[maemo-developers] [PMX:#] Re: [maemo-developers] Qt + KDE port

[From: Kate Alhola]

>> Erik Bågfors <zindar at gmail.com>
>
> As long as we make sure that this is a "hack".  What I mean by that is
> that we do not want to end up in the situation where some linux
> distributions are today, where you have a mess with both KDE and Gnome
> and it really confuses new users. No matter how much you want to
> integrate the two, they just look and behave differently.

If we really are talking about ORDINARY USERS, not soldiers of GUI war,
the lest interesting thing is that what toolkit ( Qt / GTK etc ) is
some application using. I think that if we ask from them, does they
even know that what toolkit their faworite application uses, they
dont know and even less care about it.

They just like to use application that is best fit to their needs.
I think that most stupid way to underestimate  users is to
say that they can't use their favorite application becouse
someone else thinks that it will just confuse them.

> Look at how Ubuntu has solved this. The main Ubuntu dist, uses Gnome. In
> the main repository there isn't even any KDE or QT software to
> choose from. But if a user wants to, they can add a repository that
> includes the KDE/QT software.  That way, a new user will not get
> suprised by a new piece of software he/she installs.

In real life, user wants to use some application that fits to
their needs and not use some specific toolkit. It confuses much more
that they need to add rerositories etc.

I use ubuntu and i am not Qt or GTK fanatic. I have my favorites
both in Qt and GTK applications and i use and will use them.

> For KDE users there is a Kubuntu dist that works the same but the
> opposite (I assume, never used it).

As opposite, i just intermix even KDE and Gnome desktop that i may
KDE in some mahcine with one and some with with other but still even
i am using either one, i still use my same favourite applications.
I am really nyt interested of GUI war at all.

> The 770 should only have programs of one kind (gtk/maemo) and on any
> site where you can download anything that's none-maemo, it should be
> very clear so people don't download something that looks totally
> different and go "ohh.. look at this, even on handhelds Linux is
> inconsistent".

Then, if user likes to use some other program, are you then the one
that goes to say to this poor user that s/he can't use something
becouse you think that s/he will just become confused and s/he .

> If someone wants to do a OPIE/Qtopia dist that replaces maemo, that's
> fine, but it shouldn't be for the average none-nerd :)

Please read, what i wrote. I don't like to replase Maemo with
OPIE/Qtopia. I just liked that user shoud have possibility to chose
his/her favourite application independently about what GUI toolkit
the application is using.

My proposal was to have Qtopia emulation layer to allow to compile
Qtopia applications for Maemo environment and the having same
look and feel skins and input methods just for offering
consistent look and feel.

> For me, one of the strongest reason for not buying a sharp is QT and no
> X11, and for buying a 770 is GTK and X11.  :)

I agree completelly about this. The X11 is good choice because
it gives user freedom of choise. Why do you like to take this
freedom away ?


I don't like to have GUI war. I just think that to offer most wide
application support for 770, there should be support for both
toolkits, Qt and GTK.


Kate