Re: [GnomeMeeting-devel-list] OPAL branch + Port status

[Craig Southeren <craigs postincrement com>]

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 00:05:02 +0100
Damien Sandras <dsandras seconix com> wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> 
> Is it interesting that I create an OPAL branch in CVS even if GM Opal is
> not usable yet?

Yes, yes, yes !

While I can't guarantee that anyone will work on the OPAL port if the
code is in the CVS, I will guarantee that nobody will work on it if it
isn't. 
 
> That would make a backup for me, and perhaps give me some motivation.
> 
> There is still a long road before a possible release. 
> 
> Basically, there are three big steps :
> 1) Port GnomeMeeting from OpenH323 to OPAL. That shouldn't be long
> anymore as most of the required stuff is already working. So we should
> have a usable version, with bugs, and with a big lack of features around
> Christmas at worse.
> 
> 2) Stabilize OPAL. I have started a list of bugs 1.5 months ago and
> reported them to Craig and Robert. No work has been done on them, I
> don't know if it is a bad news or not. 

I'm sorry to disagree with Damien, but work definitely *has* been done
on the problems Damien has reported and found. While it's true that this
work may not be as obvious or as quick as any of us like, we're all
working as hard as we can.
 
> That could mean that we are on our own to fix things. If that's the
> case, then that means that the port will take longer than expected
> except if a few coders start working on the project.

As always, Robert and I will continue to support GnomeMeeting as much as
we are able. If GM team decides they need to do the work themselves,
then we welcome their contributions
 
> Craig certified me it was not the case, but things are not moving at the
> moment, or moving slower than the Windows port. Craig and Robert are
> very busy (which is good), but that makes things difficult for me too,
> my evenings are short, too short and I sometimes have to spend several
> evenings on a problem just because I do not get an answer to an email I
> sent.

I've told Damien plenty of times that we are continuing to working on
these issues. As always, real life keeps getting in the way - I can't
help that and I won't apologise for it.

> 3) Add the missing features to OPAL :
> 	- fix SIP support

There are certain SIP features that need to be fixed. Fixing support for
proxies is one of these issues, but the rest of the code should be
mostly OK.

> 	- Add SIP reinvite

This could be a lot of work, but we'll need to see.

> 	- Add Video Support

Robert has been working on this. He has asked several times for opinions
from people on the possible choices for changes to the media format
design to support video, but there were no answers. As a result, he has
selected the design he thinks is the best one and is working on it.

> 	- Add Audio Codecs plugins

This is on my plate to do, but every time I think I have the time to get
it done, I have to do something else. Like fixing STUN support for the
GnomeMeeting release, for example. :)

> 	- Add Call Hold support
> 	- Add Call Transfert support

I consider thse optional features.
 
> When those 3 steps are done, then we are ready to release a first beta.
> I don't have any ETA, that depends a lot on the OPAL progress, and it
> seems there is none since I started working.

See above.
> 
> We are currently at stage 1). I'm not sure it is possible to reach stage
> 3) before the end of 2005/beginning of 2006.

I've said several times OPAL will be ready long before the middle of
2005. It's your choice whether you want to beleive that, or not. And I
agree that it might change - I can't predict the future.
 
> Not really good news, but you need to know,

Seems mostly good to me. :)

  Craig

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 Craig Southeren      craigs postincrement com / craigs voxgratia org

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