Gnome.org Desktop Integration Bounty Hunt

tempest303 writes "In order to help improve integration between apps on the Gnome desktop, Gnome.org is offering bounties for the completion of a variety of integration tasks. Bounties range from $15, for submitting new .ical files for Evolution 2.0's multiple calendar view, to $2500 for allowing synchronization between Evolution's addressbook with Gaim's buddy list!"

Comments

xmms is out...try beep

[Anonymous Coward]

Since you don't seem to mind trying development level applications, such as the Gtk2 version of Gimp; there's a fork of xmms called `beep' that uses Gtk2: http://linux-media.net/beep/

Finally better LDAP support

[Rheingold]

I've been wishing for better LDAP support in Evolution (and MUAs in general), and wrote up a page on my Wiki about Writable LDAP Addressbooks. Looks like they've got at least on covered.

Re:Interesting concept

[debrain]

This is what I thought collab.net was created for, but that seems to have died. This idea is also represented, in a representative form, in Transgaming's voting system. It is a fantastic idea, as you have presented it, and I hope it comes to fruition.

What about icalshare.com?

[mccalli]

No need for the $15. Head off over to icalshare.com instead. It's an excellent resource for shared calendars, and I'm making use of a few from there (using Apple's iCal).

Cheers,
Ian

Re:Gnome human-computer interaction evaluation

[Anonymous Coward]

While there is no doubt that Gnome is visually attractive, has there been any empirical evaluation of Gnome from a human-computer interaction perspective, i.e. a usability study? I've certainly never come across any such testing in relation to Gnome, which is worrying.

Don't worry so much.

Re:That is really cool.

[ChrisUK]

I wonder how Novell got Gnome to pay for developing their new email client?

Novell are paying for the bounty. (They're giving the money ($25k) to the Gnome Foundation, who give it to us.)

So, that's how.

- Chris. (At the Gnome Summit.)

Re:Great initiative

[tsmoke]

There are at least two projects that are similar to what you are requesting:

LinuxFund.org: From teh FAQ: Issuing development grants for projects which may not be suitable for commercial or volunteer efforts but which will enhance the long-term vitality of the Open Source. All projects we fund will become Open Source. To be more clear, the projects that we aim to fund are the development and the
documentation of Open Source.

Pubsoft.org: They seem to do something similar.

Of course, I'm sure the FSF would be delighted to broker a donation to a specific project or developer.

Re:Another great reason to jump from Red Hat to ..

[Carewolf]

Debian has no default. You have to choose between GNOME and KDE.

Debian's KDE support today is superb, only rivaled by SuSE.

(I think the misunderstandment that Debian is a GNOME-dist comes from the the 2.2-time when they didnt distribute KDE at all, because of license issues)

Re:Shouldnt even be an issue

[Skeezix]

The new file selector for GNOME 2.6 is already being worked on by Federico and others.

Re:MAPI Bounty

[Anonymous Coward]

Ximian Connector has MAPI support? As far as I can tell, it only works when WebDAV support in excagnage.

That's not the same thing, because the vast majority of exchange servers don't have this enabled, and thus Connector is usless for the vast majority of users, including me. Of course, I could request our sysadmins to turn it on, but I'd think they'd tell me to just use outlook =D

Re:Gnome human-computer interaction evaluation

[LNX Flocki]

There has been a usability study two years ago. It was funded by Sun and based on Gnome 1.4 - this study is the base for the Gnome HIG and Gnome 2.x
It would be interesting to do a follow up on that test though and see what has actually been implemented since.

By the way, the study can be found here

Re:Gnome human-computer interaction evaluation

[dominator]

Sun spent a bunch of time and money toward usability studies and such, which ultimately contributed toward the GNOME "HIG" (Human Interface Guidelines). More info available at:

http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gup/

There's a wealth of information under there. The Sun studies, conducted in March 2001, can be found here. I wouldn't be too "worried" if I were you.

Re:Interesting concept

[ralphclark]

Isn't that what collabnet's sourcexchange was about? It failed due to lack of interest.

There seems to be another similar service up and running now however.

Where is Jabber?

[axxackall]

Four IM-related bounties and all of them are for Gaim, the open-source IM client, which primary protocol is AIM, which is proprietary one, rather than XMPP/Jabber, which is "pure" open-source. What a shame on Gnome!

I understand that Gaim supports XMPP, but it does as for a secondary one. For example, when it starts it request you to login to AIM.

Why not support Gossip or even Tkabber instead? Why Gaim?

Well, if you think it's just a flame war about IM clients, then take this:

In addition to three GAIM-related bounties, the fourth one is "purely" related to AIM protocol: Handle aim: links in Epiphany. When I read this I begin thinking that Gnome management team has been sold out to AOL. Otherwise why wouldn't the include also Handle JID: links in Epiphany.

What's wrong with Gnome team?

Re:Gnome human-computer interaction evaluation

[EngMedic]

I reccomend you head on over to Ars . They've posted a review of gnome 2.4 and it's compliance to the HIG. Looks very nice, actually, especially with respect to useability for people with disabilities, and also with support for multiple languages. So it looks like the newer gnome builds are aiming for (and apparently hitting) useability compliance standards.