Re: no external panels for gnome-control-center [was Re: GNOME Feature Proposal: Backup]

[Colin Walters <walters verbum org>]

On Thu, May 12, 2011 at 3:27 AM, Dave Neary <dneary gnome org> wrote:
 considered part of the system - IM, back-up,
> even things like email & calendaring.

We're trying very hard to make this line stronger, for multiple
reasons.  There are definitely still some blurry parts - Evolution is
an app but the OS talks to it to display calendaring data for example.

> And then there are apps that provide system services (things like an
> onscreen keyboard, screenshots, an alternative way to share files, a new
> IM service, an application-specific screensaver, an alternative
> search/indexing tool, etc).

Where we want to get to is that there are really just three things:

* Apps
* Extensions
* The OS

Most of what you're talking about here would fall under "extension".

> If we hard-code what GNOME supports into the design, when the needs
> evolve then we need a centralised decision for each new need. Better to
> provide a way for applications to integrate with system settings,

These aren't applications, and no - we don't want to encourage apps to
drop things in system settings.

As far as helping out extension authors - yes, I think that has value,
but it's not as important as moving GNOME away from the "bucket of
parts" model is.