Nmap Development mailing list archives
Re: [GSOC] ncat gui idea
From: Shinnok <admin () shinnok com>
Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:52:10 +0300
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi Fyodor, Thanks for writing your views on my proposals, they are valuable and well regarded. Embedded answers bellow for what I have to say in reply: On 03/31/2011 04:44 AM, Fyodor wrote:
On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 01:45:33PM +0300, Shinnok wrote:I would like to probe my idea for this GSOC iteration for nmap against the nmap-dev list. What I am thinking about is a GUI for Ncat,That sounds like a clever and potentially valuable idea to me. We would seriously consider such an application.written in native C++ code and Qt.That part makes it a harder sell. Nmap already ships with a GUI named Zenmap which is written with Python and PyGTK. Remember that maintaining software is usually more work over the long term than the initial work of writing it, and using a consistent set of software infrastructure makes maintenance much easier. It substantially eases the cross-platform build process and also reduces the number of software libraries and programming languages that maintainers must know.
Yes indeed, adding a new library dependency and the afferent support along with the currently supported GTK makes it harder to adopt from the current standpoint of the Nmap suite. I thought of this beforehand and Toni hinted at that too. You, of all, know what's best for Nmap, of course and I respect that and what's best for the project as a hole and at the current time.
So I wouldn't rule out SoC funding for a Qt GUI for Ncat, but it would be a very tough sell. Of course you are welcome and encouraged to add Ncat support to your NetcatGUI on your own. The need to reduce software dependencies only applies to packages we ship (e.g. with Nmap). But the main goal of SoC for us is to help students produce code that can be integrated with Nmap and used by millions of people after just a few months of development.
I am definitely going to continue work on NetcatGUI, though now I am seriously considering basing on Ncat, now that I have a plan and everything set up in mind and writing.
Remember that the hardest part of creating a great Ncat GUI is designing an efficient, intuitive, well-organized, and powerful interface. Writing the code (whether in Qt or PyGTK) will likely take a minority of the time.
I am aware of that. Seriously. Even though, I know I would have done a great job, at the same time I do realize that it's kind of risky from your shoes to test that on a GSoC slot and basic business and economics guide toward refusing such a *risky* proposal. Damn game theory. :-)
Another reason that i am sending this e-mail is to probe the nmap's team and community need for a new GUI for nmap.Everyone prefers writing a new program from scratch, but (except when there is a pressing need requiring a rewrite), we (Nmap project and Nmap users) normally get the most value from spending the time improving the existing code rather than trying to reinvent the wheel from scratch. Writing a new Nmap GUI would be fun and you're certainly welcome and encouraged to do that on your own (including mailing test releases to nmap-dev, etc.) But we probably wouldn't sponsor such a thing for SoC. Again, we're mostly looking for code that stands a high chance of being integrated into Nmap. Now if you started an Nmap Qt GUI and by next year it was competitive with Zenmap in terms of UI and features, we'd consider a SoC project to enhance it. But don't underestimate how hard it would be to rewrite a GUI like Nmap. We've had numerous SoC students spend the summer just implementing specific features for the existing Zenmap.
If i get around time, I will start working on a new UI in Qt for Nmap, It sounds really tempting to me, to put in code and design, what I have in mind as a frontend for Nmap. Though, as always, time drags and beats you down to the ground reality. Will see. :D
I hope this mail doesn't sound discouraging! I'm just trying to guide you toward the ideas we're most likely to accept. I'd encourage you to apply for Nmap SoC in any case.
It's not discouraging in any way, I applied before reading this e-mail and I think my offer will be hard to refuse without second thoughts. :) I really appreciate the feedback and your views as the Nmap master cheerleader. Open Source is not Tango, it is such a great havoc of a dance, but you feel so great after performing it. Hehe.
Cheers, Fyodor
Thanks, Shinnok -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux) iQEcBAEBAgAGBQJNmgVIAAoJEAzuYPBIYMpX8Q4IAJRveoiNTLewivKBPvRI/lGK 4y1csOUnHHAmbCMskPmGndik+oRsM5XmVlN1wsfodtrHbbFzh/hIrdLWnvKx4GTZ eBGV+A8E+aNIsBl0HdgwiS/fXDRDL3QOgdUyEvAi/o7q+GMhUtEbVvICtU/hARIH RpZ/7B6kYxC8T6TTG25DkbgHnLnpE+3coCIRTlZ+gFxQHdEnwfGtpzjvvfDfKQJb zSYkBgsEW1dEVIN0rKyeU9968fuu9yJJmGsZ5iLYI4AxcemT42Igja0F4s/4A7Un TS742WNbWVAfXq0ncnXTvatQ4I7mlf6e1RGdIbGWqRRPBKhMRI7JO/k22BXwc/o= =+/ZT -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ Sent through the nmap-dev mailing list http://cgi.insecure.org/mailman/listinfo/nmap-dev Archived at http://seclists.org/nmap-dev/
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