A paper might show the concept but only a real working sample will provide answers. Just wait until Minix3 (http://www.minix3.org/) is finished and then lets see if it's slower or not and if it's saver or not.
Yet exactly Firefox is the counter sample since it's the most successful OpenSource application (market share above 10%). But you are right, usability is the worst problem OpenSource projects face these days (see the first top inhibitor for Linux desktop adoption in http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005. pdf). Unfortunately very few understands this and probably several years have to pass until appropriate measure steps are taken.
You can be sure SeaMonkey won't be dropped, the community takes care. For some users (mostly power users) SeaMonkey is much more useful, just look at the cookie manager or the preferences. Besides the SM/Mail has advantages over Thunderbird, I first had to write an extension (Folder selection) to make TB sort of usable for me. Sure enough it's good to be able to choose.
2) Usability is not specifically an F/OSS problem - it is a software problem. There's a lot of crap software out there, that the vast majority of people never see (because it costs money). However, many people do see free / oss as it's (generally) availalbe free of charge.
I agree, usability is a software problem but it seems F/OSS is especially plagued by not usable. Just think, why still wish the majority of the Linux users none-free applications? Just look at the first top inhibitor for Linux adoption (http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005 .pdf). There must be a reason and what else could it be?
There are more proves just look at the sources (links) in this LXer article (http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index. html). But what's more interesting how long it will take the F/OSS community to realize this fact.
Forgive me if I laugh a little bit about Google but Google just showed to Microsoft how to do it. And Microsoft will copy anything which can be copied as easy as the search field. So I wonder if Google never tries something which Microsoft can't copy, maybe they simply don't know anything. Well I'm curious when Google will jump on the cross-platform train (http://wyoguide.sourceforge.net/papers/Cross-plat form.html) which Microsoft definitely won't go. Sure enough cross-platform won't kill Microsoft but it will hurt them quite a bit.;-)
For anybody reading this it's obvious what an idiot you have made yourself, posting such a statement as Anonymous Coward but since I don't know why, you might simply not have understand.
No I'm not the greatest and maybe not even the greatest application guideline guru but I'm the first one and so far the only one who realized that without these guidelines, there's no hope for the Linux desktop. I can assure you the year of the Linux desktop will be announced year after year without these guidelines.
Think why I do this and get tried to be insulted as you did. You're not the first and probably won't be the last. So better think first the next time.
Okay, you've posted this link three times, and its still not at all clear to me what you're talking about.
Isn't it amazing that Linux fans don't grasp this? It seems impossible for them that even the majority of the Linux users still wish for Windows-only application (better said none-free applications). Sure enough none-Linux users all don't wish for none-free applications. The sole exception to this rule is so far Mozilla/Firefox. Doesn't this fact give you something to think about?
Unfortunately while the fact, thanks to the OSDL survey and thanks to other hints listed here (http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index. html) is now proved there aren't many hints about why is it so. I've already suggested to OSDL to do another survey which hopefully lists the reasons but they failed to do anything so far.
Since I'm working on this subject since about 2000 I'm quite sure I've found a possible solution albeit I agree I can't prove it myself. But any sensible person understands that it's related to the look&feel of a Linux desktop and that definitely mostly means the look&feel of the applications. Just think why any other free application than Mozilla/Firefox hasn't gotten a bigger market share even if they cost less than the commercial applications?
How, exactly, do you expect a standards body to fix this problem?
Isn't that obvious? Assumed you don't believe me then the first task is to verify my reasoning, start a discussion about why and maybe do another survey. I'm sure the result will be just what I said but it seems you all need more reason.
If the first step proves I'm right then evaluate if wyoGuide is the way to go or if there are better ways. Maybe try to improve wyoGuide if it doesn't fit in all points. I again don't fear the outcome of this step.
Another if, if step two proves right, then these guidelines should be established and published as official Linux application guidelines. So far this won't have much implication except than to state the all the current used guideline failed and should be scraped.
So far the above three steps haven't solve the application problem but they set a corner stone where the solving may begin. On the other side these three steps don't cost anything except some time. Sure enough the real work starts now but without this official announcement this work won't start.
