[tdf-announce] Tender for base framework for an Android version of LibreOffice with basic editing capabilities (#201409-01)

The Document Foundation (TDF), the charitable entity behind the world's 
leading free office suite LibreOffice, seeks for companies to

develop the base framework for an Android version of LibreOffice with 
basic editing capabilities

to start work as soon as possible.

TDF currently plans to invest into getting LibreOffice, its free office 
suite, to mobile Android devices like tablets and smartphones, extending 
the existing desktop version of the software. For the volunteer 
community and the ecosystem to work on concrete features and an 
enduser-ready version that can be published, a base framework including 
the LibreOffice program modules Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw and Math is 
required. TDF seeks for companies to deliver this as a turnkey project 
until the end of February 2015.

Experience with the LibreOffice source code, mobile development on 
Android, as well as managing development projects and interacting with 
an international open source community is required. Current engagement 
and involvement in the community is highly appreciated.

Based on the technical design decisions that have already been taken 
during the basic implementation of a LibreOffice viewer for Android, 
which is built on the Mozilla for Android framework, the project 
includes, amongst other items, the following work packages. It is 
targetted towards basic framework and integration tasks to provision for 
basic editing capabilities:

    1.) infrastructure
        * integration of on-screen keyboard that is only visible in 
editing mode
        * routing Android events to LibreOffice app
        * performance considerations
        * triggering updates of views
        * rendering and invalidation of tiles
        * insertion and deletion of content
        * threading

    2.) selections (everything to be done in a separate layer)
        * texts and lists
        * tables for Writer and Impress
        * tables for Calc
        * pictures and shapes
        * support for OpenGL
        * rendering of selections on overlays
        * routing of application information from the program module's core

    3.) touch user interface for basic editing (based on Android design 
standards)
        * toolbar with basic controls, like bold, italics and underlined
        * context menu
        * menu items
        * deleting selections
        * loading and saving of documents
        * jointly working with our volunteer UX and design team for 
design considerations

    4.) cloud storage and e-mail
        * provide basic interface for the community and ecosystem 
participants to develop integration of their preferred cloud storage
        * e-mail integration for sending documents via Android framework

Applicants are expected to include required project management as well 
as required writing of detailed specifications in their bid.

Note that the nightly builds at 
http://dev-builds.libreoffice.org/daily/master/Android-ARM@24-Bytemark-Hosting/ 
will *not* (!) be used as technical platform for this project. Instead, 
the technical platform will be the work that is currently carried out 
for having a LibreOffice viewer for Android, which is built on the 
Mozilla for Android framework, with source code available at 
core/android/experimental/LOAndroid3 in the public git master repository.

LibreOffice development is based mainly on C++ and C, as well as some 
Python and Java code. We exclusively use free, libre and open source 
(FLOSS) software for development whereever possible.

Previous experience with such tasks is highly suggested, given the 
complexity of the project. Communication on the project will happen 
exclusively in English language. Some fixed availability is required to 
coordinate with the developer community, which is mostly based in Europe 
(UTC+1 timezone).

The task offered is a project-based one-off, with no immediate plans to 
a mid- or long-term contractual relationship. It is offered on a 
freelance, project basis. Companies applying can be located anywhere in 
the world.

Applications from bidding groups are welcome, so are bids on individual 
work packages. Companies with certified LibreOffice developers are 
preferred over other applicants.

A timing and cost estimation for

    the additional work leading to a fully-fledged Android version,
    with full editing capabilities,
    a fully-fledged touch user interface with more controls, based on 
input from our volunteer UX and design team,
    available at Google Play (taking the 50 MB size limit into account, 
providing mechanism for downloading missing components),

built on the framework outlined before, are welcome.

TDF is looking forward to receiving your applications, including company 
presentation, your financial expectations (name the final price for the 
turnkey project), and the earliest date of your availability, via e-mail 
to Florian Effenberger at floeff@documentfoundation.org no later than 
October 6, 2014. You can encrypt your message via PGP/GnuPG.

Applicants who have not received feedback by October 31, 2014 should 
consider their application has not been accepted.

--
Florian Effenberger, Executive Director (Geschäftsführer)
Tel: +49 30 5557992-50 | Mail: floeff@documentfoundation.org
The Document Foundation, Kurfürstendamm 188, 10707 Berlin, DE
Gemeinnützige rechtsfähige Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts
Legal details: http://www.documentfoundation.org/imprint

--
To unsubscribe e-mail to: announce+unsubscribe@documentfoundation.org
Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/
List archive: http://listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/announce/