Difference between revisions of "Developer Challenges"

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[[Category:Developer]]
 
[[Category:Developer]]
[[Category:Developer:TechChallenges]]
 
  
We have ideas. Lots of ideas.  And some of them might just be darn cool.  So we challenge you, dear developer, help us out and win fame and glory (and maybe, just maybe, [http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/4293 a job]).
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{{Infobox|'''Here for [http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/homepage/google/gsoc2012 Google Summer of Code]? See [[Summer of Code 2012]] for details about what we're looking for in [http://www.windows8softwares.com applications] this year.  Please read that page... most of the ideas below do not apply this year.'''}}
  
Some challenges have been met and completed -- those have been moved to the [[Completed Tech Challenges]] page
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{{Infobox|This page is for ideas and wishes: technology projects that would be beneficial for Creative Commons and our community, but which we don't have resources to build ourselves. If you've found a '''bug''' or have a feature request for existing tools/services, please report it in the [http://code.creativecommons.org/issues bug tracker].}}
 
 
== Developer Aids, Libraries, and Specifications ==
 
 
 
=== License metadata validation web application ===
 
 
 
'''1 implementation'''
 
 
 
This application should work much like the [http://www.w3.org/RDF/Validator/ W3C RDF Validation Service]. It may even re-use some of the same code. Instead of parsing RDF from a text input box or URL and displaying represented triples, the license metadata version should extract RDF potentially embedded in HTML from a text input box or URL, parse the RDF, and display license and work properties instead of raw RDF triples.
 
 
 
'''Update:''' Nathan Yergler's excellent [http://www.yergler.net/projects/ccvalidator/ ccValidator] meets the challenge! Please send Nathan bug reports, feature requests, and patches. If you have a different (better, thinks you) implementation in mind, don't be dissuaded by existing code -- the W3C RDF validator has used at least two different implementations.
 
 
 
''TODO'' move to completed archive, add web service version challenge
 
 
 
=== License claim embedding specifications for more file types ===
 
 
 
We currently publish license claim embedding recommendations for [http://creativecommons.org/technology/mp3 MP3] and [http://creativecommons.org/technology/ogg Ogg] files. We want to
 
publish similar recommendations for every popular "media" file format including Quicktime, Windows Media, PDF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, Flash... Can you research a file format and suggest a specification? We also need people to provide implementations of our recommendations in various languages, e.g., a Java library that embeds, reads, and verifies license claims. See the [http://cctools.sourceforge.net/ cctools] project for existing implementations.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Make specs/implementations a top-level category, with each format it's own challenge.  Upon completion of a spec, issue a challenge for implementations in different languages and addition of support to existing libraries.
 
 
 
=== api.creativecommons.org wrappers ===
 
 
 
cctools/api_clent java/php/python
 
 
 
=== APIs for Creative Commons license metadata ===
 
 
 
'''3 implementations'''
 
 
 
We provide RDF metadata for each our our licenses and the public domain dedication. Many developers will find it easiest to access this metadata via a programming language-specifc API. [http://cclicense.sourceforge.net/ cclicense.php] is an example of such an API for PHP web developers. Ada, C++, E, Java, Lisp, ML, Perl, Ruby, Smalltalk, Tcl (and many more!) are all up for grabs. Bonus points if your implementation can dynamically discover and wrap new licenses using the Creative Commons metadata vocabulary.
 
 
 
'''Update:''' APIs for [http://workspaces.gotdotnet.com/cclib C#] (Steve Griffin) and [http://yergler.net/projects/ccrdf/ Python] (Nathan Yergler) have been created in response to this challenge.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Add request for sample user interface to drive the implementation
 
 
 
=== License metadata in SMIL and SVG ===
 
 
 
'''1 implementation'''
 
 
 
SMIL (multimedia playlists) includes support for [http://www.w3.org/TR/smil20/metadata.html#edef-metadata RDF/XML metadata]. We need examples of including license metadata in SMIL for the purposes of denoting that a SMIL playlist itself is published under a Creative Commons license or that individual components of the playlist are licensed. Even better if you can use dc:source to specify parent playlists/works. (SVG has similar support for [http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/metadata.html RDF/XML metadata].) Read more about the motivation in this [http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/cc-metadata/2003-October/000185.html cc-metadata] post.
 
