Re: I think we should have a Gnome Window Manager

[Marcus Butler <marcusb wspice com>]

On Thu, 12 Feb 1998, Elliot Lee wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Feb 1998, Marcus Butler wrote:
> 
> >  I really think the Gnome Project should provide a Gnome Window Manager
> > (gwm?) if we hope to be accepted as a real desktop project.
> 
> Hmm, that sounds like a rather doubtful statement. I seem to remember
> various threads on USENET in a similar vein:

 I don't think my suggestion is on par with "Linux needs Java in the
kernel."  Java has nothing to do with the Linux kernel; a window manager
has quite a bit to do with a desktop.

> 	- Linux needs streams to be successful.
> 	- Linux needs raw devices if it hopes to
> 	be accepted.
> 	- Linux needs Java in the kernel.
> 	- Linux needs to be rewritten in Java.
> 	- Linux needs to be a microkernel.
> 	- Linux needs to be rewritten in C++.
> 	- Linux needs an HTTP filesystem in the kernel.
> 	- Linux needs 3D capabilities in the kernel (Free3D).
> 
> It brings tears to my eyes to remember those good old days... ;-)
> 
> None of these things has happened, and yet Linux is still doing quite
> well, I'd say.

 Linux is great, but Microsoft still has the majority of the business.

> > That is really not possible if a Gnome system could be running any of a
> > dozen or so window-managers.
> 
> I don't agree. Do you really believe that because a window close box is
> red instead of blue, or has a bomb icon instead of an X, people will not
> be able to interact with the applications? Window managers implement
> roughly the same features (window decorations, window manipulation
> functions, and virtual desktops) across the board, varying the look,
> system key bindings, etc. We will also be making patches to all popular
> WM's to make them work nicely with gnome. 

 Yes, I do believe it, because I have had to deal with people that have
serious problems when their resize buttons change.

> Remember that the applications will all look the same.

 Applications will look *mostly* the same.

> Nobody's going to write the code for you, but at the same time
> no one is stopping you from writing your own window manager - if you want
> it, write it ;-)

 Writing another Window Manager not endorsed as "The Gnome Window
Manager," would only add to the problem.  I have neither the time nor the
experience available to write a *great* window manager and writing a
mediocre WM would be foolish.

 I think this thread has run its course.  We should probably move on to
more productive topics.