Re: GNUstep roadmap (was Re: [Suggestion] GNUstep-test for quality control)

[Philip Mötteli]

Am Mittwoch, 22.10.03, um 08:51 Uhr (Europe/Zurich) schrieb Chad Hardin:
> Yes, but it's also a catch-22 situation.  Less people are going to be 
> interested in improving GNUstep if there is no user base.

With users, you mean non-developpers? I consider myself a user too. I'm 
using the libraries.


> If there is no user base, what is the point in improving GNUstep?

So you mean people, who use programs written using Gnustep? Of course, 
if nobody is using those programs why write them. And then of course, 
why should there be any Gnustep at all. But when somebody writes a 
program, using Gnustep, I think he intends having a user base for it. 
Otherwise, he wouldn't write it. Not in KDE, nor using any other 
library.


> Plus, users are not going to accept running ported OS X apps in KDE or 
> GNOME.  The interfaces differ way too much....

You're right, usually not (except, if he already put KDE in the Mac 
like mode). But I think this is not the huge problem, for two reasons:
1. Do you remember the times, when you could create in NeXTs 
InterfaceBuilder two different nibs? One for Windows and one for NeXT? 
IB took care of most of the GUI differences for those two platforms. 
Why don't use the same strategy for KDE and MOSX? It's anyway mostly 
only the menues.
2. Many programs do not use AppKit. E. g. servers and Web-programs.


> I think there is room to work on everything at the same time.

I can't force people anyway. I know, that people either work with 
Gnustep for the fun of it and then, they want to do something they 
like, which is unfortunately apparently not a KDevelop-plugin or they 
work with it for their job and then they will only implement, what is 
needed for the task at hand.


> I also think there is going to be much more interest in GNUstep in 
> 2004.....

You have me wondering… What are you thinking of?


Re
Phil