Hello Gimpers
On Mon, 1 Nov 1999, Carey Bunks wrote:
> Michael> for the freeze - focus on bug fixing. UI problems can be
> Michael> considered bugs, but the truth is they are a design issue. They do work,
> Michael> just not as might be desired.
>
> I think that Michael has a good point here. Why is it useful to
> declare a feature freeze? In my opinion the answer is so people can
> begin making plans with respect to the upcoming new stable release.
> If just anything is allowed after a feature freeze why declare one?
It depends how you specify feature freeze. Some specify it as a stop to
add anything (nearly a code freeze) some one else specify it as a clean up
and fix time until we enter code freeze.
Me my self specify it as a clean up and fix time (that includes
e.g cleaning the UI to be consistent).
> Olof> There was no design specifications (if I'm not totally out
> Olof> in the sky flying). We code and write etc. for the fun and
> Olof> joy not to do specifications (don't interpret me wrong
> Olof> design specifications is a very good thing most of the
> Olof> time).
>
> There is no formal design specification. However, there is an
> informal one. When the feature freeze was announce there was a call
> to declare all the features that would be included in version 1.2.
> These UI issues were not declared, and, as Michael already said, they
> are not bugs.
I think they where declared we Sven, Micth, Simon and me made a virtual
CVS check in 8 August 1999. Which was sent to the mailing list Date: Tue,
31 Aug 1999 23:10:15 +0200 (CEST) under the subject "CCC GIMP hacking and
conclusions. (virtual CVS checkin)" the delay due to that the list was
down.
Here Micth stated a lot of nice cleanups (just go into the mail archive
and read, since I think sending the mail as an attachment is a bit to
much)
The mail was not "rejected" from the Gimp dev-mail community. I think that
document is a quite good specification about the UI.
> Olof, I think that the UI changes you are working on are great and
> need to be included in the GIMP.
I'm not working on any changes. I'm writing the help system just now,
which makes it painfully obvious that the UI isn't consistent.
> However, many people have worked
> hard (I'm not just speaking for myself) based on the presumption of a
> freeze. I think that should be respected.
I know that a lot of people has worked hard, me my self included. The
discussion is not about disrespect. Trust me I respect you and other
hard working people 100%, but I also respect a user demanding a good UI to
work within.
Best Wishes
Olof S Kylander
