Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 22:53:32 -0400 (EDT) From: Havoc Pennington <rhp@zirx.pair.com> To: editor@lwn.net Subject: GNOME Summary, May 24-31 (fwd) Perhaps useful as you compile GNOME news for this week. Thanks, Havoc ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 03:04:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Havoc Pennington <rhp@zirx.pair.com> To: gnome-list@gnome.org Subject: GNOME Summary, May 24-31 Resent-Date: 31 May 1999 08:19:52 -0000 Resent-From: gnome-list@gnome.org Resent-cc: recipient.list.not.shown:; Hi, This is an informal summary of exciting GNOME events and discussions from the past week. If it's useful perhaps I can manage to write such a summary every week. :-) Then it will be the "GNOME Weekly News Summary." But let's not be premature. White Papers Online === The Gnome "White Papers" web site went up, with short documents describing key pieces of Gnome technology. This can be found at: http://www.gnome.org/white-papers/ In particular, Dave Mason wrote up a document describing the entire Gnome application development framework: http://www.gnome.org/white-papers/gtg/gtg/ International Gnome Support === Several Gnome hackers are forming a company to support Gnome and write custom Gnome software. Extend Gnome for your local installation, get your pet bug fixed, or ship a customized Gnome to your customers. http://www.gnome-support.com The Future of gmc === The Gnome file manager continues to be a hot discussion topic on the Gnome mailing lists. A couple weeks ago Ettore Perazzoli announced his intention to begin work on an enhanced file manager as his thesis project; Miguel also has plans to hack on the next-generation file manager. The future looks promising on this front, and something will probably appear in CVS soon. gnome-status CVS module === There is now a 'gnome-status' CVS module. It contains: - per-hacker files describing what people are working on - per-module TODO lists describing what needs to be done If you want to get involved in Gnome programming, have a look. If you are involved, please add files for yourself and your projects. Gnome Workshop Logo === Tigert drew a modified version of the Gnome logo for Gnome Workshop; you can see it on the Gnome Workshop site: http://www.gnome.org/gw.html Debian Packages === The latest Debian packages have been rebuilt for Debian 2.1/slink, so people not running the unstable distribution can still get the latest and greatest Gnome. Also, Debian added a number of "meta" packages; these are empty packages that simply depend on a list of other packages. You can install or upgrade your Gnome by simply installing these meta packages. The Debian packages appear to be on ftp.gnome.org, in /pub/GNOME/gnome-1.0/debian/, and are also somewhere on the Debian servers but I lost the announcement. :-) Hacking activity === Hacking activity that I happened to notice: it looks like George is making the panel/applet size configurable, in response to many "my panel is too high" complaints; Nat and Matt are hard at work on Bonobo; Miguel fixed bunches of bugs; Damon is adding Gnome support to the Glade GUI builder; there were many commits to the white-papers and web site modules; Elliot's Gnome Media Framework seems to be well underway. There were lots of other things too, but I don't have time to read hundreds of commit messages. :-) John Carmack likes Gnome === We learned that John Carmack thinks the Linux GUI is halfway useable, thanks to Gnome. Post to gnome-list on this: http://www.gnome.org/mailing-lists/archives/gnome-list/1999-May/1372.shtml It was also on /. and Linux Today. Gnome PPP discussion === I've noticed a lot of talk about Gnome PPP, its future directions, and possible integration with the modem-related panel applets. Sounds like cool stuff is in store. The start of one thread is here: http://www.gnome.org/mailing-lists/archives/gnome-list/1999-May/1289.shtml Is a Multilingual Gnome Too Much Work? === Gtk-- developer Guillaume Laurent brought up some of the difficulties that arise with language bindings in a LinuxToday feature; most of the resulting comments were interesting. Especially check out a post from James Henstridge, author of the Python bindings, and a nice recently-added "Can't we all just get along" post at the bottom of the page: http://features.linuxtoday.com/stories/6298.html Matt Loper's Secret Tutorials === Matt Loper has useful info on CORBA and the automake/autoconf tools on his home page - worth checking out. I haven't seen any links or announcements, but perhaps I just missed them. :-) Go here: http://sand.loper.org/~mmlop/ Bonobo name change === Speaking of Matt, he is renaming GNOME::Component to GNOME::BonoboObject. He's fixing everything in CVS, but owners of Bonobo-using modules should be aware of the change. Mozilla happenings === The GtkMozilla widget has appeared, thanks to Alexander Larsson who is also the author of the lovely Visio-like program, Dia. This immediately inspired some hacking on a Bonobo embeddable Mozilla component; it turned out to be trickier than hoped, but several people are hard at work. Someone should Gnomify AbiWord === The AbiSource guys have said they want to Gnomify, and even use the Bonobo architecture eventually; a volunteer should check this puppy out of CVS and send them a patch or two. http://www.abisource.com Gnome Books? === Miguel sent out an announcement and started a mailing list to discuss writing free books; there was lots of discussion on this list, including several posts from Tim O'Reilly of O'Reilly publishing fame. Tim says that he'll publish free books if authors want to write them, and he's eager to work with the community on this issue. Miguel's post is here: http://www.gnome.org/mailing-lists/archives/gnome-list/1999-May/1018.shtml For people who want to start working immediately, there's always the Gtk Reference Documentation Project, at: http://www.gtk.org/rdp/ And the Gnome documentation task list Federico has compiled: http://www.gnome.org/devel/docs/TODO/todo.html New/Updated Applications === New stuff on the Gnome Software Map over the last week: Gfax, screem, GnomeSentence, Gnocatan, GNOME Portfolio Manager, GSokoban, Guppi, gnofin, SkyApp, GNotes!, Sound Monitor Applet, GQView, genius, gLaptop, GNU Photo, mini-commander, Gnumeric, wxGtk, gnome-libs, graphtool, gnome-python, Blackbox GNOME patch, and GNOME disk catalog. There's a bunch of new stuff on CVS too, if you're into that. OK, that's all I can think of. Havoc -- FAQ: Frequently-Asked Questions at http://www.gnome.org/gnomefaq To unsubscribe: mail gnome-list-request@gnome.org with "unsubscribe" as the Subject.