage the
 open source and free software community to continue to make these
 programs, and the web applications that make them possible, better and
 more effective at welcoming new contributors to the community.

 === Contributing ===

 To expand the usefulness of the fruits of this development effort, we
 seek suggestions, guidance, and contributions (in the form of source
 code, of course!) from the open source and free software community.
 Please see the [ContributionTerms guidelines for contributors] if you are
 interested in contributing to the design and development of Melange and
 the [SoCOverview SoC framework].

 === Concept Diagram ===

 [http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/images/MelangeOverview.dot http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/images/MelangeOverview.dot.png]

 == Legend ==

 || *-------* || direct dependency (inheritance, method call, etc.) ||
 || *- - - -* || indirect dependency (call-back, etc.) ||

 ----
 _Copyright 2008 Google Inc._
 _This work is licensed under a_
 [http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/html/licenses/cc-by-attribution-2_5.html Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License].
 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/html/licenses/cc-by-2_5-88x31.png]
	#summary An introduction to Melange
	#labels Contents-Draft,Phase-Guidelines,Importance-Overview

	= Melange, the Spice of Creation =

	== What is Melange? ==

	Melange is the combination of a [SoCOverview framework] and multiple web
	applications (including [GSoC GSoC] and [GHOP GHOP]) implemented to be
	[AppEngine deployed on Google App Engine].

	=== Replacing the GSoC web application ===

	Originally, Melange was envisioned as an effort to produce an
	open-source implementation of the [GSoC Google Summer of Code]^TM^ web
	application. At first, the GSoC web application appears to be part
	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system content management system],
	part
	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticketing_system issue tracking system],
	and part
	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management customer relationship manager].

	But, while the GSoC web application shares some features in common with
	those systems, it is quite different in its purpose. The purpose of GSoC
	(which is facilitiated by the web application) is to serve as a catalyst
	for introducing college students to open source and free software
	communities, in the hopes that these students would find a homes in those
	communities and thrive. To that end, the GSoC web application tends to
	be more specific and less general than existing systems like those
	mentioned previously.

	As much as GSoC attempts to inspire new open source developers, it has not
	previously been able to actually embrace them in the development of the
	GSoC web application itself. Initially, with the launch of the enabling
	[http://code.google.com/appengine/ Google App Engine], the plan was to create
	an open-sourced GSoC web application. It would have to be created from
	scratch, because the existing code is (unfortunately) wired directly to
	Google infrastructure interfaces, which are old enough to be quite
	unlike AppEngine.

	The [http://code.google.com/opensource/ Open Source Programs Office (OSPO)]
	at Google believes in promoting the release of Google source code under
	open source licenses. [GSoC Google Summer of Code]^TM^ is a major
	program for the OSPO team. So, it makes sense for the OSPO team to
	develop the GSoC web application as open source and in the open. And,
	now that hosting infrastructure with Google scalability is available
	via AppEngine, we intend to do just that.

	=== Moving beyond the GSoC web application ===

	It seems there are other real-world programs and sponsors that are
	interested in a workflow similar to that found in the GSoC web
	application. In order to take advantage of hosting on AppEngine,
	the existing GSoC web application needs to be rewritten from scratch.
	Given that necessity, _now_ seems like the ideal time involve the
	community of users (mentors, students, and organization administrators)
	of the existing web application in the creation of something that can
	be used not just by Google, but by anyone, to host programs like the
	[GSoC GSoC] and [GHOP GHOP], to the continued benefit of open source
	and free software.

	So, the goal of this project is not merely to open-source the GSoC web
	application, but to create a framework for representing open source and
	free software contribution workflows. Using this framework, and copying
	and modifying the Melange web applications built upon it, it should be
	possible for anyone to host future programs similar to
	[GSoC GSoC] and the
	[GHOP Google Highly Open Participation]^TM^ Contest) on the
	[http://code.google.com/appengine/ Google App Engine].

	This project will be a success if these real-world programs continue
	to bring students and other open source and free software contributors
	together with existing open source and free software organizations.
	As previous years of _Google Summer of Code_ have shown, the open source
	and free software communities benefit greatly from the catalyst for
	development that these programs provide.

	=== Building a community to help open source and free software build theirs ===

	This project is not just about code. It is about forming a thriving
	community. The results of the Melange project will not be
	[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYJoatnHb8 thrown over the wall or worked on in secret],
	with only occasional releases and annual sponsorship of
	_Google Summer of Code_ programs. Instead, we will actively engage the
	open source and free software community to continue to make these
	programs, and the web applications that make them possible, better and
	more effective at welcoming new contributors to the community.

	=== Contributing ===

	To expand the usefulness of the fruits of this development effort, we
	seek suggestions, guidance, and contributions (in the form of source
	code, of course!) from the open source and free software community.
	Please see the [ContributionTerms guidelines for contributors] if you are
	interested in contributing to the design and development of Melange and
	the [SoCOverview SoC framework].

	=== Concept Diagram ===

	[http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/images/MelangeOverview.dot http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/images/MelangeOverview.dot.png]

	== Legend ==

	\|\| ------- \|\| direct dependency (inheritance, method call, etc.) \|\|
	\|\| - - - - \|\| indirect dependency (call-back, etc.) \|\|

	----
	_Copyright 2008 Google Inc._
	_This work is licensed under a_
	[http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/html/licenses/cc-by-attribution-2_5.html Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License].
	[http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ http://soc.googlecode.com/svn/wiki/html/licenses/cc-by-2_5-88x31.png]