On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:44:52 -0700 "Dennis E. Hamilton" <orc...@apache.org> wrote:
> The Java dependency problem keeps coming up buried in other threads. I am > redirecting the most recent case so we can put light on this situation. > > Before the dependencies on Java are increased/improved, I think there is a > crucial usability matter. > > 1. Currently users are trap-doored by exercising a feature or dialog that > suddenly raises a Java dependency, sometimes for which there is no escape > other than finding a way to shut down AOO that is not a normally-required > skill. > > 2. The fact that full functioning of AOO is buried in the system > requirements in a way that users can easily overlook (or never examine) is a > problem. We can fix that page, even providing (or linking to) specific > details of what the dependencies are. That would be useful so developers and > power-users have the details. However, the system requirements are probably > not read by most who download the software (based on over 40 million > downloads of 4.1.1, overwhelmingly on systems designed for casual users). > > 3. If the installer required presence of Java, that would be a clear > indication that it is required for operation. It would also be helpful if > the installer provided an usable link for installing a workable Java if one > is not present. > > 4. If the presence of Java is indeed optional, and the user does not have it > or elects not to use it, AOO should not even offer functions for which Java > is required. That is another way to improve the usability and at least avoid > users falling through trap-doors. > > 5. Shouldn't we do this better? Or are we to decree that AOO is only > intended for power-users who have strong skills with regard to managing their > configurations, managing the install of dependencies, trouble-shooting and > being able to work around the not-dependable way things work now? > > Three paths come to mind. > > A. Remove the Java dependencies. > > B. Adjust the Java dependencies, > 1. So that the dependencies are clear and the situation around failures > to find a suitable JRE is made workable for casual users. This could involve > the above (2-4) remedies. > 2. Only then consider increasing the dependencies on Java for > full-function operation in some controllable way. > > C. Make AOO a Java application that has C++ components, rather than the > reverse. > > These are all serious. Probably on the way to either A or C, one must > address B. > > We also need to consider what the project's capacity for any of these cases > happens to be. > > Thoughts? > > - Dennis > > PS: There is a bigger question about platform presence in here. There are > distributions for which Java dependency is not particularly attractive and we > may be cutting ourselves off from those. That might not matter if we are > talking about the small percentage of the downloads that are for neither > Windows nor Macintosh desktop PCs. I am aware that there is an undercurrent among computer users against Java because of various security holes - whether real or generated by media paranoia. My reaction would be that the basic (i.e., unextended program) should be written in as secure a language as possible and extensions (which are an optional install) written as suits their author. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Pedro Giffuni [mailto:p...@apache.org] > > Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2015 08:07 > > To: Apache OO <dev@openoffice.apache.org> > > Subject: Re: Thinking of joining OpenOffice as a developer > > > > Hello; > > > > First of all, a warm welcome to Patricia. Java developers are > > particularly welcome at this stage! > > > > Just IMHO, the C++ side of AOO is either under-control or > > too-ugly-to care-about, so we would do good focus more on the > > Java parts, which are also somewhat ugly but still promising. > [ ... ] > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org > For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org > > -- Rory O'Farrell <ofarr...@iol.ie> --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org
