Re: XMI (and Kivio and GPL and Java)

[James Michael DuPont <mdupont777 yahoo com>]

Alan, 
I see we disagree, I dont have the time to answer all of your points,
but have tried to make a positive contribution.

--- Alan Horkan <horkana tcd ie> wrote:
> On Sun, 15 Sep 2002, James Michael DuPont wrote:
>
> > > Compiling argouml with gcj would be an "interesting" approach.
> > Just the core parts. There are a few nice Java libraries with few
> > system dependancies. The Novosoft XMI engine might be interesting
> to
> > link in.
> > > You may have noticed i have a thing for code reuse and
> portability
> > > and
> > > cooperation, if you plan to do this in big way maybe you could
> get
> > > some of
> > > the Kivio developers to cooperate (random suggestion of the day).
> >
> > Or the Argo developers. One reason why I like dia over argo is that
> it
> > is fast. Argo is a pig (But a sweet one, mmmmh : ham sandwiches
> come to
> > mind)
>
> you suggest using GCJ (Gnu Compiler for Java).
Yes.

>  have you used it on  Argo  before and is it still slow even when >
compiled to a native linux
> binary using GCJ?

I have not tested this yet, just an idea.
Also I am *not* talking about using the Argo GUI, just the MOF/Novosoft
XMI lib. There are a bunch of good libs for java that I would
personally like to see made available via this mechanism.


> is that other commercial (?) program based on Argo also slow?
Dont know, java is slow for me 800mhz/256mb ram. That is why I like Dia
:)

> being able to exchange files with Argo would be great.
Sure, XMI lib.

> > The kvivio is an insult to free software, never have I felt so
> insulted
> > by a piece of software, before. Never have I downloaded such a
> > shameless plug to make money.
>
> Free software, what a misnomer!  (dont flame me please).
No, I dont really see the point in arguing with you over that.

> I assume you mean Kivio.
> In the unlikely event there are any KDE developers on this list they
> might
> get the mistaken impression that we all have a major problem with
> Kivio.
>
> The General Public License is not incompatible with making profit.

I wont even answer that.

> > If I ever find the time, I am going to write lots of hatemail about
> > this crippled software.
>
> Kivio MP (the qt only version) has a very odd license, and i wonder
> how
> different it is from the Kivio that is released under the GPL as part
> of
> KOffice, 

Only free software (and compatible software) is allowed in the main
debain distro. I am using the unstable and lastest builds.

from the http://www.thekompany.com/projects/kivio/download.php3
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Please note: While Kivio is a GPL application, all the stencil sets
provided by theKompany.com, including the basic stencil shapes bundled
with Kivio are copywritten and owned by theKompany.com. All information
and images provided are copywritten and cannot be used in part or in
whole for any other work, including free or commercial stencil sets.
You are free to create your own stencil sets from your own work. 
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

This is really just a bad idea. I will never spend any time working to
interop with this software, feel free to do that yourself.

[snip]

> Dont make the mistake of judging a project based solely on what the
> debian
> packager decided to include, as i am sure you are well aware how
> quickly
> things change in software.  
I looked at the website as well before I really got pissed off.

[snip]

> As a commercial software project selling stencils does not seem like
> an
> ideal source of revenue, and i hope after reading the rest of this
> you
> will understand why exactly i think so.  A smarter revenue stream in
> my
> opinion would be to charge for Import and especially export to
> proprietary
> formats such as PDF, Rational Rose, or much harder Visio.  (writing
> something like libvisio would be a hell of a challenge but if
> correctly
> managed could actually be quite profitable).

I am sure we are interested in making free software as good as
possible.
not making the Kompany rich.

If we want to make money, we can sell the dia package, and to be
honest, 
I think a single CD with a Debian/GNU linux with the full Cross
compiler, Wine, Dia and all the tools (including my modified GCC) would
be a nice package with a handbook for like 25-50 Euros. People would
buy a full free windows development kit.

I have looking into the pdf2html lib if you want to have a pdf import,
and have figured out most of the drawing code.

The rational rose can be done via XMI.

Visio is another story, and the result should be free.
 
> Templates and stencils should be an area where there is a very low
> barrier
> to entry (being able to hand edit XML help but not essential)  and we
> can
> really get users involved and wipe the floor with proprietary
> software by
> having a vast selection of templates.  One of my goals for Dia is to
> encourage users to give us templates, and as a free software open
> source
> project we should in theory be able to have a vast collection of
> predesigned shapes.  The best user submitted templates could be
> cleaned up
> and grouped with Dia.  There are things that i would do before making
> any
> public appeal for ordinary user to start authoring templates.

> 3) easy way to add shapes, perhaps a zip file that users could simply
> 'Add' and have dia put the sheets and shapes in the appropriate
> directory.
> (would need to be very careful to avoid the scary prospect of
> reinventing
> package management).

Debian? I am intending on getting the dpkg running under windows as
part of my port.

It (dpkg) already (barely) runs as part of cygwin.

=====
James Michael DuPont
http://introspector.sourceforge.net/

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
http://sbc.yahoo.com