Re: [Fxruby-users] API documentation

[Hugh S. S. E. E. <hg...@dm...>]

On Tue, 2 Sep 2003, Lyle Johnson wrote:

> Hugh Sasse Staff Elec Eng wrote:
>
> > * A simple means to operate controls programmatically, to aid test
> >   [...] like FXPseudoMouse and FXPseudoKeyboard [...]
> >
> Sure, this sounds like an interesting approach to the problem.
>
thanks.

> > * More documentation with examples is needed, but this is ongoing
> >   anyway, and will happen in due course.  I think a map, graphical
        [...]
> >
> I think RDoc has an option for generating inheritance diagrams as part
> of its output. Let me investigate that and see how well it works in
> practice...

I don't have graphviz, and don't like the licencing [way off topic]
and would like to re-implement it with SVG, but haven't got my head
around rdoc internals yet...
>
> > * I'm not entirely sure why FXTreeItems are not just FXTreeLists,
> >   in the way that Trees are normally defined in computer science.
> >
> Yes, we've discussed this previously on the list. I do not know all of
> the factors that went into this design decision by Jeroen, but it's
> unlikely to change at this point.

I'll maybe ask, because understanding, well, probably "teleology" is
the right word here, can aid in seeing the whole picture.
>
> >Do these comments seem valid, or are they the equivalent of saying
> >["]I can make C code more like the Pascal I've grown to love" :-), (i.e.
> >tactless and rather stupid in the hindsight I don't have yet)?
> >
> Of course your comments are valid! But it's important to note that like

OK, then is is worth raising these issues with Jeroen?  Bearing in
mind comments below, of course.

> so many open source software projects, FXRuby is something that I work
> on in my spare time, for free. So, for example, I can get motivated to

Absolutely: there is no obligation for anyone to shape the world to
suit me. I think these things might possibly be worthwhile enough to
help other people, help the uptake of FOX, and thus help bring
"hands to the pump" as far as supporting the code base goes. But
that is hypothesis/speculation!

> write more documentation because I understand that this activity has the
> potential to save me time later. That is, if I answer the question in a
        [...]

Yes, also why when I make notes about things I put them on the web.
I probably use them more than other people!
>
> On the other hand, I don't have any personal need for a Canvas-like
> widget. If I did, I probably would have developed one by now. For that

Agreed. And if I knew enough about the internals and had time I
gladly contribute.

> feeling it's a more substantial development effort than that ;) If

Yes, but I suspect that some FOX "black belts" may find this easier
than either of us to do.  This is really what my question of
validity is about: is it worth suggesting these features? Sometimes
outsiders can't contribute much that is material, but the fresh
viewpoint alone can throw up something useful. Hence lateral
thinking.  Once my mind is shaped by Fox I won't be able to do that,
so this discomfort may be worth something in itself.

> someone were to take this project on themselves, I would do my best to
> support them and, if it were their wish, incorporate it into the
> standard FXRuby library at some point.
>

        Thank you,
        Hugh