[GLLUG] Looking for some open source projects (local) to aid in

[Richard Houser]

The only really obvious question I see: "Is XBMC the right tool for
the job?"  You may be better off either using another software (ex.
MythTV) adding a translation layer (batch conversion process, fuse
decompression layer, etc.)  Aside from that, if the project is written
in Python, you should stick to that unless there is an explicit reason
that prevents that (ex. performance issues or hardware acceleration
require C libraries, etc.).  It's easier for a semi-decent programmer
to learn a new language than it is to try to bolt something that
doesn't fit on via a known language.

On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 8:00 AM, vanek <vanek at acd.net> wrote:
> Steven Sayers wrote:
>>
>> I've been studying programming quite a lot lately and I was wondering if
>> there were any programming projects any of you were engaged in that I could
>> assist with, I'm most familiar with java.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> linux-user mailing list
>> linux-user at egr.msu.edu
>> http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>>
>
> Hi Steven,
>
> My name is Lou and I was wondering whether you found another open-source
> commitment, and whether you are still available. If you haven't found
> anything interesting yet, please give the following all the consideration
> you think it deserves. I know that I may have caught you at a bad time, and
> you may still be pukin' your guts out over the porcelain alter, but after
> you get done doing that, if you still feel up to it, I may have the second
> most fun thing to do. OK, maybe not the second-most, but the 11th-most: an
> open-source patch to XBMC! Yes, that's right, one of the coolest open-source
> projects on the planet is in need of a patch, and you have been chosen to
> partake in this wondrous experience, to be remembered by legions, revered by
> all, and hailed by 10 or so geeks.
>
> Have I got your attention? Good. But if you need to take a moment and go
> look to see if you still have that bottle of Pepto-Bismol, I can wait.
>
> Here's teh skinny: right now XBMC recognizes about 10% of my TV and movie
> files, and I'd like that to be closer to 100%. I know there are stupid
> work-arounds to get XBMC to recognize them all, but, like I said, they're
> stupid. As far as I know, you have to organize your files carefully in
> separate, carefully-labeled directories in order to give the scraper enough
> information to do its job. People shouldn't have to expend effort that a
> computer should be able to manage itself. I think you should be able to
> place all your video files in one directory and let XBMC figure out what
> they are. I'm trying to simplify life, not just for me but for anybody who
> uses the program. It appears to be the one sticking point for new users when
> they first install XBMC.
>
> I've found a program called 'TVRenamer' that mitigates a small portion of
> the problem, but it is by no means a total solution. The program renames
> video files so that the scraper recognizes their corresponding
> meta-information better.
>
> I'm estimating this patch/project will take somewhere between 0-1000 lines
> of code. The reason why I say "0" lines of code is because I haven't fully
> researched the problem and I may not understand it. I'm new to XBMC so I may
> be overlooking something. (If you've used XBMC before maybe you can clue me
> in.) It's better to solve a problem with no code if that option is
> available.
>
> The reason why I know this project has legs is because Boxee is able to do
> this, and Boxee is built on top of XBMC.
>
> You mention you know Java. The languages I was planning on using were either
> Ruby or Python. I know Ruby better than Python, but XBMC is written in
> Python so that's the "native" language that should probably be used. I've
> also considered Java, but I ranked Java as the 92nd best language to use on
> a project of this type. (It's not surprising that Java consistently ranks
> near the bottom of my lists.) If you're up to learning something new, you
> can contribute. I'm not a code purist; I just like to get something done. I
> suck at Python myself but I've never let that stop me. What's the worse that
> could happen?
>
> The database you would be interacting with is sqlite3 (that's what XBMC
> uses). It's a very simple, undemanding database. I've found a description of
> all the tables that XBMC uses. Some database spelunking would be required.
> You would also be required to install the coolest open-source program on
> your computer and watch movies to test the program. It's just one of the
> burdens of being an open-source developer. We learn to live with it.
>
> BTW, if anybody here thinks I'm overlooking something obvious, please speak
> up. Like I said, I'm new to XBMC, but I have to scratch this itch.
>
> Thanks for listening and I hope to hear back,
> Lou Vanek
>
> _______________________________________________
> linux-user mailing list
> linux-user at egr.msu.edu
> http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>