 
 
'''Update:''' Lucas Gonze has created a [http://gonze.com/cc-smil.html CreativeCommons SMIL Module]
 
 
 
''TODO'' generalize to all xml formats, split into separate challenges
 
 
 
=== Companion File metadata specification ===
 
It is impractical to embed metadata in some file formats, so we need a specification for a "companion" metadata file that would define license and other metadata information. 
 
 
 
=== Operating System Support For Creative Commons Metadata ===
 
 
 
Recent and upcoming operating systems will have built-in support for application-level metadata. See [http://developer.gnome.org/arch/file/metadata.html Gnome], [http://msdn.microsoft.com/longhorn/understanding/pillars/winfs/default.aspx?pull=/msdnmag/issues/04/01/WinFS/default.aspx Vista], and [http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/searchtechnology.html Tiger]. How can Creative Commons take advantage of these technologies to enable CC-aware search and applications on the next generation desktop? Wanted: research briefs on how to expose CC license info for objects in each major OS or framework.  Support for the external metadata files should be included.
 
 
 
== Content Creation Applications ==
 
 
 
=== GUI for embedding license claims in files and generating claim verification RDF ===
 
 
 
We have a [http://cctools.sourceforge.net/ command line tool] that embeds license claims in MP3 and Ogg files and generates claim verification for these files according to our [http://creativecommons.org/technology/embedding license metadata embedding guidelines]. We need a GUI version of this tool (or versions, for different platforms). The most basic implementation would allow a user to choose a file, enter some information (at least copyright holder, license chosen, and URL of the page that will verify the embedded claim), embed the claim in the file, and display verification RDF for copy&paste into the verification web page. More sophisticated implementations might help a user manage their tagged files or interface with specific web publishing systems to make publishing verification metadata transparent.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Move to "retired" or done -- written pre CcPublisher.
 
 
 
=== [[CcBuiltIn|Build Creative Commons licensing into more content creation applications]] ===
 
 
 
We have a [http://creativecommons.org/technology/ccapps list of existing applications] that allow users to choose a Creative Commons license for content created within the applications. Any application in which a user creates "content" is a candidate, from multimedia authoring systems to weblog publishing software. We've made it easy to offer Creative Commons licenses to users via our [http://creativecommons.org/technology/developerdocs satellite licensing interface].
 
 
 
''TODO'' Link to web service docs, provide some "most wanted" or app ideas, including mock-ups, screenshots of existing implementations.
 
 
 
=== Build licensing into web content applications ===
 
 
 
wordpress, *nuke*, cmses, etc.
 
 
 
=== Open source application support for XMP and Creative Commons license info ===
 
 
 
'''1 implementation'''
 
 
 
[http://creativecommons.org/technology/xmp XMP] is an open, RDF-based format that can embed metadata in PDF files. Currently only [http://creativecommons.org/technology/xmp-help Adobe applications] support such embedding. Similar XMP and Creative Commons support should be added to [http://www.openoffice.org/ Open Office] and other open source document creation applications.
 
