[Jgimp-developers] Re: FilmGimp integration

[Robin R. <ro...@Mo...>]

Mike,

Hi. Bringing our JGimp discussion over from the Film Gimp list so we'd have
some traffic here seems like a good idea. By the way, Sam and I discussed
JGimp on the phone this morning before your post came through.

Sam, are you here too?

> As per an external install -- I think it probably does make the most
> sense to have it as an external install. Save that, you would want to
> have a configure switch to enable/disable the capability when compiling
> Film Gimp.

We shouldn't do that, unless there is something flawed with JGimp that we
should be told about. Making Java optional would mean confusion for users
and make Java plug-ins of diminished value.

Java is one of the most popular languages today, and appeals to programmers
who are turned off by the quirkiness of Scheme and the trickiness of C --
our plug-in languages now. Can we attract a broader segment of programmers
to Film Gimp? Typical Java programmers are corporate developers, not
heavy-duty systems programmers. We better make it easy to use, with as few
extra hurdles as possible.

Java can benefit Film Gimp in a similar way to our Mac port -- drawing new
blood and broader appeal.

> But I think the idea of having it as an external install
> makes the most sense right now, since it is still in a lot of flux.

Well, everything we do seems in flux. We might not include anything if that
was a disqualification! The question is, will JGimp destabilize Film Gimp?
If the answer is no and it is functional enough to justify being included,
we should go ahead and bring it in as a standard part of our release. It
helps that decision that JGimp is under 200k.

> If I
> had an example of an externally built plug-in, it would be a no-brainer
> to set up the build process (is there a bare-bones external plug-in
> available that I could use, something like a plug-in template?).

Not as such, but the blur plug-in is simple enough. Can you use that as your
guide?

Cheers,

Robin
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