[Evolution] Re: [Helix Beta] Evolution - Docklet

[Mark Gordon <mtgordon ximian com>]

I don't think many Evolution developer read the Beta list, and when it
comes to Evolution, I'm largely out of the loop.  If you want to make
Evolution suggestions, there's a mailing list based at
http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/evolution that the Evolution
developers read, so I'm going to move this thread over there.
Follow-ups beyond this can probably leave out the Beta list.

-Mark Gordon

On 17 Mar 2001 02:03:21 -0500, Sean Middleditch wrote:
> OK, continuing in my craze of docklets...
>
> Would it be possible to have Evolution (optionally) use a docklet?
> Thus, all the windows could be closed (not just minimized, becasue that
> still takes up room on my rather crammed tasklist), but still be open
> with the Docklet (no load time for people who care about that stuff).
>
> Also, the docklet could alert users that they have new mail (or tasks,
> whatever).  However, unlike most biff's, it would only show the new mail
> in Evolution (which could be actively scanning for mail periodically,
> since it would be open in the background), and would instantaneously be
> updated when there is no more new mail (user checked) - this is a big
> issue I have with normal mail biffs - they don't immediately relate that
> there is no more new mail, and when new mail does arrive, it tends to be
> before the biff has updated, and then it won't alert me with it's noise
> or animation or whatever).
>
> Also, the docklet could (should) have some easy access controls, like
> opening mail, new message, settings, exiting Evolution, etc.
>
> I would be this to be best done with a docklet, instead of an applet,
> for two reasons:
> a) Applets suffer from the problem that when a new applet is loaded, it
> 'randomly' (as far as most users are concerned) placed on a panel,
> usually not where a user would want it.  A docklet will always be
> created in specified area.
> b) In order for an applet to be constantly in the right place, it must
> always be there.  This means that either Evolution will always have to
> be open in background (don't even think about, Ximian-dudes, Nautilus is
> bad enough, when it actually works), or that the applet will spend a lot
> of time sitting there doing nothing, taking up space, because it can't
> communicate with Evolution.
>
> I would like, otherwise, congradulate Ximian-peoples and everyone else
> that helped with Evolution, version 0.9 is really nifty.  It works
> great, better than anything else I have for mail!  Other than the
> docklet thing, the only things I would improve in Evolution are POP over
> SSL and Groupwise connectivity (my work uses Novell servers for legacy
> reasons, and we can't replace the Groupwise groupware because of the
> learning curve for our employees, and enabling POP support kills the
> Novell server... go figure).  But I babble... Thanks for Evolution, I
> really like it!
>
> (now if only Red-Carpet would handle the snapshot updates for Mandrake
> 7.2...)  ~,^
>
> -- 
> Sean Middleditch
>   of
> AwesomePlay Productions, Inc.