B) download an app folder, drag it to your appliactions folder. go.
I don't remember when I suggested in the Linux kernel mailing list about creating Linux bundle file support in the kernel but it must be at least 4-5 years ago. Since nobody didn't recognize it's value then I haven't insisted.
I hope I don't have to repeat in a similar fashion the same in another few years about how to make the Linux desktop successful.
There's nothing against chaotic but does it also have to be bad? I'm not against anybody doing anything in OpenSource but when it comes to standards there's no use for bad. So far the FSG mostly created sound standards but unfortunately that can't be said of the Freedesktop.org and even worse of the desktop architects of OSDL. Especially the Portland initiative of the OSDL which was just created for this task and which should know better do not even try to tackle the first top inhibitor of a desktop Linux adoption (http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005 .pdf), not even after I've told them. So my hope is the FSG will take over this problem and do a better job.
...but you can make the standards so good that distributions (and their users) want them.
That's exactly what I had in mind when I created wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/) albeit others have to decide themselves if I've come close enough. If I almost get no complains might be a hint but don't know for sure.
Yes and consistency can only be achieve by standardizing. Unfortunately this doesn't only hold true for the desktop, it's equally or even more important for the applications. So far Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Free Standards Group, doesn't seem to realize this else the FSG would have already standardized on a single set of application guidelines as outlined in wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/). Since this isn't the case so far we still have to wait for the breakthrough of the Linux desktop.
If anybody is interested in a Linux desktop and don't want to wait much longer, he should persuade the FSG to come to terms and at least delve and evaluate wyoGuide.
When do Linux fans realize that ordinary users just prefer usable application and don't care much about desktop? Just follow the links listed in this LXer article (http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index. html) and you'll get prove that nothing is done to force a break through of the Linux desktop. I really hope that this is realized and taken care of by the vast majority of the Linux community one day.
Mark Shuttleworth call for Edgy Eft (https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+specs) is nice but does it really have any impact on improvement on Linux systems, on it's market share. Does he really think that this will produce any new ideas which are needed for the break through of Linux in the desktop area? I think not.
If a developer is interested in edgy work he has to drop a lot of the out dated circumstances taken over from the old UNIX area which is now almost dead. He has to get rid of thinking along all the current implementations and work on something which isn't as limited. There are IMHO two very important areas where hard cuts are a necessity and both are linked with the look&feel.
First any edgy work has to get rid of all the Gnome/KDE/etc desktop guidelines and replace them with a single set of guidelines as outlined in wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/). Only then will OpenSource application become competitors to the commercial counterparts.
Second any edgy desktop has to get rid of X11 and replace it with a frame buffer implementation (DirectFB) as outlined in wyoDesktop (http://wyodesktop.sf.net/). Only then will the Linux desktop be possible in a sensible fashion on anything ranging from super computers to embedded devices.
I'm well aware that these two suggestions throws away the most important corner stones of the OpenSource world. I also knows that this means a huge load of work but to become successful this is simply necessary. Believe me if it isn't done and if not soon the OpenSource will fail. So I encurrage anybody, developer or not, to visit the two projects and subscribe to the users mailing list else the Ubuntu Bug #1 (https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+bug/1) will never be fixed.
As someone already said it's quite hidden. How should someone not familiar know that? And why didn't the find "burn CD", "write CD", etc retrieve any results?
If it's that well hidden, it's as if it doesn't exist.
It is not snobbish and snubbish to tell someone to RTFM. It is snobbish and snubbish to tell someone to RTFM without telling where to RTFM.
And why isn't this RTFM directly installed on the system itself? I just played around a little with the new Ubuntu system and tried to figure out how to burn a CD. Because I couldn't find out how I accessed the help. Sure enough there isn't the slightest hint, worse there isn't any info on how to get further assistance. Fine, let's go to the Ubuntu website into the documentation. I can tell you I couldn't find anything nor locate a help feature nor any hint on how to proceed further. A newbie would at least here give up but I went to the forums where a got all the answers (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9244 55#post924455) which I should have gotten from the help on the system.
IMO it's essential for Linux that the help on the system gets into a usable state.
