[Student-projects] Web interface for FontCompare and Harfbuzz rendering tests.

[Mayank Jha]

The SMC wiki link: http://wiki.smc.org.in/User:Mjnovice


On Sun, Mar 16, 2014 at 10:20 PM, Mayank Jha <mayank25080562 at gmail.com>wrote:

> Name: Mayank Jha
> IRC Nicks: mjnovice,mapyth on freenode.
> Email: mayank25080562 at gmail.com
> Blog: http://mjnovice.wordpress.com/
> Github Profile
>
> *Why do you want to work with the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing?*
> I wish to work with SMC because it is an organization which helps create
> language tools, and helps in internationalization of content in Indian
> languages, which is one of my central aims.
>
> *Do you have any past involvement with the Swathanthra Malayalam Computing
> or another open source project as a contributor?*
> I have developed FontCompare a font aesthetics analyzer, for Indic
> scripts. Apart from that I have been a regular open source contributor.
>
> *Did you participate with the past GSoC programs, if so which years, which
> organizations?*
> I participated in GSoC 2013, developing FontCompare with Ankur India.
>
> *Do you have other obligations between May and August ?*
> I have no commitments whatsoever between May and July. Once my college
> reopens I would still be able to contribute 40 hours a week.
>
> *Will you continue contributing/ supporting the Swathanthra Malayalam
> Computing after the GSoC 2014 program, if yes, which area(s), you are
> interested in?*
> I will certainly want to continue working with SMC after GSoC. I would
> like to be a part of Fonts Improvement and Text Rendering in general.
>
> *Why should we choose you over other applicants?*
> I am passionate about whatever I do. I strongly believe in the principles
> of FOSS, and love contributing to the Open Source world, since I was
> introduced to it. I am very keen about fonts since I believe it is the very
> window or medium by which we read or infact do anything. I also possess
> sound technical skills, required for the project.
>
>
>
> *Short Description:*
> I am wanting to make a web interface for a font aesthetics analyzer for
> Indic scripts, FontCompare. FontCompare is a plugin for fontforge, which
> provides assistance to the font developers in assessing the aesthetics of a
> font, based on the standard set of parameters and their values. It uses the
> python scripting extension of fontforge. However it currently it has very
> basic features implemented. I plan to add in advanced tests, and also
> building a web interface for the same.
> In general it would be a real help, and it would eliminate the dearth of
> good quality open type fonts for Indic scripts, which was the main motive
> of behind FontCompare. By making a web interface this would indirectly
> propel the creation, of good quality stylish fonts for Indic scripts, which
> is limited to 2-3 per language as of now!
>
> *Synopsis:*
> The web interface would be having two main parts, one is the User feedback
> area, and the other being the Font Developers testing area. The interface
> would thus serve dual purpose, of conveying the feedback of the font users
> to the font devs, and a testing platform for the font developers to test
> out their fonts based on the set of standard tests performed by the
> FontCompare application based on set of standards.
>
> * Implementation Details:*
> I would be using Django as the web framework, for making the web interface
> alongwith JS/jQuery/BootstrapCSS for styling purpose.
>
> User feedback region:
> This would allow the user to test out new fonts of any language with his
> custom text. Since this would be difficult to do realtime, so we have to
> render the text in the said font on the server side and then push it on the
> client, this can be easily done with any fontrendering tool. Preferably
> harfbuzz, which is used by fontcompare, would be used to render the fonts,
> something similar to 1001fonts.com. There would be a feedback form,
> wherein he would enter the characters he did not find good/ugly and also
> the reason for the same. He could also give in sample text, sentences which
> do not render properly or incorrectly upon, using the font.
>
> Font testing region:
> Here the font developers would be uploading their font files, and the font
> file would be used to perform the tests, and the results of the tests,
> would be sent to the client, to be displayed in a nice manner. He/She could
> either set his own standards by uploading a sample standard file (for e.g
> lohit.ttf for devanagari script), or rely on the default standards, thus
> making the tool flexible.
>
> FontCompare would be running tests based on Glyph consistency, Kerning,
> GPOS/GSUB completeness, Text beauty, Bitmap Similarity etc.
