Re: desktop linux standard base

Adrian,

>From an LSB view, the desktop needs an API/ABI specification to share
between the GNU desktops (ie., GNOME and KDE).  We are getting ready to
start this work.

What you described below sounds more like a usability specification, and
the GNU desktops definitely needs this.  Many would like to see a
usability specification as comprehensive as UNIX's usability
specification for CDE regarding application consistency.

In general, one big problem that I see are the dialogs.  Motif (or Xt
based) dialogs provided "OK", "CANCEL", "HELP" from left to right. 
Often Gtk dialogs just simply provide "OK", but if they included
"CANCEL" then it is on the left side.  When there is no "CANCEL", then
canceling with the window border does not give the end-user reassurance
the dialog was terminated correctly.  Secondly, having "OK" on the right
side confuses Xt based dialogs from Gtk based dialogs.  What if you were
using some Gtk applications on a UNIX system (or Linux with Motif) and a
confirmation dialog popped up to confirm a missile launch.  Wouldn't it
be nice if the "OK" button was *always* on the left  and a "CANCEL"
button was always on the right?  Also, I would hate for the operator to
click on the "X" in the window border to terminate a missile launch! 
:-)

In short, some usability folks should come up with a proposal for the
desktop developers.  This specification should keep in mind the prior
art practices of Motif, Java, and Windows.  Also, keyboard acceleration
from Motif should be carried over to Gtk and Qt.  This is needed for
accessibility.

Are you volunteering for desktop APIs/ABIs or for usability?

George (gk4)

On Tue, 2003-01-21 at 08:02, adrian15 wrote:
> Hello to all, this is my first message.
> 
> I am willing to define the linux standard base on how the applications
> should work in a Desktop, it doesn't mind if it's gnome or kde. The
> problem is that I've been looking into your webpages and I'm seeing that
> you're treating more low-level problems such as c libraries and so on.
> 
> So I am asking you if you have done any desktop linux standard base or
> if I should go directly to Kde or Gnome websites to ask them to
> standarise themselves in a better way than they are now.
> 
> My proposal would be about right-button:
> 
> Every program with a read-only text should have to show Copy (in the
> predefined linux language, that means in Spanish should appear Copiar).
> And every program with a read-and-write text should have to show Cut,
> Copy and Paste. Of course everyprogram should be able to overwrite it
> but... it should be there by default.
> 
> Am I in the right place for talking about these things.
> 
> Thanks for reading my email.
> 
> adrian15. 
> 
> 
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