LXDE and Debian have been accepted as a mentoring organizations for Google Summer of Code 2010. This is great news for lubuntu, which uses LXDE and shares a lot (Code, packaging systems etc.) with Debian. lubuntu will profit from the development of LXDE and Debian directly. The lubuntu project is looking forward to a great summer with more people joining.

For Debian: Please check out the project information on the Debian wiki page here: http://wiki.debian.org/SummerOfCode2010 . Debian IRC on irc.oftc.net #debian

For LXDE: Please propose ideas for the program on the LXDE idea page. Students wishing to apply, please check out the Student Check List in the wiki and join irc.oftc.net #lxde for discussions. A Chinese channel is open on irc.oftc.net #lxde-zh. A German channel is available at #lxde-de. The LXDE mailing list is here: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/lxde-list

We also welcome prospectus students to discuss ideas for lubuntu on the lubuntu mailing list on lubuntu-desktop@lists.launchpad.net (Please join the team on launchpad to be able to subscribe to the team mailing list)

The application period starts on March 29, 2010.

Links

* LXDE Idea Page: http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Google_Summer_of_Code_2010

* LXDE Blog post: http://blog.lxde.org/?p=661

* GSoC program: http://socghop.appspot.com/

* Accepted Organization: http://socghop.appspot.com/gsoc/program/accepted_orgs/google/gsoc2010

* Mailing List: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/lxde-list

* Debian Overview Page: http://wiki.debian.org/SummerOfCode2010

* Debian Applying: http://wiki.debian.org/SummerOfCode2010/Applying

PCMan, the founder of LXDE, has some ideas about "how to make lubuntu better", that I would like to share with you.

One thing I think every developer can do to make Lubuntu better is quite simple. Lubuntu developers can help check if dialogs in LXDE programs can conform to Gnome HIG. Currently, most dialogs in PCManFM/libfm are designed with Gnome HIG in mind, but there are still some missing bits. Since glade is used to create those dialogs, it's not difficult to fix them. If a dialog is too big for devices with small screen like Netbooks, "this is a bug" and should be reported in the trackers. Help is also needed to make them fit small screens. Most of time I develop them with small screen in mind so this might not a problem, but we need to make sure. Another thing you can do with the source code is making sure every GtkDialog is created with gtk_dialog_set_alternative_button_order() called. This is required to make all apps work in consistent ways. To improve user experience, those are things need to be ensure.

Links:

* Lightweight X Desktop http://lxde.org

* PCManFM/libfm http://pcmanfm.sourceforge.net