Re: [gnotepad-users] Future version(s) of gnotepad+

[Andy K. <ac...@ne...>]

On Sat, Apr 22, 2000 at 10:35:30PM +0900, Yoichi ASAI wrote:
> Dear Andy,
> 
> > 	1. gnotepad+ is supposed to be a *simple* text editor, for
> > 	   editing everyday text and HTML.  Providing syntax
> > 	   highlighting will make it a not-so-simple editor.
> 
> It seems that a simple, "vanilla" editor is really needed by
> many gtk/gnome users. gnotepad+ should be a strict "GtkText"
> editor, I think.

This is where the confusion lies.  A lot of people want gnotepad to
remain a "simple" text editor, but most of the same people also want
syntax highlighting.  What they don't realize is that even if syntax
highlighting were implemented, the user interface to use and configure
it would not be so simple.

For example, show me an editor where it's painless and totally easy to
configure syntax highlighting exactly the way you like it.  I don't
think you can find one.  It's always a tradeoff between flexibility
and easy-of-use.

The complication *really* sets in when taking into account the next
version of GTK.  It will include a much more powerful text widget,
which will have syntax highlighting capabilities.  What should we do
then?


> > - Support for the gnome-print libraries, so that printing a document
> >   from gnotepad+ will be better than just specifying "lpr filename".
> >   This will allow print previews, page settings, etc.
> 
> gnome-print has a long way to I18N.... We non-iso8859-region
> inhabitant suffer disadvantage.

Indeed.  Fortunately, since it's still in development, I plan on
tracking the features/functionality of it before deciding on whether
or not to use it.


> My first suggestion is strict XSMP (X Session Management
> Protocol) support. It would be useful, since gnome users are
> usually on the gnome-session. 

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here.  gnotepad has fairly
basic gnome-session management support now.  I don't know what "strict
XSMP" would require.


> The second is dividing background process (as emacsserver) and
> opening documents command (as emacsclient).
> Background process always running, and open buffer windows on
> users demand. It would be useful for those who has "opening many 
> window" editing style.

There have been a couple of requests for this in the past.  Again,
it's a tradeoff.  I see this as useful only if gnotepad gets large
enough such that starting another gnotepad process is really time
consuming.

Currently, I don't feel that gnotepad is large enough to justify this
feature, but if gnotepad evolves (mutates?) into a more complex and
robust editor, then this feature would certainly be needed.

regards,
--andy