 
 
'''Update''': Maarten Sneep has created a [http://www.math.utah.edu/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/xmpincl/ macro] for embedding XMP in files created by pdflatex.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Retire and split between embedding and content creation apps
 
 
 
== Content Display, Player, and Sharing Applications ==
 
 
 
=== Browser toolbar or plugin that extracts and displays license metadata embedded in a page ===
 
 
 
'''1 implementation'''
 
 
 
You've probably seen our "some rights reserverd" and "no rights reserved" (for public domain works) buttons on many web pages, but there's more. Whenever a user copies HTML generated by our [http://creativecommons.org/license/ license selection application] they get the button and also a block of metadata describing the licensed work and the license it is offered to the public under. You can't normally see that information without viewing the web page's source. A toolbar or plugin that exploited this hidden information could take many forms. One possibility: If a page has valid license metadata, place a (cc) icon on the toolbar. Mousing over the icon brings up a transient window which displays the [http://creativecommons.org/learn/licenses/ license characteristics] associated with the license and any descriptive metadata also present.
 
 
 
'''Update''': Nathan Yergler has created [http://www.yergler.net/projects/mozcc/ mozCC], a browser extension for Mozilla-based browsers. We need similar implementations for IE and Safari.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Change to replicate mozCC functionality for other browsers: IE, Safari, Opera, Konqueror, Epiphany, etc.
 
 
 
=== Integrate CC Metadata into Browser Aides ===
 
Integrate CC metadata extraction into browser tools such as Piggy Bank, Alexa Toolbar, etc.
 
 
 
=== Media player and file sharing applications that read, verify, and display license claims embedded in files ===
 
 
 
Media players and file sharing applications should read, verify and display [http://creativecommons.org/technology/nonweb license claims embedded in files]. Two example scenarios:
 
 
 
Media Player:
 
When playing a [http://creativecommons.org/technology/mp3 MP3] or [http://creativecommons.org/technology/ogg Ogg] file, the player software should look for a license claim and attempt to verify the claim against the verification URL specififed in the claim. If RDF metadata at the verification URL does verify the embedded claim, the player should give some indication of such. For example, a (cc) icon in the player's imitation LCD screen. The icon could be an active link to the verification page. Also, any work metadata found at the verification URL may be used to further enhance track information displayed to the user. Any single file should only need to be verified once, not every time it is played.
 
 
 
File Sharing Client:
 
A file sharing client could do everything that a media player does above (indeed, often a media player is built into file sharing clients). In addition, verified licenses should be included in search results. Again, a (cc) icon, or perhaps a green light (sharing ok), might be displayed next to search results. Note that in search results all metadata (including everything from filename to license information) comes from other clients. After downloading a file, the local client should verify a license claim for itself before displaying a positive indicator in a "media library" view or exporting license metadata in respose to external searches. Again, any single file need only be verified once.
 
 
 
[http://aetherial.net/Verify/ Verify] is a program for OS X by Oyez tech lead Chris Karr that demonstrates some of the above features in a stand-alone application.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Include reference to Limewire implementation. 
 
 
 
=== Advanced Media Player Search/Browse UI ===
 
 
 
Implement a user interface for a media player which allows searching and browsing files based on CC metadata properties.  One way (perhaps preferred) to meet this challenge would be to utilize whatever OS level support is available.
 
 
 
''TODO'' audio, video, images, etc
 
 
 
 
 
=== Automatic Sense Candy and "Art" (Re-)generation ===
 
 
 
'''1 implementation'''
 
 
 
Screen savers, collage makers, mood music generators and similar could make excellent use of CC-licensed work, and automatically create derivative works. Networked and "smart" versions thereof could usher in a new age of bad art, and some great art. This challenge, inspired by Nathan Yergler's [http://yergler.net/projects/ccsaver/ ccSaver], is one that could use many highly variable implementations.
 
 
 
''TODO'' Add content pool listing/link on challenge specific page.
 
 
 
== Distribution & Deployment ==
 
 
 
=== Distro repositories ===
 
 
 
ccPublisher, mozCC et al, get them into distro repositories
 
 
 
=== LiveCD ===
 
 
 
with cc content and whatever state of the art cc-enabled apps are at the time
 
 
 
== License-aware Search Applications ==
 
 
 
=== Add license search to a major commercial search engine ===
 
 
 
Currently we have a [http://creativecommons.org/technology/search demonstration search] that works by telling AlltheWeb to limit results to pages that link to Creative Commons licenses. While useful, this is far from our vision of a metadata-aware search engine.
 
