Now I have a programing assignment due at the end of the semester. Its base language is C++ and must run on linux/unix os.

Project Requirements

• Must include atleast one level of inheritance with a base level class
• Must use atleast one polymorphic container class(self written or from QT,STD lib etc)
• Must use serialization or deserialization of objects via XML
• Must use aggregate operations on the polymorphic container
• Must be suitable for scripting by providing appropriate command-line argument processing and return code
• Must be termnial/command line based. Not gui interface since we have to run it on a remote server through ssh.

Also it should follow this...

• Small is beautiful.
• Make each program do one thing well.
• Build a prototype as soon as possible.
• Choose portability over efficiency.
• Store data in flat text files.
• Use software leverage to your advantage.
• Use shell scripts to increase leverage and portability.
• Avoid captive user interfaces.
• Make every program a filter.

Basic unix philosophy


We have a standard project we can do but with an option of doing our own, within those guidelines. I want to create my own for something to show off what I can do to employers etc.

The xml part has me stumped. I really want to create some /usr/bin worthy tool that could be useful to many people not just some worthless project to get credit. I want to have fun with it.


Any ideas? All broad and specific ideas welcome that fit.

Thanks

It sounds like coming up with the idea is one of the things you're expected to do yourself. But what the hell:

Podcast downloader.

One obvious use for the XML serialization is to persist configuration information. This is a standard practice with C# programs, including XNA games.

Actually using your own idea is optional. There is a 10%/pt bonus if you do use you "own" idea. By "own idea" he basically means different. Since for the idea he gives, he supplys the xml file and structure you will be using, for our "own idea" we have create our own.

Also I forgot to add, it has to compile and run on our "multiserver". A unix machine we ssh into. Also must be terminal based, since it is ssh and I don't know if we have access/permission let alone even has a WM.

Thanks for the idea, I'll add it to my options. Dont feel bad about giving advice, its not cheating. I could do some simple program but I want it to actually be useful, as stated above, and potentially be something I keep developing and release to public.

*Added abit for specs to main post.

Seems to be a contradiction here...

@ntbuski an XML file is plain text.

@zkarp I would say try building a podcast downloader and library with the ability to play the podcasts.
And just a note: I don't know if you are attending Brekely (Not sure it is spelled correctly) but If you are writing code assignments like this, I was told doing my time at Aarhus University Denmark - Department of Computer Science, that licensing your code was a good idea. So why not use a bit of time reading up on eitere GPL or BSD I prefer the BSD licences which is developed at Brekely

It's not flat though, it describes a hierarchical structure. None of the standard unix tools parse XML or other complicated languages.