Hi all,
Reading the sometimes ferocious, then peaceful commentaries about new
features, wish lists, newbie questions, compile time options, I started
(no: I was already) thinking about some direction to take now.
The main `problem' is the paradox between `Feature Rich' and `Minimalist.'
I say `paradox' because, in the spirit of UNIX thinking, it must be
possible to get both.
- I think there should be a kind of well defined blackbox API (something
that makes all Blakcbox actions available from other apps, like bbkeys
already does)
- The gradient rendering code could move in a shared library so bbtools
can just link to it.
- eventually some other code (resource, menus, style switching, binding
code) go in a specialized `libbb' Possibly style switching in this lib so
all bbtools update their style at once, when used without Blackbox styles
could be changed as well via a simple shellcommand app. (like eesh)
- An app like bbkeys can be used to call Blackbox functions via the
Blackbox api, so all actions, also posting menus etc can be bound to
keys.
- Other apps (pager, desktop background changer or whatever) should be
able to connect to Blackbox to get signals at certain events. (Even
toolbar or slit could be separate apps this way ;-)
BBLibs should always be contained and installed with the main Blackbox
package. (i.e. no separate looking for libs)
I think when done right, Blackbox can be as minimalistic as ever while
having an open api to construct versatile things with.
;-) 'm very sorry i didn't include a patch ;-) I really would like to do,
but however I do program some bit of Z80 assembly, C and Tcl/Tk, I think
mastering c++ will take me some more time;)
wilbie
