comparison etc/tasks.texi @ 18997:32ad93e073f2

Delete MPEG Audio (it is forbidden). Explain more about why Qt is important. Delete screen-savers item.

18996:ef81a8b79506

\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
@c %**start of header
@setfilename tasks.info
@settitle GNU Task List
@c UPDATE THIS DATE WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES!
@set lastupdate 18 July 1997
@c %**end of header

@setchapternewpage off

@titlepage

But if you would like to work on what we need most, here is a list of
high priority projects.

@itemize @bullet
@item
If you are good at writing documentation, please do.

@item
If you are very good at C programming and interested in kernels, you can
help develop the GNU HURD, the kernel for the GNU system.  Please have a
look at @url{http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu/software/hurd/hurd.html}, and

@item
Implement the Kermit data transfer protocol.  (See below.)

@item
Develop a free compatible replacement for Qt, a graphics toolkit
library.

@item
Develop a substitute, which runs on GNU systems, for some very popular
or very important application that many non-programmers use on Windows,
and which has no comparable free equivalent now.

A program to play sound distributed in ``Real Audio'' format.

@item
A program to generate ``Real Audio'' format from audio input.

@item
An MPEG III audio encoder/decoder (but it is necessary to check, first,
whether patents make this impossible).

@item
Speech-generation programs (there is a program from Brown U that you
could improve).

@item
Improve GnuGo, which is not yet very sophisticated.

@item
Imitations of popular video games:

@itemize -
@item
Space war, Asteroids, Pong, Columns.
@item

Biomorph evolution (as in Scientific American and @cite{The Blind
Watchmaker}).
@item
A program to display effects of moving at relativistic speeds.
@end itemize

@item
Intriguing screen-saver programs to make interesting pictures.
Other such programs that are simply entertaining to watch.
For example, an aquarium.
@end itemize

We do not need @code{rogue}, as we have @code{hack}.

@contents

18997:32ad93e073f2

\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
@c %**start of header
@setfilename tasks.info
@settitle GNU Task List
@c UPDATE THIS DATE WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES!
@set lastupdate 25 July 1997
@c %**end of header

@setchapternewpage off

@titlepage

But if you would like to work on what we need most, here is a list of
high priority projects.

@itemize @bullet
@item
If you are good at writing documentation, please do that.

@item
If you are very good at C programming and interested in kernels, you can
help develop the GNU HURD, the kernel for the GNU system.  Please have a
look at @url{http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu/software/hurd/hurd.html}, and

@item
Implement the Kermit data transfer protocol.  (See below.)

@item
Develop a free compatible replacement for Qt, a GUI toolkit library.  Qt
is not free software, because users are prohibited from distributing
modified versions.  Thus, Qt cannot be included in a free operating
system (adding it would make the system as a whole non-free).

But some developers are writing free applications that use Qt and cannot
run without it.  These programs, although free software, are useless for
free operating systems because there is no way to make them run.

This is leading to a serious problem, and a free replacement for Qt is
the only solution.  Hence the high degree of urgency of this project.

@item
Develop a substitute, which runs on GNU systems, for some very popular
or very important application that many non-programmers use on Windows,
and which has no comparable free equivalent now.

A program to play sound distributed in ``Real Audio'' format.

@item
A program to generate ``Real Audio'' format from audio input.

@ignore  @c Software patents have made this domain off limits to free software.
@item
An MPEG III audio encoder/decoder (but it is necessary to check, first,
whether patents make this impossible).
@end ignore

@item
Speech-generation programs (there is a program from Brown U that you
could improve).

@item
Improve GnuGo, which is not yet very sophisticated.

@item
Write imitations of some popular video game:

@itemize -
@item
Space war, Asteroids, Pong, Columns.
@item

Biomorph evolution (as in Scientific American and @cite{The Blind
Watchmaker}).
@item
A program to display effects of moving at relativistic speeds.
@end itemize
@end itemize

We do not need @code{rogue}, as we have @code{hack}.

@contents