[Boa Constr] Boa improvements

[C M <cmp...@gm...>]

Hi Werner, Chris, and others.

OK, I finally subscribed to the boa email list; for some reason, all
this time I didn't realize it was an email list like the
wxPython-users list (I guess I thought it was only a forum).  I missed
the first day or so of discussion regarding sprucing up Boa, so I'll
just cut and paste it into this new message

First off, I think that if things get polished up, user community
interest can really increase.  E.g., the person who runs ShowMeDo.com,
a major Python and wxPython aficionado, was enthused enough about Boa
to write a blog post about my videos when they went up, and I think
reading his post might be a good thing if we are thinking about how
Boa is perceived.  Note his opening line:  "There are precious few
open-source (OS) GUI builders of any repute but the lack is sorely
felt in the wxPython world."

The blog post is here:
http://blog.showmedo.com/new-showmedo-videos/boa-constructor-wxpython-gui-builder-video-series/

Werner wrote:

> I think a "restart" needs at a minimum:
>
> - new web site, I would suggest a Sphinx (http://sphinx.pocoo.org/)
> type web site, i.e. an introduction/welcome page with links to the
> documentation which in turn also links to any tutorials and videos etc.

No question.  The current website is a major turnoff to new users,
whether they are Python newbies or serious developers.  That, in turn,
seriously cools interest and possible open source contributors to Boa.
 At this point in internet history, it's almost to the point where if
there isn't even a regularly posted-to blog, a project feels
abandoned.   I think a lot can be done without a great deal of effort
to help here.

> - regular releases, I think it needs one at least once a year better
> would be twice a year.  And this means not certainly lots of new
> features but just officially rolling out any fixes done since the last
> one, including adding in the up to date documentation for Python,
> wxPython etc.

Agreed.

> - make it easier for others to contribute (see source code control
> below), document how things are done so maybe others then Riaan can do
> them (e.g. web site, documentation generation, release generation...).

Agreed.

>
> - tutorial on adding a new widget would be really helpful

Yes, definitely.  But, as Chris said, more important is to have a
"batteries included" approach to Boa, such that new users can know
that it remains up-to-date with respect to the latest version of
wxPython.

Adding my own to the wish list:

- Fix the Linux-specific bugs, which are deal-breaking unless one
knows how to work around them.  As Werner knows, I've documented all
of the ones I could find.  Riaan has that list, so I'm not sure if he
managed to fix any of them yet.

- toggling of the IDs (probably even making it the default), so that
wxID_PANEL1BITMAPBUTTON4 becomes simply -1.  I've tried editing the
"Do Not Edit" section of the Boa code and replacing all those with -1
and removing the list of them at the top, and the Designer still
works, so that suggests they are not necessary--though I don't know.

- toggling giving widgets sizes if in some kind of "sizer mode".
Having sizes has gotten me into trouble numerous times.  I don't think
I understand Werner's response about introspection, so some
elaboration would be helpful there.

And

- General bug fixes and enhancements.  I listed 6 bugs in my final
video, and I can think of a number more.  We could prioritize them and
work on the most egregious ones first.

This is just throwing something out, but lately I've been thinking
that it would be great to have some kind of dropdown or some GUI
element that could allow one to have a list of a handful of functions
that one could quickly go to in the code.  I use browse to, "back",
Ctrl-G and other things, but this would beat all of them, I think.
Not sure how hard that would be to implement.

Chris wrote:

> I'd like to know, if I start doing this stuff, will others pick up the
> torch as well and help me.  Due to my own busy life (running a
> business, going to school, and making indie films...yes, you heard
> that right :) ) this effort to revitalize Boa will quickly fall apart
> if it's just me doing it.

I would like to help, for one.  I would think we might be able to get
1-2 other people from users or wxPython people.  We can at least try
and see if it could work.

Che