Re: GtkBuilder Public API - Last call

[Yevgen Muntyan <muntyan tamu edu>]

Kalle Vahlman wrote:
> 2007/6/13, Matthias Clasen <matthias clasen gmail com>:
>   
> > On 6/13/07, Yevgen Muntyan <muntyan tamu edu> wrote:
> >     
> > > > Widgets which set a name in a constructor are already semi-broken
> > > > anyway. Widget names are supposed to be an application/user feature,
> > > > not something thats used in the implementation of a widget.
> > > >         
> > > Programmers are also not supposed to set style properties. Nevertheless
> > > it happens, and widget name is one of tools for that. It is a documented
> > > use which shouldn't break, isn't it?
> > > How do you draw the line between "implementation of a widget" and
> > > "an application" part exactly? Note that what you said makes it look
> > > like calling gtk_widget_set_name() by a widget implementation is
> > > not supposed to happen; while doing it by GtkBuilder is indeed right
> > > and good; is it quite logical? GtkBuilder is more a user than the widget?
> > >       
> > GtkBuilder is just setting the name that was specified in the xml, so
> > it is not violating the principle that the widget name belongs to the
> > app/user, since
> > the xml is part of the app.
> >     

And widget isn't part of the app? Such separation is meaningless for
purpose of answering the question "should we change code of given
widget if we want the widget to be usable with GtkBuider?"

So, if a widget sets its name to modify its style, then
it's broken? Even if the style is essential part of its functionality?
E.g. text cursor color is not something fancy, it's an essential part
of text widget and it rather sucks if cursor is invisible because of
wrong styles. Saying "it's broken because it is somehow
not a part of application" just doesn't make sense.

> Furthermore, if my (admittedly quick) glance over how the object names
> are handled is not misguided, GtkBuilder sets the name once and never
> checks it again. It has an internal hash table in which it stores the
> id in the xml and all lookups use that instead of referring to the
> actual name.
>
> So even if GtkBuilder sets the initial name to what is in the xml, you
> should be able to change it afterwards to whatever you like without
> everything going bork bork.
>   

I said already what could be a problem. get_widget_by_name()
is irrelevant.

Yevgen