Re: [Gpsbabel-code] RFC: Source tree restructuring

[Oliver <oli...@fr...>]

Hi Robert!

On Saturday, 12.01.2013, 18:42 -0600 Robert Lipe wrote:
> The kind of obvious way to split it up is
> filters/
> formats/
> style/
> core/   (for main, waypt, route, strptime, etc.)
> ...

I use and like gpsbabel for quite a while and follow this mailing list
with interest. I have an idea and I think it is now time to tell you,
since it also is about restructuring.

I think gpsbabel would greatly benefit from being split into a shared
library a (smaller) executable for the command line tool! A well
documented and versioned interface to this shared library would not only
help to keep gpsbabel clean. Existing projects like the various
GUIs for gpsbabel would benefit too. And it could even triggers new
projects.

Month ago I tried to implement a Gnome thumbnailer for all sorts of GPS
files. I ended up realizing that this is "just" a clever combination of
existing stuff like gpsbabel, an XML converter (XSLT?) and an SVG
renderer. The problem is that bash scripts are too slow to be used as
thumbnailer. But with a "libgpsbabel" it could be implemented in one
single executable. Just an example, but you see my point?

I am aware that you talk about restructuring the source tree and I talk
about restructuring the outcome of gpsbabel. These are different tasks
that should not be done in one step. But if you agree that libgpsbabel
would be worthwhile than the work to restructure the source might take
another direction. That why I wrote you my idea.

Thanks anyway for your great work on gpsbabel!
with regards,
+++ Oliver