On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 10:05:23AM +0200, Andre Poenitz wrote:
>
> Because LyX without the 'GUII effort' and further cleanups is in a state
> where adding new features is very difficult. Moreover, even if adding a
> new feature turns out to be possible it most likely adds to the current
> mess and makes adding a second feature even more difficult.
>
> So the way to go is to do the cleanups first.
I have of course seen this argument; it was all the rage a couple of years ago.
I stepped back in part because, as I didn't write the code, I was in no
position to debunk it convincingly.
However, I did argue that such an effort would take eons and, in the end,
*supplant* rather than facilitate new features. A point that seems vindicated.
> > Sure, LyX today is very nice, sparkling and clean, at least under the
> > hood.
>
> I wish it were. In fact such statements do not add much credibility to the
> other not-so-easy-to-follow statements.
As I said, I've been away from the community. But if after *all* *these*
*years*, LyX is not "very nice, sparkling and clean, at least under the hood"
-- strictly by comparison with a couple of years ago, of course -- then what
has been the point of the cleanups and GUII?
My use of the expression "feature freeze" obviously ruffled some feathers here.
> > diaspora throughout the user interface ("Edit->Paragraph Settings"
> > Seriously?)
>
> > Why such fundamental user interface elements are still being tweaked is
> > beyond me.
>
> No, I think this is just a new superficial mess completely independent of
> 'real' internal changes. However, as this can be rectified by editing
> lib/ui/default.ui with a simple text editor before releasing 1.4 I don't
> think this change will do too much damage in the long run.
It just makes me wonder, that such tweaking continues. Obsession with
perfecting existing function and its presentatino keeps one "inside the box".
