Software Project:Gnome Advanced Preferences program
From BLUG
The Gnome Desktop Environment project has been gradually moving in the direction of providing less configuration options from the user interface. This forces power users to use programs like gconf-editor to search for registry settings in order to change Gnome's functionality.
What Gnome needs is a program simular to TweakUI for Windows. Provide a common set of settings that most people want to be able to change and provide a nice looking and easy to use program that lets you adjust these settings. Currently there is only one program that does this called gtweakui. While gtweakui provides the base functionality that people need in such a program, it seems to be unmaintained (since August 2004) and doesn't make it obvious what some settings do. It could also use some graphics to spice things up.
So what I propose for our first software project is to write a simple program that accomplishes the above goals. This project seems like a good one for many reasons including:
- Not too hard (The interface can be made in Glade and some additional C programming will make it functional)
- It is a program that is in high demand.
- Has potential to be included in many different distributions if it is done well.
- Easy to maintain. (probably not as prone to bugs as some programs can be)
- Gives people oppurtunity to work on high level stuff like Gnome development.
- It calls on many different talents, which will enable anyone to provide some help.
- Programming.
- GUI design.
- Artwork/Graphics for icons.
- Simple documentation.
- Determining what settings would make good candidates for including in the interface.
- Website will need to be created.
- Creating packages for different distributions.
- Some public relations tasks like talking to Gnome developers and distribution leaders.
- Can use existing code from gTweakUI
If we decide to, we could simply make this project be a project to expand the functionality of gTweakUI. That way we are not duplicating efforts. But this depends on the willingness of the gTweakUI author to cooperate.
Some initial todos:
- Group discussion on and off mailing list.
- Decide on whether to adopt and expand gTweakUI or start a new codebase.
- If new codebase then decide upon name for project.
- Assign tasks to people who want to participate.
- Come up with initial feature list.
- Setup development environment for BLUG to use for programming projects.
- Layout timeline for development.
I think that we should shoot for an initial beta release sometime in March so that we can show it at IU LinuxFest.
expanding gtweakui
If we decide to expand upon the already existing gtweakui code, we have the developer's(daniel@netbreeze.com.au) blessing:
On Wed, 2006-01-18 at 04:06 0000, Mark Krenz wrote: Hi, I was wondering what your plans are for gtweakui? There hasn't been a new version for 1.5 years and you just 2 weeks ago seemed to make some build fixes in CVS. Are you just maintaining it or do you plan to expand upon it at all?
I definitely plan on extending it.. but I've been extremely busy the last couple of years.
I'm asking because our local Linux users group (http://www.bloomingtonlinux.org/) is considering taking up this project and making gtweakui into a more graphical, complete and friendlier program. Or maybe just starting from scratch. What do you think?
Ooh ok, I would have no problems with that.. I can remain as maintainer and look after managing it etc. Or.. if it looks like I'll have no time at all and you have someone who would be interested I could just slip into position of developer and let someone else maintain.
I do have some grand plans, just need time!
Daniel