It doesn't matter much which distribution Oracle uses and it definitely doesn't make sense to create yet another distribution. Oracle is much better advised to join a distribution best fitting for their use. This certainly means a Debian based. IMHO Oracle is best advised to size with Mark Shuttleworth (Canonical) and bring Ubuntu Enterprise to production quality.
To fight against Microsoft's Windows Server systems or IBM's AIX/Linux systems, an enterprise Linux needs to have a GUI these days. My current choice for Oracle would be XFCE since it's light weight and sufficient for any server task.
But for a successful Linux strategy Oracle also needs to get rid of their Java based installer. With wxWidgets http://www.wxwidgets.org/ there's a perfectly suited cross-platform alternative which is much easier to use and support on Linux and even on other systems.
2) Amateur/hideous UI toolkit for both major Linux desktops. My own game editor's have better/closer to Apple standard GUI elements.
I agree the two default frameworks aren't that terrific but there's also wxWidgets (http://www.wxwidgets.org/) which even contains a MacOSX port and wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/) tells you how to use it efficiently. But what do I tell you, if you really care for moving to Ubuntu you most probably would have known already.
Sure enough this vision can only become true if many of you choose to participate which of course means a lot of work for all of you. But exactly here comes the Google SoC into play it would allow to get your own project be converted to conform to the wyoGuide guidelines (http://wyoguide.sourceforge.net/guidelines/conten t.html). So I encourage any project to apply for the Soc (http://code.google.com/soc/) to make it
conformant to the guideline so any user may feel comfortable
conformant in the code so any developer may feel comfortable
So don't fear to apply even if your project is just a small one since when your project is converted it most probably will attract more users and more developers, soon surpassing any project which doesn't care.
If you are just a user of a project make the developers aware of this. You might even check the guidelines yourself and help in testing. Or you might help in suggestions for corrections, etc. Tell it to your friends, your university stuff or anywhere else. Just make this vision become true and the first Top inhibitors of Linux desktop adoption gets finally solved.
So before you call the Summer of Code a failure...
Failure can only be measured in relation to the goal. So I'd say:
It was a failure to attract students not already accustomed to OpenSource. All the outsiders who got involved left after they have finished their projects.
There where some good results most probably by submitters already accustomed to OpenSource as users or even developers.
I guess there wasn't much permanent code simply because participants were overwhelmed by having to get familiar with a project.
It was definitely a success for Google to get known of some of the good developers out there.
So while it was a success for Google I've some mixed feelings about the success for the OpenSource community. This is mostly because of the setup of the SOC and raises the questions what had Google in mind: To support and enhance OpenSource or to find some fine developers?
Since the new SOC is already under way it doesn't make much sense to suggest some changes but they might at least open the eyes for the SOC next year:
Mentor projects get only paid after the SOC code is moved into their development trunk. This will ensure that projects better set up their tasks and don't simply apply for the money.
Partial payment should be possibly when code isn't used but the effort was recognizable.
Participants may gain another payment after they have supported their code for at least another halve year or maybe up until the next SOC.
...Doesn't anyone who designs these things have this kind of inspiration?
Smartphones, PDA's, UMPC's, small notebooks are more or less all the same except for the physical size. Smartphones have to fit into a single hand but have a rather limited display and input is quite difficult. PDA's have to fit into a pocket (max. 160x90 mm) but have a reasonable sized display and a pen for input. UMPC's and small notebooks fit into a suitcase so have a rather large display and possibly a keyboard.
So PDA's could have a market if vendors keep this size limits in mind. To distinct them from smartphones they need to have a display as large as possible while still fitting into a pocket. So I guess a 5 1/2 or even a 6 inch display is a must. On the other side a large display drives off the UMPC. And if the format follows the 16x9 factor a PDA might be used for mobile TV.
There are other features which have to be kept in mind. USB 2.0, Bluetooth and WLAN connections are a must. A memory card slot (most probably an SD-card) is a must. An MP3- and OGG-player are so convenient it shouldn't be left out. And since technology is changing so fast a CF-card slot would be a perfect match. So you could easily add a GPS module, a DVB-H TV module, GSM handy module (Bluetooth headset) or what ever is poping up to the PDA.
so I just use the "SendTo" folder in Windows
Is there an installer I missed for wyoEdit, because this is how such a feature would get set up. I also looked in preferences and it isn't there either.
