[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: thoughts about features
From:       Chris Ross <devel () tebibyte ! org>
Date:       2001-02-08 22:50:04
[Download RAW message or body]


I second the RISC OS no file open or save dialogs approach. The
Macintosh/Windows way everything ends up with yet another file manager
built in and they all work completely differently. It makes no sense that
you can drag a file from Konq into an appliction, but you can't drag it
from an an application into Konq. Plus the RISC OS icon dragging paradigm
makes it trivially easy to create pipes between arbitrary applications. No
other GUI I've seen makes it possible let alone easy. That makes a very
suitable graphical metaphor for the Unix Way. From an application save a
file by dragging its icon onto a small filter applet on the Task Bar, then
drag the resulting icon to a Filer window. (Like most GUIs, it's much
easier to do than to describe). Voila, all applications can automagically
save in tar or gzip format or whatever without a single line of code or
specially written plugin. Come on guys, we need volunteers.

The trouble is that the Mac and Windows GUIs were originally designed as
UIs to *monotasking* operating systems. RISC OS was designed from the
outset with the knowledge that you could have an arbitrary number of
applications open on the desktop simultaneously. Why should a text editor,
say, need yet another inconsistent file manager to save things when you
have a very good one on the desktop already? It isn't 1984 any more, our
computers can very happily walk *and* chew gum now.

(Windows Explorer is the worst. A file manager with a built in file
manager (find file -> browse) that's completely different to its parent!
Stupid, stupid, stupid).

Regards,
Chris R.

On Thu, 8 Feb 2001, Thorsten Schnebeck wrote:

> Olaf Zanger wrote:
> > 
> > hi there,
> > 
> > some things to note:
> > 
> > small/large resolution
> > i work on a laptop 800x600 and a workstation 1280x1024 both on kde2beta2.
> > * i
> > 
> > file selection dialog
> > * the dialog gives often exactly the same functionality as konqui does. but it has
> > far less features (sorting, views, preview)
> > * would it be possible to make the file-selection just an embedded konqui?
> > * i find the bookmarking a great feature
> ^^^
> I second this.
> If you had the experience using good old Acorn RiscOS you _never_ want to
> use file selector boxes anymore ;-)
> 
> This was intuitive: No "save"/"save as..." menu-splitting only one "save",
> then an small window (for X11 I suggest always-on-top and on-all-screens)
> appears with an icon and a textedit widget with the complete path or - if
> it's a new file - something like "unnamed" and "ok", "cancel" bottons. So
> saving means: press "ok" or drag the icon to a full-featured konqui or to
> the desktop or to another program. This was great and is (one of) my last
> "must-have" for KDE. (maybe a little config-option, like the Apple-menubar)
> 
> I *hate* file selector boxes
> 
> Bye,
> 
>   Thorsten
> 
> --
> Freedom for windows: don't use MDI
>  
> >> Visit http://master.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<
> 

 
>> Visit http://master.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]