Re: Linux Standardized Desktop Tools

cc'd lsb-futures

Per Arneng writes...

[snip]
> PROBLEM:
> 
> * Lack of a set of basic graphical tools (ex: File management , Process=20
> control , Control panel) that are consistent on all distributions.
> 
> SOLUTION:
> 
> * A set of GUI design guidelines and reference software these utilities.
> 
> These utilities can be  implemented in GNOME, KDE or any other GUI toolki=
> t as=20
> long as they have the same look & feel. They should not have to look the =
> same=20
> in color or theme but the buttons should be in the same place and perform=
>  the=20
> same functionality.=20

Maybe there's a translation problem, but I think there are two problems you 
are trying to address here,

1.) Consistant look and feel of applications
2.) Common set of user or administration tools

right?

The soon to be formed "Desktop" standards group has also identified #1 and 
will be trying help solve it though standardization of GUI toolkits and 
"Look and Feel" and "Usability" guides. I expect that some time in the next 
month or so this group will have a mailing list and start having regular 
meetings.

We don't have an answer for #2 yet. The LSB is a development standard, one 
that specifies what things developers can expect to find on the systems 
they deploy their applications on. In some cases this covers commands, but 
only because they might be needed by an application. In order to solve #2 I 
think we would need to create an additional "Linux Administration" or 
"Linux End User" standard. I think this is a really good idea and at some 
point I'd like to start/help with such an effort.

Both the Desktop group and any other potential groups will be incubated in 
the lsb-futures group until they're ready to spin-off on their own. 
Brainstorming of this type can be sent to [email protected] in 
the future.

Thanks,

-- 
Matt Taggart        Linux and Open Source Lab
[email protected]   Hewlett-Packard