NetBeans Weekly News - Issue #59

NetBeans Weekly News, a newsletter for the NetBeans community
Issue #59 - Apr 02, 2002
URL: <http://www.netbeans.org/newsletter/2002-04-02.html>
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Even thought the last week was in token of JavaOne there haven't been
silent on the nb mailing lists at all. Moreover a lot of the JavaOne's
echoes expected. By then here are some of the most interesting issues
which had been told in the last week.

** NetBeans Board **

The NetBeans community should decide, which two will be acting in the NB
Board for the next 6 months. Look on George's call
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=293575&listName=nbdiscuss>
More info about NB Board on
<http://www.netbeans.org/about/os/who-board.html>. I remind the deadline
of elections on Friday, the April 05, please vote.

** backward compatibility and architecture council **
Svata called heads up he was going to change in standard external
Executor's command line thus removed {library} section. In the current
state a user's code can have a problem if it is executed outside IDE. So
the change looks fine at first but it makes the problems with backward
compatibility. The code which developed by the recent nb releases
couldn't be executed in the next release. The thread started by that was
splitted to two independent explanation: about External Executor command
line and about backward compatibility as general and then more general
about architecture council.

About executor's command line, see e.g.
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=293216&listName=nbdev>.
This discussion have net been finalized yet.

Backward compatibility is evergreen. See also at
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=292233&listName=nbdev>,
autoupdate module holds compatibility too.

There was mension about a Architecture Council during discussions about
executor. As known the AC has been announced seldom, the discussion
about it's mission, it's role in community and else questions
and answers can read in the thread started with
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=292131&listName=nbdev>.

** nb3.4 release's planning phase ends, the new features coming up **
Dafe announced that workspace switcher and status line become the
toolbars that was bringing a possibility the switcher (or status
line) turn on/off. This features was recalled by
http://www.netbeans.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=8617. See also on
previous discussion
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=260886&listName=nbui> or
on a discussion
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=293391&listName=nbui>
which is being started.

Next addition to IDE (from time to time demanded) could be Close button
on the editor's tabs; for now in prototype phase; try it with start
runide with -J-Dnetbeans.tab.close.button.enabled=true and add a comment
to the thread opened by Trung on
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=291723&listName=nbui>.
Comments are welcome.

Who is go in for the Magic of planning so look on the Daniel's
suggestion how to use XSL transformation scripts for formation of the
features/plan files on
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=289729&listName=nbdev>
with some comments. Btw there is overview of the current plans
<http://www.netbeans.org/devhome/docs/releases/34/features/nb34-features-overview.html>.

** Next proposals and UI specifications **
Chris LeDantec provides new Option System UI spec; this spec should
bring a huge simplification the layout of the system option is
redesigned considerably. It is especially important for the module
owners some options will not be represented by proposed dialog. Sure
look at
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=293465&listName=nbdev> or
the other views of David Konecny in
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=289427&listName=nbui>.

The discussion about UI changes for debugger was finalized. Look on it's
summary 
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=292780&listName=nbui>.

Filip Rachunek contributes on
<http://ui.netbeans.org/docs/ui/clusters/ClustersUISpec.html>
a proposal for Module Clusters UI Specification. The followed comments
found at
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=292108&listName=nbui>.

** developers week **
There is a some task for us: do not load any classes on startup. Ok, but
how!? Read Yarda's call at
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=293218&listName=nbdev>.

Have in mind some anonymous classes should be eliminated, we can use a
help script provided by Jan Chalupa with
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=289395&listName=nbdev>.

Some developers compared notes about backup of file objects. Should be
files backup by module or by filesystems or by datasystems. Any opinion?
Join to
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=291401&listName=nbdev>,
any resolution not yet.

** so, in the end **
Tip of the day: put your view in this thread
<http://www.netbeans.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=293530&listName=nbui>,
comments are welcome.
This issue of NetBeans Weekly News was brought to you by Jiri Rechtacek.
The next editor will be Jirka Mzourek. (New volunteers are welcome!)