Create an XML format that describes the layout of a perl/Tk GUI. Make it easy to do the layout of the GUI without requiring knowledge of perl or Tk. Instead, a user of this program should just have to know how to create the properly formatted XML.

Get someone else in the class to generate your XML automatically with a drag-and-drop user interface.

Someone in the class might have a program that works with some sort of big directed graph. Encourage this person to use Graphviz to create a picture of the big graph.

An example of this type of project would be to create a decently rendered PERT chart from a scheduling program, thus solving a glaring deficiency in a particular widely used yet loathsome scheduling program. Another example would be to make a class hierarchy analyzer as described in other suggestions in this thread.

You will need a cool application to develop with your cool XML/Perl/Tk integration. For your example, create a control panel to interactively adjust the many parameters used to drive the Graphviz automatic graph layout tool.

This is actually a research project, in that the Graphviz graphs are truly amazing, but they require adjustment to make them useful. A tool to facilitate this adjustment process would be neato!

It should work perfectly the first time! - toma
msg me if you would like me to attempt to clarify any parts of this suggestion.