The real solution would be if wyoEditor itself could check the file-/mimetype during startup and pop up a dialog asking for setting it correctly. This is only possible on Windows so far but since wyoEditor also acts as a sample for cross-platform solutions I don't want to implement anything for Windows only. So you either have to live with the "SendTo" hack or encurrage the wxWidgets core developers to finally implement this feature.
Where I said Notepad I meant Notepad++. I had been opennig documents in wyoEditor using File|Open which caused the file to open in a new window, which is different from Notepad++. Opening via Explorer, right clicking and choosing Open With... opens in the next tab, just as it would with Notepad++
Check the "Use tabbed pages" in the setting. If this is set, any new file should open in a tab and not in a window. If it doesn't file a bug report.
I like notepad++'s collapsion better because it shows the beginning and end of the collapsion in the non-collapsed state and is also similar to the way collapsing directories lists look.
Many other users prefer it otherwise.
without a useful mimetype implementation on Linux
One of several reasons I don't use Linux...
This is really an annoyance which keeps quite a few away from Linux. Unfortunately nobody understands this problem but me (http://wyodesktop.sf.net/mimetypes.html) but I don't have the time to do it myself.
Slashdot Mirror
A paper might show the concept but only a real working sample will provide answers. Just wait until Minix3 (http://www.minix3.org/) is finished and then lets see if it's slower or not and if it's saver or not.
O. Wyss
Yet exactly Firefox is the counter sample since it's the most successful OpenSource application (market share above 10%). But you are right, usability is the worst problem OpenSource projects face these days (see the first top inhibitor for Linux desktop adoption in http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005. pdf). Unfortunately very few understands this and probably several years have to pass until appropriate measure steps are taken.
O. Wyss
You can be sure SeaMonkey won't be dropped, the community takes care. For some users (mostly power users) SeaMonkey is much more useful, just look at the cookie manager or the preferences. Besides the SM/Mail has advantages over Thunderbird, I first had to write an extension (Folder selection) to make TB sort of usable for me. Sure enough it's good to be able to choose.
O. Wyss
2) Usability is not specifically an F/OSS problem - it is a software problem. There's a lot of crap software out there, that the vast majority of people never see (because it costs money). However, many people do see free / oss as it's (generally) availalbe free of charge.
5 .pdf). There must be a reason and what else could it be?
. html). But what's more interesting how long it will take the F/OSS community to realize this fact.
I agree, usability is a software problem but it seems F/OSS is especially plagued by not usable. Just think, why still wish the majority of the Linux users none-free applications? Just look at the first top inhibitor for Linux adoption (http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov200
There are more proves just look at the sources (links) in this LXer article (http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index
O. Wyss
Forgive me if I laugh a little bit about Google but Google just showed to Microsoft how to do it. And Microsoft will copy anything which can be copied as easy as the search field. So I wonder if Google never tries something which Microsoft can't copy, maybe they simply don't know anything. Well I'm curious when Google will jump on the cross-platform train (http://wyoguide.sourceforge.net/papers/Cross-plat form.html) which Microsoft definitely won't go. Sure enough cross-platform won't kill Microsoft but it will hurt them quite a bit. ;-)
O. Wyss
For anybody reading this it's obvious what an idiot you have made yourself, posting such a statement as Anonymous Coward but since I don't know why, you might simply not have understand.
No I'm not the greatest and maybe not even the greatest application guideline guru but I'm the first one and so far the only one who realized that without these guidelines, there's no hope for the Linux desktop. I can assure you the year of the Linux desktop will be announced year after year without these guidelines.
Think why I do this and get tried to be insulted as you did. You're not the first and probably won't be the last. So better think first the next time.
O. Wyss
Okay, you've posted this link three times, and its still not at all clear to me what you're talking about.
. html) is now proved there aren't many hints about why is it so. I've already suggested to OSDL to do another survey which hopefully lists the reasons but they failed to do anything so far.
