This might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I haven't see a well worded
request that is less grandiose. And I sure don't have any idea
how one would really implement such a thing. Or how many folks
really would want it, and would want it over any of the
other "top 50" requests.
One thing to keep in mind is that a big paradigm shift like "enable drag and drop every where" will invalidate half of the top fifty requests... either they'll be solved by it or they'll be moot with it. If this statement isn't true for a particular paradigm shift, then that's a good indication of a bad idea :)
> I'm a strong believer is using the web for the ui. It allows a
> ready-made platform instead of using up resources just to maintain an
> application framework for MANY different OS's. Don't ever
> underestimate the difficulties in maintaining a common interface
> across even multiple windows versions, let alone OSX and the many
> flavours of linux. Slimserver provides options for API's so that
> third parties can create their own preferred UI on their preferred
> OS. The popularity of JRiver is a good example. Why not campaign
> those developers to create hooks for the CLI, and the importers.
But the web is so last century. It is understood and works. No reason
to keep using it.
LOL :)
What is missing is a realistic discussion of the features
and functions that people think the SlimServer needs.
By "realistic" I assume you mean "keeping an eye on the roadmap", which means that it's got to stay cross-platform. The only sensible way to keep it cross-platform is to use a web interface, or at least a web-delivered interface. Flash and AJAX are two methods to reach the same goal, which is a more responsive and sexier web interface. This is A Good Thing(TM) in my book, with one caveat. There are 12 skins in the SlimServer 6.3 download, they all have problems, and they all have different problems. 7 of the skins are basically dead, or at least generate no user comments, 2 are used for corner-case hardware (Touch and Handheld), then most users use Default, ExBrowse, or Fishbone.
Fishbone is the most ergonomic and pleasant to work with, but has annoying cookie bugs. Fire up some loud punk on the Squeezebox in the room where your kids are sleeping once or twice because the skin got confused, and you quit using the web UI real fast.
ExBrowse is also pretty nice to work with, but has annoying state-loss bugs. Shift-reload, wait 30 seconds, and re-navigate to where you were gets old after a while.
Default is not very nice-looking and desparately needs a jump toolbar instead of a breadcrumb trail, but it's damn stable. No crashes, no mistakes, it just does what it's supposed to do... too bad it doesn't look as good as Fisbone :)
My dream? A single new skin that looks like Fishbone, is stable like Default, and is powered by Ben's sexed-up Nokia770 AJAXness. I'd also like a robust telnet CLI that makes it easy for anyone to write a native interface in any language they like for any platform they like.
Oddly enough, the second one has already happened, which is a good sign that the folks driving the bus really do have an eye on the road.
--
"I spent all me tin with the ladies drinking gin,
So across the Western ocean I must wander" -- traditional
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