[Netron-graphlib] Some clarifications

[Illumineo <Net...@ho...>]

A lot of questions, let me explain. Please don't take my comments as an
offense, I try to state my point of view and how things have been until now,
i.e. until I got your kind help.


About docking. The Magic library has been the default choice for a long time
'cause nothing else was available on the open source market. They change
their licensing and like many I moved to Luo's library. This library moved,
indeed, from a Magic substrate (DockManager) to a DockPanel based approach.
The situation is now; everything NAF uses still the Magic library,
everything graph (i.e. all graph applications) use Luo's lib. This
discrepancy is due to the fact that I cannot work on everything
simultaneously and is not intentional. In the full NAF solution you can see
the project 'MagicLibrary' and the project 'WinFormsUI'. If you want to
compile all projects you need both, if you only want the graph projects the
latter should be sufficient.


About 'work in progress'. Yes, there is a lot of work in progress. I did try
to round up the graph lib stuff though. Besides GraphML serialization and
the rectangular layout algorithm (which was pointed out by Martin, I didn't
believe anyone would notice...), I believe the graph lib is pretty much
self-contained and 'OK' as far as features are concerned. The Netron
framework on the other hand is another story but I don't think this an issue
in the context of this discussion.

About v2 features. I am open to additions if it does not mean a complete
re-writing of the library. I have been rewriting a lot and it is time to let
it go now, for me at least. Many people have asked this-or-that in the past
year and it is totally impossible to have everything in one package. My
vision (mission?) is the following: the Netron library is *not* a Visio
remake, it's not a UML oriented library, it's not a simulation tool...but if
you wish you can take it and model it to your own needs. The things I'm
after can be seen in the Biotron and Automtron applications.
Now, about the user-defined connections and the VB.Net support. I tend to
say 'yes' for it but you need to tell me how long and how deep the mods are.
I would be very glad to add user-connection and at least one sample VB.Net
application, maybe even an ASP.Net sample. 

About CVS. This is an everlasting pain for me. In the past two years, or so,
I've used CVS only because others were asking for it (where's the latest
code?). I'd be very happy if Martin would continue to take care of CVS. On
the other hand I do realize that co-operating on source code doesn't work
without a versioning system. It's difficult to work together even with CVS.

Concerning the last CVS-commit: I did not add any new stuff, I only
committed the sources already present in CVS. I am sorry if this scrambled
the repository, Martin. I'll try to pick up WinCVS again (how many nights
have I had with CVS already...?). Your suggestion of writing something about
Net development and CVS is great I think, please write it down and
illuminate others!


About the mailing list. Thank you for this suggestion, I hope this makes
communicating more efficient! Let me know if more stuff needs improvements.


That's it for now. Hope this clarifies a little. Martin and Helge, can you
give me an idea 'bout the delay/work I mentioned above?

Thanks a lot for you help again, I am grateful to you.

Francois.