Isn't it amazing that Linux fans don't grasp this? It seems impossible for them that even the majority of the Linux users still wish for Windows-only application (better said none-free applications). Sure enough none-Linux users all don't wish for none-free applications. The sole exception to this rule is so far Mozilla/Firefox. Doesn't this fact give you something to think about?
Unfortunately while the fact, thanks to the OSDL survey and thanks to other hints listed here (http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index
Since I'm working on this subject since about 2000 I'm quite sure I've found a possible solution albeit I agree I can't prove it myself. But any sensible person understands that it's related to the look&feel of a Linux desktop and that definitely mostly means the look&feel of the applications. Just think why any other free application than Mozilla/Firefox hasn't gotten a bigger market share even if they cost less than the commercial applications?
How, exactly, do you expect a standards body to fix this problem?
Isn't that obvious? Assumed you don't believe me then the first task is to verify my reasoning, start a discussion about why and maybe do another survey. I'm sure the result will be just what I said but it seems you all need more reason.
If the first step proves I'm right then evaluate if wyoGuide is the way to go or if there are better ways. Maybe try to improve wyoGuide if it doesn't fit in all points. I again don't fear the outcome of this step.
Another if, if step two proves right, then these guidelines should be established and published as official Linux application guidelines. So far this won't have much implication except than to state the all the current used guideline failed and should be scraped.
So far the above three steps haven't solve the application problem but they set a corner stone where the solving may begin. On the other side these three steps don't cost anything except some time. Sure enough the real work starts now but without this official announcement this work won't start.
O. Wyss
B) download an app folder, drag it to your appliactions folder. go.
h tml
I don't remember when I suggested in the Linux kernel mailing list about creating Linux bundle file support in the kernel but it must be at least 4-5 years ago. Since nobody didn't recognize it's value then I haven't insisted.
I hope I don't have to repeat in a similar fashion the same in another few years about how to make the Linux desktop successful.
See http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index.
Open source will always be chaotic ...
5 .pdf), not even after I've told them. So my hope is the FSG will take over this problem and do a better job.
There's nothing against chaotic but does it also have to be bad? I'm not against anybody doing anything in OpenSource but when it comes to standards there's no use for bad. So far the FSG mostly created sound standards but unfortunately that can't be said of the Freedesktop.org and even worse of the desktop architects of OSDL. Especially the Portland initiative of the OSDL which was just created for this task and which should know better do not even try to tackle the first top inhibitor of a desktop Linux adoption (http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov200
O. Wyss
Or say it with a single statement:
. pdf
c id=15179906
"It's the first top inhibitor of the Linux desktop adoption"
See http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005
and http://linux.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=183801&
O. Wyss
...but you can make the standards so good that distributions (and their users) want them.
That's exactly what I had in mind when I created wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/) albeit others have to decide themselves if I've come close enough. If I almost get no complains might be a hint but don't know for sure.
O. Wyss
Simply because nobody realized the real reasons until OSDL published its survey in Dec 2005 (http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005 .pdf). Even today nobody wants to take the necessary steps as outlined here http://linux.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=183801&c id=15179906.
O. Wyss
Yes and consistency can only be achieve by standardizing. Unfortunately this doesn't only hold true for the desktop, it's equally or even more important for the applications. So far Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Free Standards Group, doesn't seem to realize this else the FSG would have already standardized on a single set of application guidelines as outlined in wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/). Since this isn't the case so far we still have to wait for the breakthrough of the Linux desktop.
h tml
If anybody is interested in a Linux desktop and don't want to wait much longer, he should persuade the FSG to come to terms and at least delve and evaluate wyoGuide.
See also http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index.
O. Wyss
When do Linux fans realize that ordinary users just prefer usable application and don't care much about desktop? Just follow the links listed in this LXer article (http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/54009/index. html) and you'll get prove that nothing is done to force a break through of the Linux desktop. I really hope that this is realized and taken care of by the vast majority of the Linux community one day.
