Pidgin Controversy Triggers Fork

paleshadows writes "Pidgin, the premier multi-protocol instant messaging client, has been forked. This is the result of a heated, emotional, and very interesting debate over a controversial new feature: As of version 2.4, the ability to manually resize the text input area has been removed; instead, it automatically resizes depending on how much is typed. It turns out that this feature, along with the uncompromising unwillingness of the developers to provide an option to turn it off, annoys the bejesus of very many users. One comment made by a Professor that teaches "Collaboration in an Open Source World" argued that 'It's easy to see why open source developers could develop dogmas. [...] The most dangerous dogma is the one exhibited here: the God feature. "One technological solution can meet every possible user-desired variation of a feature." [...] You [the developers] are ignoring the fan base with a dedication to your convictions that is alarmingly evident to even the most unobservant of followers, and as such, you are demonstrating that you no longer deserve to be in the position of servicing the needs of your user base.'" Does anyone besides me find this utterly ridiculous?

Comments

Re:That's why Open-Source fails on the desktop

[sqlrob]

All the Windows clients here use Pidgin for their IM, and it's one of the clients recommended by IT for the internal IM server.

Re:That's why Open-Source fails on the desktop

[spikenerd]

How is this any different than what Apple does? I want my pull-down menus at the top of my windows, but they are so confident that being able to bump your mouse against the top of the screen is a better UI design that they absolutely refuse to give me the option. I want a second mouse button, but they know that the second button leads to UI confusion, so they will not give me an option to turn on support for another button. I want to run on hardware that I built myself, but they know I'm better off running on their hardware so they won't let me. Apple has the same complex in spades, so don't diss on the Linux community by trying to compare with Apple.

Re:I welcome the fork!!

[CronoCloud]

You should see my Freenode-#pidgin.log just after the removal of the protocol specific buddy icons fiasco last year This is just more of the same.

in fact, why don't I post some of it:

**** BEGIN LOGGING AT Sat May 5 02:17:42 2007

May 05 02:17:42 --> You are now talking on #pidgin
May 05 02:17:42 --- Topic for #pidgin is Welcome to the home of Pidgin, Finch, and libpurple, formerly Gaim || see: http://pidgin.im/ (yes, we know it's down, don't ask about it) for the announcement! || Before you seek support, be sure you're using 2.0.0 (NOT MTN) and READ THE FAQ: http://pidgin.im/faq.php || This is a PG channel || Windows questions should be asked in #pidgin-win32, even if you think it's not Windows-specific || MSN is a server issue || Pidgin is the fullcrap
May 05 02:17:42 --- Topic for #pidgin set by nosnilmot at Fri May 4 10:32:32 2007
May 05 02:17:43 -ChanServ- [#pidgin] Please read the FAQ at http://pidgin.im/faq.php and use Pidgin 2.0.0. If you want to use Pidgin with Google Talk, please read http://tinyurl.com/crze3
May 05 02:17:52 <mateuszk> deryni, Oh I didnt know about it...
May 05 02:18:53 <CronoCloud> I've been reading some of the tickets, particular the one about the protocol icons and I don't particularly like the condescending attitude the developers are showing to the users
May 05 02:19:15 <deryni> Then you need to reread it, and read the DesignGuidelines, and the mailing list, and the sf forums.
May 05 02:19:31 <CronoCloud> in other words: We know best.
May 05 02:19:32 <deryni> Because if you are taking offense at the developers attitude you aren't paying enough attention to the users insults.
May 05 02:19:37 <Orborde> How often is the API doxygen code regenerated.
May 05 02:19:40 <Orborde> ?
May 05 02:19:41 <deryni> Not a single developer has said that.
May 05 02:19:53 <Feles> Is it a GTK Bug that when you move a window on top of say, a Pidgin IM Window, that the window does not refresh correctly?
May 05 02:19:54 <CronoCloud> no but that's how it "comes across"
May 05 02:19:59 <deryni> The ones on the website? Not very often.
May 05 02:19:59 <Feles> (In Windows)
May 05 02:20:01 <deryni> CronoCloud: Not if you really read it.
May 05 02:20:03 <deryni> Feles: Topic.
May 05 02:20:14 <CronoCloud> I have read it, and that is exactly how it comes across
May 05 02:20:42 <deryni> CronoCloud: Then I'm sorry you have that opinion because that was never the point and I really fail to see how you can read it that way.
May 05 02:21:05 <Feles> >.> Sorry, they just weren't answering the question at all, thought I might have some luck here. Sorry about that.
May 05 02:21:07 <deryni> That is without also being outraged at the users for clearly not reading and spouting the same arguments repeatedly while insulting the developers.
May 05 02:21:15 <-- BHSPitMonkey (n=stephen@67.64.144.90) has left #pidgin ("Leaving")
May 05 02:21:23 <CronoCloud> sigh, look, respecting the users is a top priority, we complain when microsoft does it, and now you're doing the same thing
May 05 02:21:39 <deryni> Um, no it isn't. And yes, we are.
May 05 02:21:56 <deryni> We are actually respecting them more by trying to make things work better than by blithely giving in to their demands.
May 05 02:22:09 <CronoCloud> changing UI without user input is not good, after the change they're giving you input and you're ignoring it and saying we know best.
May 05 02:22:21 <-- barlas has quit (No route to host)
May 05 02:22:21 <deryni> We aren't ignoring it.
May 05 02:22:25 <deryni> They are ignoring us.
May 05 02:22:30 --> spanella47 (n=spanella@200.50.72.156) has joined #pidgin
May 05 02:22:31 <deryni> We have repeatedly explained our reasoning.
May 05 02:22:32 <deryni> They have not.
May 05 02:22:35 <CronoC