1
0
mirror of https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/emacs.git synced 2025-02-03 20:24:29 +00:00

Add Highest Priority section.

CC mode is documented.

Clarify Kermit replacement, Biomorphs.

Add MS-WORD conversion, Qt replacement, Eiffel.
This commit is contained in:
Richard M. Stallman 1997-06-08 03:58:22 +00:00
parent feaec97dd4
commit 7c4978a87e

View File

@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
@setfilename tasks.info
@settitle GNU Task List
@c UPDATE THIS DATE WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES!
@set lastupdate 15 May 1997
@set lastupdate 7 June 1997
@c %**end of header
@setchapternewpage off
@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ last updated on @value{lastupdate}.
@end ifinfo
@menu
* Preface::
* Intro::
* Highest Priority::
* Documentation::
* Unix-Related Projects::
* Kernel Projects::
@ -34,15 +35,17 @@ last updated on @value{lastupdate}.
* Games and Recreations::
@end menu
@node Preface, Documentation, Top, Top
@node Intro
@chapter About the GNU Task List
Check with @code{gnu@@prep.ai.mit.edu}, for a possibly more current
copy. You can also ftp it from a GNU FTP host in directory
@file{/pub/gnu/tasks} - These files in different formats are available:
@file{tasks.text}, @file{tasks.texi}, @file{tasks.info}, and
@file{tasks.dvi}. It is also available on the GNU World Wide Web
server: @file{http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu}.
If you did not obtain this file directly from the GNU project and
recently, please check for a newer version. You can ftp it the task
list from any GNU FTP host in directory @file{/pub/gnu/tasks}. The task
list is available there in several different formats: @file{tasks.text},
@file{tasks.texi}, @file{tasks.info}, and @file{tasks.dvi}.
The task list is also available on the GNU World Wide Web server:
@url{http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu/prep/tasks_toc.html}.
If you start working steadily on a project, please let @code{gnu@@prep}
know. We might have information that could help you; we'd also like to
@ -69,6 +72,51 @@ to improve performance. Users who use the new functionality will
appreciate it very much, if they use it; but even when they benefit from
a performance improvement, they may not consider it very important.
@node Highest Priority
@chapter Highest Priority
This task list mentions a large number of tasks that would be more or
less useful. With luck, at least one of them will inspire you to start
writing. It's better for you to work on any task that inspires you than
not write free software at all.
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. Please look at
@url{http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu:/software/hurd/hurd.html}. then contact
@email{gnu@@prep.ai.mit.edu} and ask for the latest HURD task list.
@item
If you are a Scheme fan, please help develop Guile. Please look
at @url{http://www.gnu.ai.mit.edu:/software/guile/guile.html} and then
contact @email{guile@@gnu.ai.mit.edu}.
@item
Help develop the GNU web browser, E-scape.
@item
Help develop Windows NT emulation for GNU systems---for example, WINE.
@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.
@end itemize
@node Documentation
@chapter Documentation
@ -76,10 +124,6 @@ We very urgently need documentation for some parts of the system
that already exist or will exist very soon:
@itemize @bullet
@item
Completion of the documentation for CC-mode, a new Emacs mode for
C, C++ and other languages.
@item
A C reference manual. (RMS made a try at one, which you could start
with).
@ -87,7 +131,6 @@ with).
@item
A manual for Ghostscript.
@item
A manual for TCSH.
@ -317,9 +360,8 @@ Free software for doing secure commercial transactions on the web.
This too needs public key encryption.
@item
A free program that does the same job as Kermit. Actual compatibility
with Kermit is not necessary, and you could make the job easier by using
@code{sz} and @code{rz} to do the actual file transfer.
A free program that can transfer files on a serial line
using the same protocol that Kermit uses.
@item
An imitation of Page Maker or Ventura Publisher.
@ -352,6 +394,13 @@ Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-10745-7
(I don't quite agree with a few of the details they propose.)
@item
A program to convert Microsoft Word documents to TeX, LaTeX, Texinfo,
text/enriched or some other format that free software can edit.
@item
A free replacement for the semi-free Qt library.
@item
Speech-generation programs (there is a program from Brown U that you
could improve).
@ -411,10 +460,8 @@ CAD software, such as a vague imitation of Autocad.
@chapter Compilers for Other Batch Languages
Volunteers are needed to write parsers/front ends for languages such as
Algol 60, Algol 68, PL/I, Cobol, Fortran 90, or whatever, to be used
with the code generation phases of the GNU C compiler. (C, C++, and
Objective-C are done; Fortran 77 is mostly done; Ada, Pascal, and Java
are being worked on.)
Algol 60, Algol 68, PL/I, Cobol, Fortran 90, Eiffel, or whatever, to be
used with the code generation phases of the GNU C compiler.
@c Fortran status is here so gnu@prep and the volunteer coordinators
@c don't have to answer the question -len
@ -462,7 +509,8 @@ A golf game.
Program a robot by sticking building blocks together,
then watch it explore a world.
@item
Biomorph evolution (as in Scientific American).
Biomorph evolution (as in Scientific American and @cite{The Blind
Watchmaker}).
@item
A program to display effects of moving at relativistic speeds.
@end itemize