[mlpack] Google summer of code

[Ryan Curtin]

On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 12:32:57AM +0530, KRISHNA KANTH MUNDADA wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I went through the project list of mlpack for gsoc 2016 and really liked
> the "Implement Tree types". I had a few questions(listed below) regarding
> the proposal submission and would be glad to get them answered.

Hi there,

I'll do my best to answer.

>    1. I have previously implemented some of the listed trees(vantage point
>    tree,k-d tree, etc) for academic purposes but haven't put any of them
>    online as it could have conflicted with our plagiarism policy. Is it a good
>    idea to submit a piece of that code or the complete code as a part of the
>    proposal? And if yes, by what means? Do I add a link to that code after
>    putting it up on github or do I directly write the code in the proposal or
>    is there any other way that you'd suggest?

You could maybe submit the code as part of a PDF (it would make it very
long), if that does not violate your plagiarism policy.  Maybe there is
some other way you can share it privately with us, if you want.

>    2. The description asks us to choose any three trees for implementation
>    and submit a proposal around it. Will it be better if I suggest that I can
>    do more than three trees since I do not see an issue in doing so(I may be
>    wrong since I am comparing with the trouble It took to write the code for
>    our academics.So please clarify if I am missing some thing). Should I add
>    more trees than that is required in the proposal?

If you think you are capable of writing more, you are more than welcome
to write a proposal for more trees.

But keep in mind that the tree implementations for mlpack will be far
different than for your class.  The mlpack implementations have to
satisfy the TreeType API and will probably need to be more flexible:

http://mlpack.org/docs/mlpack-2.0.1/doxygen.php?doc=trees.html

>    3. Is there a chance to change the trees we are going to implement after
>    acceptance of proposal(With permission of mentor). Like for example in the
>    proposal I submit, I have written that I'll complete trees x,y and z but
>    later due to some reason I wish to do x,y and a. Is it okay to do so with
>    the mentors permission?

Yes, that's fine as long as the mentor agrees.  I would be the mentor,
and I'm pretty agreeable to changing the trees around after the proposal
period if there are good reasons to do so.

I hope this is helpful.  Let me know if I can clarify anything.

Thanks,

Ryan

-- 
Ryan Curtin    | "Good Lord - I've heard about this - cat juggling!
ryan at ratml.org | Stop! Stop! Stop it!" - Navin R. Johnson