O. Wyss
Mark Shuttleworth call for Edgy Eft (https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+specs) is nice but does it really have any impact on improvement on Linux systems, on it's market share. Does he really think that this will produce any new ideas which are needed for the break through of Linux in the desktop area? I think not.
If a developer is interested in edgy work he has to drop a lot of the out dated circumstances taken over from the old UNIX area which is now almost dead. He has to get rid of thinking along all the current implementations and work on something which isn't as limited. There are IMHO two very important areas where hard cuts are a necessity and both are linked with the look&feel.
First any edgy work has to get rid of all the Gnome/KDE/etc desktop guidelines and replace them with a single set of guidelines as outlined in wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/). Only then will OpenSource application become competitors to the commercial counterparts.
Second any edgy desktop has to get rid of X11 and replace it with a frame buffer implementation (DirectFB) as outlined in wyoDesktop (http://wyodesktop.sf.net/). Only then will the Linux desktop be possible in a sensible fashion on anything ranging from super computers to embedded devices.
I'm well aware that these two suggestions throws away the most important corner stones of the OpenSource world. I also knows that this means a huge load of work but to become successful this is simply necessary. Believe me if it isn't done and if not soon the OpenSource will fail. So I encurrage anybody, developer or not, to visit the two projects and subscribe to the users mailing list else the Ubuntu Bug #1 (https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+bug/1) will never be fixed.
O. Wyss
It is. From the menu System/Help ...
As someone already said it's quite hidden. How should someone not familiar know that? And why didn't the find "burn CD", "write CD", etc retrieve any results?
If it's that well hidden, it's as if it doesn't exist.
O. Wyss
Try putting a CDR in the drive.
...
I did and it showed up as an empty CD but no hint how to burn it.
Sometimes the answer is a lot simpler
That's true but quite often that's not how the avarage user does it. So there should be any hint, maybe a tooltip on the CD or at least in the help.
O. Wyss
It is not snobbish and snubbish to tell someone to RTFM. It is snobbish and snubbish to tell someone to RTFM without telling where to RTFM.
4 55#post924455) which I should have gotten from the help on the system.
And why isn't this RTFM directly installed on the system itself? I just played around a little with the new Ubuntu system and tried to figure out how to burn a CD. Because I couldn't find out how I accessed the help. Sure enough there isn't the slightest hint, worse there isn't any info on how to get further assistance. Fine, let's go to the Ubuntu website into the documentation. I can tell you I couldn't find anything nor locate a help feature nor any hint on how to proceed further. A newbie would at least here give up but I went to the forums where a got all the answers (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=924
IMO it's essential for Linux that the help on the system gets into a usable state.
O. Wyss
It doesn't matter much which distribution Oracle uses and it definitely doesn't make sense to create yet another distribution. Oracle is much better advised to join a distribution best fitting for their use. This certainly means a Debian based. IMHO Oracle is best advised to size with Mark Shuttleworth (Canonical) and bring Ubuntu Enterprise to production quality.
To fight against Microsoft's Windows Server systems or IBM's AIX/Linux systems, an enterprise Linux needs to have a GUI these days. My current choice for Oracle would be XFCE since it's light weight and sufficient for any server task.
But for a successful Linux strategy Oracle also needs to get rid of their Java based installer. With wxWidgets http://www.wxwidgets.org/ there's a perfectly suited cross-platform alternative which is much easier to use and support on Linux and even on other systems.
O. Wyss
2) Amateur/hideous UI toolkit for both major Linux desktops. My own game editor's have better/closer to Apple standard GUI elements.
I agree the two default frameworks aren't that terrific but there's also wxWidgets (http://www.wxwidgets.org/) which even contains a MacOSX port and wyoGuide (http://wyoguide.sf.net/) tells you how to use it efficiently. But what do I tell you, if you really care for moving to Ubuntu you most probably would have known already.
O. Wyss
You all may know that OpenSource isn't much loved by the ordinary users because of a range of reasons. The OSDL survey (http://www.osdl.org/dtl/DTL_Survey_Report_Nov2005 .pdf) shows that even the majority of the Linux users wish for Windows-Only applications. Novell's cool solution website (http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/feature/16798 .html) proves that their users (customers) prefer Windows-Only applications. And the thread at LinuxQuestions.org (http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthrea d.php?t=105955) gives more hints. To solve this I've a vision outlined in here (http://wyoguide.sf.net/papers/Cross-platform.html ).
