Re: comment about gnome architecture

[Aaron Weber <aaron ximian com>]

One of the issues is that our website is not as clearly organized as it could be; a more clearly organized site would display the software architecutre better...

We're working on that now, of course.

On Fri, 2003-12-12 at 13:50 +0200, Marius Andreiana wrote:
> An insightful comment at
> http://gnomedesktop.org/article.php?sid=1518&mode=&order=0&thold=0
>
> Quote:
> ---
> The problem is that there are very few people thinking about the
> underlying desktop architecture. Someone needs to make a list: what are
> the basic services and functions provided by a desktop that will scale
> to accomodate any level of integration, function, and coolness that we
> can even concieve of. Then impose the architecture at the core of gnome
> and build around it. Track this building process as a whole, not as some
> far flung module list. Some areas have seen some architecture work, like
> gstreamer and icon themes, but for the most part gnome is just a bunch
> of disconnected parts all sharing a common name only. This lack of
> infrastructure is apparent everywhere in gnome. If someone gets a wild
> hair to add some type of feature or structure, then it gets done. But
> there is no drive from the top to build a DE framework. Look at
> gnome.org as just a simple example of this. All development, news,
> documentation is a total mess. Browse ftp.gnome.org if you want a good
> scare. There seems to be a shift more and more to build an integrated
> whole but still it doesn't seem like anyone is taking that notion to its
> extreme. Ideas like the previous posters of having integrated and
> centralized ifrastructure that supports contacts, bookmarks,
> authentication, plugins, documents, etc just will never be possible
> unless the extreme shift to thinking about the gnome architecture is
> made. Hacking the ability to access your evolution contacts from gaim is
> cool, but it is just a hack compared to the big picture of true
> integration and centralization of services. There is no gnome
> ifrastructure yet and that is why people have to do crap like that. Why
> doesn't nautilus see my galeon or epiphany bookmarks? Because there is
> no such thing as "gnome bookmarks". Why are there no "gnome bookmarks"?
> Because no one is thinking about integration at that high of a level
> yet. This sort of thing is everywhere in gnome and it is no accident. It
> reflects the organization of gnome as a whole. 
>
> Why is it so hard to get a gnome mail reader registered by default in a
> way that all apps understand? Mozilla cannot integrate with gnome either
> by email or app selection because there have never been well defined and
> stable interfaces for it to do so. Is it an accident that mozilla on
> windows uses 1)the panel? 2)native themes? 3)native print widgets? 4)
> default email? 4)default application handlers? No it is not an accident
> or thru some preference. Those interfaces are well developed, well
> publicized, and stable on windows and mac. Those are the bigges issues
> facing gnome, not the lack of a good cd burner. 
>
> The lack of a good gnome RAD IDE is much more relevant than any specific
> app. If a well defined desktop infrastructure existed and there were a
> really powerful gnome IDE, we would have CD burning apps coming out of
> our asses. Same goes for any other app you have been sorely missing in
> gnome. If there were a stronger gnome infrastructure the barrier to
> producing those apps would be some much lower that we would have them!
> The effort needs to be made up front or else it will become harder and
> harder to make a change to something cohesive in the future because
> there will be so many more users and apps. However, I really have my
> doubts that gnome will take off unless these issues are handled. 
>
> The dbus stuff seems like a move in the right direction for that piece
> of the gnome infrastructure. It is definitely a "bigger picture" way of
> looking at ipc and harware issues. However, how does that fit in with
> The big picture? You know THE big picture. There is no THE big picture
> so the answer is unknown.
> ---
>
> A followup:
> I think you don't even really see the BIG BIG picture :) 
>
> The BIG BIG picture is not a GNOME backend for everything, it's a
> cross-desktop backend for everything ! 
>
> For example, who wants GNOME bookmarks when you can have cross-desktop
> bookmarks usable in GNOME and KDE ? The same goes for a LOT of things.
>
> -- 
> Marius Andreiana
> Galuna - Solutii Linux in Romania
> http://www.galuna.ro
>
> _______________________________________________
> desktop-devel-list mailing list
> desktop-devel-list gnome org
> http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/desktop-devel-list