Re: Plugins (was Re: F-Spot mission statement)

[Warren Baird <photogeekmtl gmail com>]

Sam Barker wrote:

> I think things are getting a little confused here. I consider my self an
> expert user of computer, but I am very much a casual user of my camera.
> Certain features may be interesting relevant to certain users. For
> instance; I didn't realise that camera would take photos as anything
> other than jpeg until reading this list. 

This is very true...   I think casual vs. pro/semi pro is probably a 
more clear distinction to make...   I happen to be a linux expert *and* 
approaching semi pro photography status...  I realize I'm probably not 
in the majority here, but as I've said else-where, one of my major goals 
for spending time on f-spot is to try to find something that works well 
for me...

> The banshee approach to plugins seems to be a good one in this
> situation. Offer a core set of supported plugins which are tested with
> the main build etc but are actually separate bits of code. There is
> nothing to stop other people supplying their own plugins if they wish
> but those should be expected to work with the core set. 

Unfortunately, with something like a photo app, I'm not sure plugins can 
solve the semi-pro usability issue.   A pro/semi-pro photo workflow 
touches all aspects of the photo process - from importing mechanisms 
(good candidate for plug-ins), to rating systems (bad candidate, IMO), 
to full-screen mode functionality (bad candidate, IMO), to interacting 
with external systems like flikr (good candidate, IMO).

import/export plugins can address *some* of the issues that affect a 
semi-pro photographer, but definitely not all of them...

> Designing a good intuitive UI is a very difficult and black magic task,
> as one persons intuition is another persons voodoo magic. 

Difficult I'd agree with - but it so bad I'd describe it as 'black 
magic'...  The biggest problems with most bad UIs is that there isn't 
enough involvement from the people who will actually use the product.

Also - in a lot of ways we aren't breaking new ground here.   There are 
dozens of photo management apps out there - some good, some not-so-good. 
  It's not like we have to re-invent the wheel...

Warren