> Apart from developing the web interface, the fontCompare also needs some
> improvements, and changes. It currently is a Qt app, with no command line
> features. Support would be needed to allow it to function on command line
> interface. Also the set of standards need to be updated
> The Automate-rendering-tests for Harfbuzz rendering engine is command line
> based. So, it would be great to have the test results of the rendering
> engine, alongwith the aesthetic analyzer displayed in conjunction, to give
> an overall picture to the font developer about the quality of the fonts.
>
> Adding advanced tests to FontCompare:
> This would inadvertently mean adding a good set of standards to the
> current codebase. In other words identifying good fonts and adding it to
> the database of the fonts.
>
>
>  *Phases/milestones with dates:*
>
> ------------:Community Bonding Period:----------
>
> 21 April - 28 April :  I am going to re-discuss my implementation plans
> with the font developers community, incorporating in the suggestions
> recieved, into the FontCompare application (if any).
>
> 29 April - May 11 : Getting familiar with the tests of HarfBuzz, and see
> if needs tweaking to be sent via a web interface.
>
> May 07 - May 14 : Planning out the UI, see if any changes needed. Writing
> basic code for the django models, and see if it works.
>
> May 15 - May 18 : Discuss and get an early feedback on the UI
>
> ------------:Coding Period Begins:-------------
>
> May 19 - May 26 : Make changes to the UI and the django models, based on
> the feedback. Implement the basic developer account using the django
> OAuthAdmin.
>
> May 27 - June 4 : Implementing the basic django models and their views for
> the User, and the user feedback region.
>
> June 5 - June 19 : Make the basic developer testing area. Integrate the
> rendering tests of harbuzz for display.
>
> June 20 - June 23 : Testing for consistency and efficiency of the models
> used. Check for consistency in coding style/conventions. Try and deploy to
> test the interface developed so far.
>
> June 24 - June 27 : Discussing with the mentors about the current
> development, and getting their reviews/comments.
>
> ------------Mid term deliverables------------------
> The web interface would be having the basic developer area ready with
> rendering tests for display.
>
> June 28 - July 12 : Add, in FontCompare tests to the developer area, by
> making fontcompare a command line tool.
>
> July 13 - July 20 : Updating the set of standards to be used by
> fontcompare, taking in good quantity/quality of fonts, for each script.
>
> July 21 - August 1 : Getting reviews/feedbacks from font developer
> community.
> Deploying it and making any changes if required taking into account
> performance and consistency.
>
> August 2 - August 5 : Documenting the code. Testing the code for any
> nitpicks if required.
>
> August 5 - August 22 : Backup time for unforeseen delays.
>
> ------------------End term deliverables-------------------
> A full fleged web interface for FontCompare and Harfbuzz rendering tests
>
> Post GSoC ----------> Maintain the web interface, and be the system admin
> in general listening to day to day issues. Become a part of the telepathy
> community.
>
> About Me:
> I am a FOSS enthusiast and a rabid open source contributor. I am currently
> a 3rd yr undergraduate pursuing Computer Science at NIT, Durgapur, India .
> I believe in the core principle of FOSS. Since I was introduced to the
> warm, loving and inspiring world of Open Source I am in love with it, as
> they offer great opportunity to both learn and teach.
> I was a student for the Google Summer of Code 2013, with Ankur India and
> developed a font-metric tool for Indic fonts which could differentiate
> fonts on the basis of their aesthetic quality and allow font developers to
> contribute more and better fonts.
> I have regularly contributed patches to applications like Konversation,
> Kate, Telepathy, Trojita, Rekonq. I also made a plugin for the Geany IDE,
> which would allow people to submit their code online at SPOJ through the
> editor.
> I have also explored the Telepathy source code, and submitted few patches
> too on the same.
> I am skilled in C/C++, Qt, Python, HTML, JAVA, CSS and PHP.
> I am very passionate and done to the task I take under, and I can devote
> 40 hours a week, to my work.
> After GSoC I would continue and maintain my code and be a part of the font
> developer community, helping and incorporating in new suggestions to my
> tool.
> Apart from remaining stuck to my laptop, I love to eat chocolates, listen
> to Michael Jackson, sleeping and eating.
>
>
> --
> Mayank Jha
> http://mjnovice.wordpress.com/
>



-- 
Mayank Jha
http://mjnovice.wordpress.com/
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