 
 
The first requirement for a Creative Commons license-aware search engine is that license metadata (RDF embedded in pages) must be indexed. It wouldn't be necessary to index arbitrary RDF initially -- indexing only Creative Commons license metadata would be a good first step along the path to a Semantic Web-enabled search engine.
 
 
 
Once you start indexing license metadata, you can do two obvious things with it:
 
 
 
Provide users with an interface to filter their results by license or license characteristc. The aforementioned AlltheWeb demonstration interface is an example of the latter.
 
 
 
Display license information in search results. This could be done even if a query does not involve a license filter. If you have license information for a result, display the license in proximity to the result.
 
 
 
As you index and understand more metadata, you'll be able to go beyond these basics, with enhanced format or domain-specific searches and richly annotated results.
 
 
 
We've started a benevolent cycle by making it painless and natural for people to publish quality metadata (automatically included in HTML generated for cut&paste publishing by our [http://creativecommons.org/license/ license selection application]). Continue the cycle by enhancing search with metadata -- providing stimulus for users and other applications to generate yet more and better metadata.
 
  
 +
We have ideas.  Lots of ideas.  And some of them might just be darn cool.  So we challenge you, dear developer, help us out and win fame and glory (and maybe, just maybe, [http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/4293 a job]).
  
=== CC search for content repository websites ===
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Some challenges have been met and completed, but fret not -- there are still lots of opportunities for fame and glory.
  
eg improve http://flickr.com/creativecommons
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For more ways to participate take a look at the the [[Developers]] portal.
  
could be done by outside developers in cases where web service api permits
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{{#forminput:Challenge|35||Add a New Challenge}}
  
=== Write a custom Creative Commons license-aware search engine ===
 
  
'''1 implementation'''
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== Google Summer of Code Ideas ==
  
You'd have to work at a commercial search engine to tackle the previous challenge. However, an individual or small team could build a search engine exclusively for Creative Commons-licensed content, much as several have been built exclusively for searching blogs.
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We think these ideas are right-sized for Google [[Summer of Code]] projects.  We'll definitely accept applications for ideas that aren't on this list, but these are a good starting point.
  
Update: Prototype up at [http://search.creativecommons.org/ search.creativecommons.org]. Help improve this search engine at its [http://cctools.sourceforge.net/ sourceforge project].
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''TODO'' feature requests for cc/nutch
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== Open Challenges ==
  
=== Discovery tools ===
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iRate, etc.
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== Completed Challenges ==
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Latest revision as of 20:38, 15 September 2013


Here for Google Summer of Code? See Summer of Code 2012 for details about what we're looking for in applications this year. Please read that page... most of the ideas below do not apply this year.

This page is for ideas and wishes: technology projects that would be beneficial for Creative Commons and our community, but which we don't have resources to build ourselves. If you've found a bug or have a feature request for existing tools/services, please report it in the bug tracker.

We have ideas. Lots of ideas. And some of them might just be darn cool. So we challenge you, dear developer, help us out and win fame and glory (and maybe, just maybe, a job).

Some challenges have been met and completed, but fret not -- there are still lots of opportunities for fame and glory.

For more ways to participate take a look at the the Developers portal.

{{#forminput:Challenge|35||Add a New Challenge}}


Google Summer of Code Ideas

We think these ideas are right-sized for Google Summer of Code projects. We'll definitely accept applications for ideas that aren't on this list, but these are a good starting point.

{{#ask:Has Challenge Type::Developer Is Complete::false Has Tag::gsoc | ?Related To }}

Open Challenges

{{#ask: Has Challenge Type::Developer Is Complete::false | ?Related To | ?Has Tag }}

Completed Challenges

{{#ask:Has Challenge Type::Developer Is Complete::true | ?Related To | ?Has Tag }}