[sane-devel] [janitorial] post 1.0.28

[Dag Bakke]

On 8/7/19 3:26 PM, Olaf Meeuwissen wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> It's been a week since the SANE Project released sane-backends-1.0.28.
> With the exception of updating the website's manual pages, I think I've
> taken care of all the release related "thingies".

Allow me to express my gratitude for the time and effort spent
developing and maintaining SANE. To everyone involved.
[snip]

> Suggestions and feedback welcome, here on the list or as issues against
> an appropriate SANE Project project.  The list of projects is at
>
>   https://gitlab.com/sane-project
>
> For bright new ideas, please submit new issues (or follow up on similar
> ones) as things on the mailing list tend to fall off the "radar".

I am fairly green when it comes to scanning and related bits. But during
the last few days, I have come to realise that only 2 protocols appear
to cover a substantial percentage of scanners and (the scanner part of)
multi-function devices released the last 6-8 years:

- eSCL/AirScan
https://gitlab.com/sane-project/backends/issues/96        <- already an
issue....
https://github.com/kno10/python-scan-eSCL               <- python
implementation

- WSD
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/wsdapi/wsd-portal
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/image/scan-service--ws-scan--schema
https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/sane-devel/2018-February/036058.html
https://github.com/roncapat/WSD-python       <- python library for
interacting with WSD devices
https://github.com/al42and/WSDolefuls

There is no native support for either of these protocols in SANE, I
believe. Allow me to make it abundantly clear that I am not complaining.
And please do not hesitate to inform me about my lack of research if I
have missed something.


The bright new idea is to promote the writing of these modules on the
SANE website and/or try to get a "Summer of Code" project going for
these. Maybe even pointers to relevant documentation etc.


In addition, there is IPP scanning, which apparently only exists as a
protocol. (No hw products with native support)
https://openprinting.github.io/gsoc2019/02-ipp-scan-server/
https://openprinting.github.io/gsoc2019/03-sane-module/


I have no clue whatsoever to what extent the sane API maps to either of
these protocols or if there are reasons this isn't worth it or feasible.

Do the protocols above stink?
Do they limit the functionality of the hardware?
Any patent/IPP/copyright issues making this a challenge?
Can said challenges be worked around?
Does the SANE project offer bounties or other incentives for hopefuls?
How much work is involved in writing a SANE backend?
Is there a guide?
What is a good backend to start from?
Who is willing to answer these questions?


Thanks,

Dag B