Hi,
I would like to participate to Tor Summer of Privacy by contributing to "Improve Tails by working on Debian".
I have worked on Debian packaging and build systems and find this project a match for my technical skills.
Kindly let me know how to go ahead with this.
Regards, Saket Sinha
Hi,
Saket Sinha wrote (06 Apr 2015 18:57:47 GMT) :
I would like to participate to Tor Summer of Privacy by contributing to "Improve Tails by working on Debian".
I have worked on Debian packaging and build systems and find this project a match for my technical skills.
Great!
I have to say it comes as a surprise for me, since I didn't realize that the SoP homepage [0] pointed to Tor's projects page [1], that indeed lists Tails. Given that, depending on what exact project you want to work on, we may be in a position to find a mentor for you on our team, or not. I hope it'll work, but sadly, I doubt we'll be able to clarify this before you have told us what exactly you would like to work on.
Kindly let me know how to go ahead with this.
Please:
1. Read the SoP homepage [0] entirely. It actually answers this question of yours.
2. Come up with a great project. Once you have an idea or two, feel free to come discuss it on tails-dev@boum.org: we can help you adjust it to better match your skills and desires, and the Tails project's current needs.
3. Send your application as instructed on that page. When you'll do that, please Cc tails@boum.org (our core team's private mailing-list) when emailing tor-assistants@, so that we're in the loop. Please include as much specifics as you can regarding your past experience with Debian packaging and build systems (pointers to actual VCS repositories and code would help).
Also:
* Was your GSoC application with CentOS accepted?
* At some point, I'd like to be put in touch with the mentor(s) you had when you were working with CERN during GSoC 2013. This can wait until you've reached step #2 as described above.
[0] https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/org/TorSoP [1] https://www.torproject.org/getinvolved/volunteer.html.en#Projects
Regards,
Hi intrigeri,
Please find my response inline -
Given that, depending on what exact project you want to work on, we may be in a position to find a mentor for you on our team, or not. I hope it'll work, but sadly, I doubt we'll be able to clarify this before you have told us what exactly you would like to work on.
I was looking at the bug list and found that https://labs.riseup.net/code/issues/7567 has finally led to Docker as a choice for the future build system for Tails.
Blueprint and the corresponding tickets have helped to track its progress - https://tails.boum.org/blueprint/evaluate_Docker/ and https://labs.riseup.net/code/issues/7530 shows they are still a lot of work to be done.
I have worked with chroot build systems mostly and have been part of a project lately where migration to LXC(not Docker) build system is under progress.
I also went though https://tails.boum.org/blueprint/Linux_containers/ and the corresponding issue https://labs.riseup.net/code/issues/6178 which says certain security issues prevent Tails to use LXC.
Both the above projects interests me and I would love to work with Tails developer community on either of them.
- Was your GSoC application with CentOS accepted?
I have contacted CentOS development community regarding imlementation of non-x86 rootfs build factory. I submitted a proposal for implementing the same on the main development list (CentOS-devel) but have not received a single feedback on the same.
I haven't heard from them for a long time now, neither feedbacks nor suggestions(despite my repeatedly asking for their reviews) so I doubt my proposal would make it to their GSOC project this year.
Regards, Saket Sinha
Hi,
Saket Sinha wrote (07 Apr 2015 18:04:13 GMT) :
I was looking at the bug list and found that https://labs.riseup.net/code/issues/7567 has finally led to Docker as a choice for the future build system for Tails. [...]
Indeed, that's our best bet so far, and the PoC we came up with is promising. Better ideas are welcome, though.
I also went though https://tails.boum.org/blueprint/Linux_containers/ and the corresponding issue https://labs.riseup.net/code/issues/6178 which says certain security issues prevent Tails to use LXC.
Indeed. I say we can reconsider once Wayland is here (Debian Stretch, I would say).
Both the above projects interests me and I would love to work with Tails developer community on either of them.
So, I've discussed this on IRC with someone who claimed to be Saket Sinha. Here's a report:
* The Docker thing may not be large enough for a 3 months full-time project, especially since Saket Sinha isn't fluent in Puppet, and thus can't take care of the infrastructure bits. I may be wrong, so Saket Sinha is now aware that he may try to build a project timeline, with time estimates and bi-weekly milestones, about this Docker thing, and then come back to us and discuss if it seems worth it.
* The container thing is blocked by too many other things for which we're not on the driver's seat, in particular when it comes to delivering a good enough UX.
* Since Saket Sinha has some experience with kernel development, we've discussed a bit the overlayfs vs. AppArmor issue, and tried to find a mentor. On #apparmor we've learnt that the ball is currently in David Howells' court, but John Johansen (AppArmor kernel hacker) will get in touch with him and see if some help would be welcome. If the answer is yes, then John is happy to give a hand for mentoring, but I suspect he won't have enough time to handle this alone, so another kernel hackers would be more than welcome to help. I guess I could help a little bit on the organizational side of things, but I definitely can't be a good technical mentor in this area. I've reached out to a few other people who have the right skills, and so far everyone is busy with other matters. Also, it might be that the Tor project sees this topic as too remote from the Tor Summer of Code's scope -- I'm all ears :)
Cheers,
-
intrigeri -
Saket Sinha