Re: GNUstep version number(s) (was: Re: GNUstep article (was: Re:gnustep compared to other toolkits))

[Chris B . Vetter]

On Tue, 26 Jun 2001 16:10:37 -0400
"Robert E. Hartley" <robert.hartley@ics.com> wrote:
> Interesting points about keeping it in two different parts.

Foundation (gnustep-base) and AppKit (gnustep-gui).
I still think the backend (gnustep-x[d,g]ps) should be a third
part - xgps as default, and xdps as option for the adventurous.

> We could go the other way, and make it a single consolidated thing
> whereby a new user installs this monster sized GNU Step RPM file
> that gives them a NeXT work alike environment from the window
> manager all the way down to the apps and the dev tools like Gorm
> and the project manager.  At that point, everything should just
> plain work, and all of the mess of choosing the right compiler,
> setting up environment variables, and so on, should be kept behind 
> the scenes.

Objection. A window manager should NOT be part of it - as it takes
away the freedom of choice. I know this could escalate into another
flame-war whether Window Maker should be _the_ WM for GNUstep, but
I think it's a matter of taste - and people _should_ be able to
choose what they like.

> We could even throw in something so that desktop icons and menus are
> converted from KDE or whatever they are using, kind of the way Gnome
> attempts to make it easy for users to  keep their KDE menus.

While that's a nice idea, I don't know much about KDE and its icons,
but do they fit into the NeXT'ish look?

> As adventurous as some people are, we cannot always count on them
> being keen to fiddle around with administrative details when other
> environments make it easy for them to get working from the get go.

That's the problem. The regular guy next door is a plain user, he
wants a system that works out-of-the-box, that is, type 'make install'
and expects it to work.

> If I wanted to sell people on a new environment, I would want them
> to simply be able to either select the xStep environment at login,
> or be able to select a fail safe login and the just type "step" when
> they get that first xterm.

That's a one-liner alias ...

> Linux has been my system of choice since the early 90's, and GNU Step is
> probably the most exciting thing I have seen in years.

I agree (on the GNUstep part ;-). Actually, since I'm using GNUstep
here at the office, people occasionally drop by commenting on my desktop,
how cool it looks, and someone actually asked me whether I'm the lucky
guy with a NeXT ... (c8

> I think GNU Step is getting very close to the point where it is not
> just for connoisseurs.  Once it is there, we will have a Linux
> environment that even Mac aficionados like my Mother would love,

Errm. Without wanting to start another flame-war about OSes:
There ARE operating systems, other than Linux, you know?

-- 
Chris