Sure enough this vision can only become true if many of you choose to participate which of course means a lot of work for all of you. But exactly here comes the Google SoC into play it would allow to get your own project be converted to conform to the wyoGuide guidelines (http://wyoguide.sourceforge.net/guidelines/conten t.html). So I encourage any project to apply for the Soc (http://code.google.com/soc/) to make it
So don't fear to apply even if your project is just a small one since when your project is converted it most probably will attract more users and more developers, soon surpassing any project which doesn't care.
If you are just a user of a project make the developers aware of this. You might even check the guidelines yourself and help in testing. Or you might help in suggestions for corrections, etc. Tell it to your friends, your university stuff or anywhere else. Just make this vision become true and the first Top inhibitors of Linux desktop adoption gets finally solved.
O. Wyss
So before you call the Summer of Code a failure ...
Failure can only be measured in relation to the goal. So I'd say:
So while it was a success for Google I've some mixed feelings about the success for the OpenSource community. This is mostly because of the setup of the SOC and raises the questions what had Google in mind: To support and enhance OpenSource or to find some fine developers?
Since the new SOC is already under way it doesn't make much sense to suggest some changes but they might at least open the eyes for the SOC next year:
O. Wyss
...Doesn't anyone who designs these things have this kind of inspiration?
Smartphones, PDA's, UMPC's, small notebooks are more or less all the same except for the physical size. Smartphones have to fit into a single hand but have a rather limited display and input is quite difficult. PDA's have to fit into a pocket (max. 160x90 mm) but have a reasonable sized display and a pen for input. UMPC's and small notebooks fit into a suitcase so have a rather large display and possibly a keyboard.
So PDA's could have a market if vendors keep this size limits in mind. To distinct them from smartphones they need to have a display as large as possible while still fitting into a pocket. So I guess a 5 1/2 or even a 6 inch display is a must. On the other side a large display drives off the UMPC. And if the format follows the 16x9 factor a PDA might be used for mobile TV.
There are other features which have to be kept in mind. USB 2.0, Bluetooth and WLAN connections are a must. A memory card slot (most probably an SD-card) is a must. An MP3- and OGG-player are so convenient it shouldn't be left out. And since technology is changing so fast a CF-card slot would be a perfect match. So you could easily add a GPS module, a DVB-H TV module, GSM handy module (Bluetooth headset) or what ever is poping up to the PDA.
O. Wyss
so I just use the "SendTo" folder in Windows
Is there an installer I missed for wyoEdit, because this is how such a feature would get set up. I also looked in preferences and it isn't there either.
The real solution would be if wyoEditor itself could check the file-/mimetype during startup and pop up a dialog asking for setting it correctly. This is only possible on Windows so far but since wyoEditor also acts as a sample for cross-platform solutions I don't want to implement anything for Windows only. So you either have to live with the "SendTo" hack or encurrage the wxWidgets core developers to finally implement this feature.
Where I said Notepad I meant Notepad++. I had been opennig documents in wyoEditor using File|Open which caused the file to open in a new window, which is different from Notepad++. Opening via Explorer, right clicking and choosing Open With... opens in the next tab, just as it would with Notepad++
Check the "Use tabbed pages" in the setting. If this is set, any new file should open in a tab and not in a window. If it doesn't file a bug report.
I like notepad++'s collapsion better because it shows the beginning and end of the collapsion in the non-collapsed state and is also similar to the way collapsing directories lists look.
Many other users prefer it otherwise.
without a useful mimetype implementation on Linux ...
One of several reasons I don't use Linux
This is really an annoyance which keeps quite a few away from Linux. Unfortunately nobody understands this problem but me (http://wyodesktop.sf.net/mimetypes.html) but I don't have the time to do it myself.
O. Wyss
And there is Xubuntu based on XFCE, so there's no point in flaming Ubuntu because of Gnome. Besides flaming doesn't help fixing Ubuntu Bug #1.
O. Wyss