Re: newer version of Pdesk?

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006, "aproposnix" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> It been a while since a new release of Pdesk or Progect? Is there a
> plan to update either of these in the near future?  Last thing I
> remember was a complete rewrite. Any news?


PROGECT:

I'm thinking of adding someone's patches for Progect and rebuilding a beta 
of it.

I also need to make sure it can handle opaque data from other desktop 
applications (explanation further on).

So, I will probably try and do that within two weeks.


PDESK:

PDesk is not likely to have much activity for a while, unless someone 
gives me patches, in which case I will certainly build another version.

I have started on a rewrite of it called the "Outliner Framework" it's on 
SourceForge, but not ready for prime time. I have put it on hold because I 
think we need to deal with the conduit first.


CONDUIT:

The current conduit is dangerous to your data, but only sometimes, perhaps 
only when you really, really care.

The current conduit isn't a perfect solution anyway, because the data 
stays in a binary format. Not everyone wants to use PDesk, some people use 
Progect for things that are better handled by other applications on the 
desktop.

So

I'm writing a conversion library (and program) that will convert basically 
any Palm database to XML, plugins need to be written, so I'm going to 
support Progect first before other programs, and to be honest, I would 
expect others to write the plugins for other programs in general.

The program will go from the Progect Palm Database to the XML of the 
program we are supporting, so we would support things like OmniOutliner 
directly.

Once I have the conversion library working, and a command line application 
available, I will start working on the conduit which will utilize the 
library for it's functions.

Once all that is done, I will start working on merging the data between 
the desktop and the Palm.

This is a gigantic amount of work, and I expect it will take 6 months to 
complete the conduit.

Once that is in place however, people will be able to use the desktop 
application of their choice to edit their data. Their data will no longer 
be locked in a binary format cage as well. I think the benefit for this 
will be huge.

So, that's what is currently happening.

Progect is definitely not dead, but the current conduit has to be replaced, 
and PDesk will be either replaced or repaired some time, kind of far into 
the future. Probably a good year to year and a half out, easily two years. 
But that shouldn't matter so much, because you will probably be able to 
use your favourite desktop editor(s) instead.

Of course if someone steps up to the plate, there are many things that can 
be done for Progect or the new PDesk and even for the conduit, I need XSLT 
people currently to help with the conversions.

I hope to have a exe available with limited conversions within two weeks.

I will at the same time make the Python module available as an Alpha or 
Beta, and so people on other platforms will also be able to use it.

Rick

  > > thanks
>
>
>
>


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