First part of KDE and Google Summer of Code 2024

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Image of a yellow star with an orange circle centered in the star and within the star the text "</>" representing Google summer of code next to a plus sign next to a three quarter gear with a K representing KDE

All but one of KDE's Google Summer of Code (GSoC) projects are complete. This post will summarize the completed project outcomes. GSoC is a program where people who are students or are new to Free and Open Source software make programming contributions to an open source project.

Projects

Arianna

Image of a page from a book and the table of contents in Arianna
A screenshot of Arianna using Foliate-js to render a table of contents
(Courtesy of Ajay Chauhan, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Frameworks

Python bindings for KDE Frameworks:

Manuel Alcaraz Zambrano, implemented Python bindings for KWidgetAddons, KUnitConversion, KCoreAddons, KGuiAddons, KI18n, KNotifications, and KXmlGUI. This was done using Shiboken. In addition, Manuel wrote a tutorial on how to generate Python bindings using Shiboken. The complicated set of merge requests are still being reviewed, and Manuel continues to interact with the KDE community.

Image of a widget with a box indicating length is being converted and further boxes for the input length and its associated unit, and the length converted to the specified output unit.
Unit conversion example created using Python and KUnitConversion
(Courtesy of Manuel Alcaraz Zambrano, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

KDE Connect

Update SSHD library in KDE Connect Android app

The main aim of ShellWen Chen's project was to update Apache Mina SSHD from 0.14.0 to 2.12.1. The older version has a few listed vulnerabilities. The newer library required additional code to enable it to work on older Android phones, upto Android API 21.

KDE Games

Implementing a computerized opponent for the Mancala variant Bohnenspiel:

João Gouveia created Mankala engine, a library to enable easy creation of Mancala games. The engine contains implementations for two Mancala games, Bohnenspiel and Oware. Both games contain computerized opponents, João also started on a QtQuick graphical user interface. The games are functional, but additional investigation on computerized opponents may help improve their effectiveness.

Image of a grid with two rows of six holes, one row above the other. within each hole is the number six. Each hole also has a number next to it. On the left and right ends are larger holes with the number zero in them
Image of text user interface for Bohnenspiel
(Courtesy of João Gouveia, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Kdenlive

Improved subtitling support for Kdenlive:

Kdenlive has gotten improved subtitling support. Chengkun Chen added support for using the Advanced SubStation (ASS) file format and for converting SubRip files to ASS files. To support this format, Chengkun Chen also made subtitling editor improvements. The work has been merged in the main repository. Documentation has been written, and will hopefully be merged soon.

A widget with choices for font and layout of subtitle text.
The new Style Editor Widget
(Courtesy of Chengkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Krita

Creating Pixel Perfect Tool for Krita:

Ken Lo worked on implementing Pixel Perfect lines in Krita. As explained by Ricky Han, such algorithms remove corner pixels from L shaped blocks and ensure the thinnest possible line is 1 pixel wide. Implementing such algorithms well is of use not only in Krita, but also in rendering web graphics where user screen resolutions can vary significantly. The algorithm was implemented to work in close to real time while lines are drawn, rather than as a post processing step. Ken Lo's work has been merged into Krita.

Four curved lines in different colors. Three of the lines are pixel perfect and do not have corner block pixels, the fourth line is not quite pixel perfect.
An image showing that pixel perfect lines are obtained most of the time
(Courtesy of Ken Lo, CC BY 4.0)

Labplot

Improve Python Interoperability with LabPlot

Israel Galadima worked on improving Python support in LabPlot. Shiboken was used for this. It is now possible to call some of LabPlot functions from Python and integrate these into other applications.

A graph with blue dots.
An image of a plot produced using Python bindings to Labplot
(Courtesy of Israel Galadima, CC BY-SA 4.0)

3D Visualization for LabPlot

Kuntal Bar added 3D graphing abilities to LabPlot. This was done using QtGraphs. The work has yet to be merged, but there are many nice examples of 3D plots, for bar charts, scatter and surface plots.

A graph with blue dots.
A 3D bar chart
(Courtesy of Kuntal Bar, MIT license)

Snaps

Improving Snap Ecosystem in KDE

Snaps are self contained linux application packging formats. Soumyadeep Ghosh worked on improving the tooling necessary to make KDE applications easily available in the Snap Store. In addition, Soumyadeep improved packaging of a number of KDE Snap packages, and packaged MarkNote. Finally, Soumyadeep created Snap KCM, a graphical user interface to manage permissions that Snaps have when running.

An image showing snap applications and permissions granted to one application.
Snap KCM
(Courtesy of Soumyadeep Ghosh, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Next Steps

The GSoC period is over, for all but one contributor, Pratham Gandhi. A follow up post will summarize contributions from the remaining project. Contributors have enjoyed participating in GSoC and we look forward to their continuing participation in free and open source software communities and in contributing to KDE.

Article contributed by under the CC-BY-4.0 license.