Re: Modules and Name space

["Kevin C. Krinke" <kckrinke opendoorsoftware com>]

On Thu, 2004-09-16 at 00:00, muppet wrote:
> On Sep 15, 2004, at 11:26 PM, Kevin C. Krinke wrote:
>
> > I myself don't like the "Don't $verb" buttons because it's not really 
> > translatable...
>
> true.  i suffer from the "everybody where i am speaks my language" 
> syndrome.  :-/

Sad but all too often true.

> > I like flush_events() better as IMHO the former implies only visual 
> > updates but I don't like flush_events() that much either. How about 
> > something more direct then like process_pending_events()?
>
> verbose, but accurate.  still less to type than "Gtk2->main_iteration 
> while Gtk2->events_pending". ;-)

:)

> > > > C) either A or B but omit the Constants and/or Utils
> > >
> > > Gtk2::Ex::Constants and Gtk2::Ex::Utils would be handy; i could see 
> > > lots of useful stuff fitting nicely into those.
> >
> > So you're implying the other way around? Leave the dialogs to 
> > Gtk2::MessageDialog and provide the Constants (minus :truth) and Utils 
> > modules? Hmm.
>
> yes, mostly to avoid the duplication of Gtk2::MessageDialog.  i do like 
> the one-liners; i have my own one-liners package at work, including 
> things like get_open_file_name(), get_save_file_name(), get_string(), 
> etc.  (actually implemented in C and bound to perl, but that's another 
> story.)

Technically these are one liners which are modules that can do just a
little bit more should you need it but not enough to make other modules
obsolete. The benefit of an objective approach in design is not having
to memorize a list of arguments per helper solution and maintain
commonly used variables for each usage. When you use these modules, pass
along the parent_window or any other option to have it be the default
for subsequent usage.

<code>
use Gtk2::Ex::Question ( parent_window => $window );

# manually set the current parent_window:
$Gtk2::Ex::Question::parent_window = $window;

if ( new_run Gtk2::Ex::Question ( text => "Yes or No?" ) ) {
  new_show Gtk2::Ex::Message ( text => "Yep." );
} else {
  new_show Gtk2::Ex::ErrorMsg ( text => "Not good for some reason." );
}
</code>

I'd also like to provide a grouping module, Gtk2::Extras[0], that takes
care of the default options for all modules used in OO format.

<code>
# ugly when there's more than one used, but works
#use Gtk2::Ex::Question ( %options );
#use Gtk2::Ex::Message ( %options );

# good, clean and efficient
use Gtk2::Extras ( %options );
$Gtk2::Extras::parent_window = $window;

# non-blocking popup
new_show Gtk2::Ex::Message ( text => "hash-style" );

# blocking popup
new_run Gtk2::Ex::Message ( "single argument works too :)" );

die( "A Pinky demon has torn you to shreds." )
  unless new_run Gtk2::Ex::Question ( "Will you save me?" );
</code>

> they're pretty simple, e.g.:

[good code]

> could be implemented such that it uses a Gtk2::FileChooser if you have 
> support for it, etc.

I already have need for the following (which are all on my TODO list):

Choosing:

        Gtk2::Ex::ChooseFile
        Gtk2::Ex::ChooseDirectory
        Gtk2::Ex::PickDate
        Gtk2::Ex::PickTime

Druid Pages:

        Gtk2::Ex::DruidPasswordPage
        Gtk2::Ex::DruidApprovePage
        Gtk2::Ex::DruidProgressPage
        Gtk2::Ex::DruidTextPage

Splash Screens:

        Gtk2::Ex::SplashScreen
        Gtk2::Ex::SplashProgressText
        Gtk2::Ex::SplashProgressIcons
        Gtk2::Ex::SplashProgressTextIcons

I'm sure there's a ton more I or anyone else can come up with but these
are ones that I'll be needing in some way, shape or form within the next
6 months. These will all be simple and concise modules intended to be
used in as close to one liners as possible while still maintaining
decent flexibility.

Everyone is encouraged to submit their own Gnome2/Gtk2 extras in
whatever form it currently exists and I'll do my best to include the
functionality as per any discussion on the topic. Functions are
sometimes better left in Gtk2::Ex::Utils, others can probably serve us
better as objects. (Note any code submissions should be DFSG[1]
compliant.)

I expect ODS will provide a website, mailing list and bug tracking
system for this project along with submitting it to CPAN.

kck


[0] Gtk2::Extras or any other appropriate name space, I just picked it
      for simplicity.
[1] Debian Free Software Guidelines
      http://www.debian.org/social_contract.html#guidelines

-- 
Kevin C. Krinke <kckrinke opendoorsoftware com>
Open Door Software Inc.