[GSOC 2010] Calendar functionality summary

[panna]

Hello!

Some time ago I posted on dw-dev some words about the calendar functionality (suggested in DwGSoC2010 projects page)(It can be found here:) ).
I'm really sorry for not posting this as I assumed - at least a few days ago:( My family spend Easter (and other holidays) very familial and I malestimated the time I intended to spend on preparing next calendar's outline. I'm very sorry for being imprecise.

I'd be very glad to receive some guidelines and comments and answers for the proposition of Dw calendar and all the below:)

I reconsidered the set of functionalities I've proposed and tried to organize them.

I generally very like presenting my view with images, (tables and tree structures as well:P) as they seem for me to be easier to read and show the organization of a concept ( "I love scheduling." (libitina) - me too!) and maybe though images leave greater field for interpretation - but in the same time seem to me more precise:P

1. General description
   The calendar I'd like to implement is a functionality that would allow Dw Users to
   
   
   
   1. Organize their own time
      
   2. Inform/obtain information about events that are public or shared with other users
      
   3. Search through date
      
   4. I'd like to propose here something more than some basic calendar functionalities - something that maybe isn't crucial for this tool, but gives it a different, special meaning:)
      
   
   
   
2. The focus
   I'd like to draw the special attention in the project to:
   
   
   
   1. User friendliness
      
      
      
      • Releasing alpha-versions of calendar functionalities for obtaining Dw Users opinions
        
      • Trying to make the most popular functionalities set in as little clicks as possible
        
      • Possibilities to personalize the calendar look
        
      
      
   2. Draw special attention to security aspect (as I was already suggested to do:) )
      
   3. Extensible code design
      
      
      
      • While implementing, I'd do my best to create the code according to so-called the "good practices" that I've already learned and I very (very) hope to learn during the project. I'd try to prepare the code for any possible future extensions.
        
      • Well… I'd do my best to stick to http://wiki.dwscoalition.org/notes/Programming_Guidelines and other suggestions
        
   
   
   
3. Main features
   There are some essential features that I find the calendar/organizer should undoubtfully have (cause otherwise it couldn't be called so:P)
   
   I've divided the into three categories:
   
   
   
   • The blue ones - basic calendar functionalities
     
   • The green ones - some functionalities my family members, friends and I found useful
     
   • The pink ones -thoughts that may not be exact description of a calendar/organizer, but are some personal (created in cooperation with my friends) imaginations, visions of making a practical tool a kind of thing that could intersperse it's casualty
     
   
   
   
   
   I'd like to describe more precisely the pink ones - the ones that (I'd love if) give the calendar the THING :) (but this are very-very drafts that I'd like to extend in the nearest hours) :
   
   Weather calendar:
   Displaying the weather (it now would see it as an icon) for the nearest days, regarding e.g. Dw User profile's location - according to information achieved from web service.
   A (very:P) draft:
   
   
   Idea calendar: organize your time chaotically:P
   This is a concept of a calendar that randomly could suggest ideas from the categories set - which could be e.g.: activities, quotations, interesting topic, movies, music, book, etc.
   There are, I think, various activities, titles, thoughts that we even don't have idea of or we forgot that it is an interesting thing:) I may call it one-look idea giver, thoughts reminder (like: oh! I read this book in my childhood! It was great! Maybe I can present it to my friend!).
   
   Sms notifications:
   This seems to me as a bit of challenge. I don't know yet anything about the solutions for this issue and it may overwhelm me, but if Dw Users would find it important and if the the time let's I'd enjoy at least searching the subject and present possible (maybe in future implementation - or maybe in this summer's) ways:)
   
   
   
4. Security issue
   --I'm about to sum up everything I've already learned about this issue and write it down.
   

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Questions:

1. I'd very welcome any comment on which functionalities Dw Users find at least practical, which one (including of course -as I've already learned - security:P) are really important and which may seem a dud;)
   
   
   
2. This is a quote from Dw GSoC propositions: "Bonus points if the user can schedule events through their application of choice and have those events show up on the web site."
   
   
   
   • I would like to ask for some examples of this "applications of choice". The way I see it now is that those applications can export the data a format that I should put consideration into implementing; like XML, iCalendar, etc.
     
   • If it is so, which formats should be supported?
     
   
   
3. Well… I'm not familiar with Perl (my experience yet are some lectures on it, but I do have already some experience in script languages:) ), (but I can assure that I'd put down to both language learning and trying to take advantages of good practices of it!) and I'd be very thankful for some suggestions on the libraries that I should put greater consideration to while trying to suggest some technical solutions for the features.
   
   
4. I wonder if I could know how important is the calendar functionality for the Community:) There are e.g. also client applications that I'd really enjoy designing of, especially as there was already a "Desktop/mobile client brainstorm post"
   thread set up by Denise. However, I don't know if I should propose more than one proposition.
   
   
5. Should I post my posts (like this one) in some other place(s)?