Re: [Evolution] gconf-edit

[Patrick O'Callaghan <poc usb ve>]

On Sat, 2011-01-29 at 09:11 -0800, les wrote:
> Hi, guys,
>       I really miss having the application save preferences directly, such as
> moving the separation bars and having that setup saved automatically for
> the next start.  I also miss being able to have the pull down menu to
> set preferences rather than the really brutal gconf-editor stuff.

You make it sound like File->Preferences has gone away, or that some
things that used to be settable from the dialogue are no longer set that
way, which I don't think is true. Most people will never have to
interact directly with GConf, in fact gconf-editor isn't even installed
by default in Fedora, and I'm guessing also the other main Linux
distros. So what you're actually asking for is either a) a larger and
more complex set of online Preference panes, or b) options to be set in
a text config file.

> Additionally this gconf stuff represents a single point of failure for
> applications, making Linux as brittle as Windows with no appreciable
> benefit to users.

There may be some merit in that viewpoint. It's a matter of opinion.
GConf is often promoted as "the Registry done right", which to me begs
the question of why we need a Registry at all. The whole idea has always
struck me as questionable, even if done properly.

>       Of course I don't know what drove this development, but I can tell you
> that from a users perspective, the applications need to have preferences
> setting capabilities that are clear and easily accessible.  The gconf
> stuff is neither.

This really should be directed to Gnome as it's not an Evo decision.

poc