Re: [Tile-dev] Tile compatibility policy and the core merge

[Jeff H. <je...@ac...>]

Larry McVoy wrote:
> > First: the treeview widget needs to come back.  People are actually=20
> > using this widget, and the only alternative I can think of is for =
them=20
> > to switch to TkTreeCtrl.  Although TkTreeCtrl can certainly do all =
the=20
> > things that ttk::treeview can (and much, much more!), it's not that=20
> > easy to use; and since "ease of use" is the primary, overriding =
design=20
> > goal of the ttk::treeview widget, I don't think this will be work=20
> > upgrade strategy.
>=20
> Has anyone considered the idea of wrapping the treeview=20
> widget API around TkTreeCtrl?  From what I can see, the=20
> advantage of treeview is that it is pretty easy to use and=20
> the advantage of TkTreeCtrl is that it is powerful but=20
> complex.  Seems like a simplistic API that offers a "kinder=20
> and gentler" introduction to TkTreeCtrl is perhaps a more=20
> strategic approach than maintaining two code bases.

I have considered this, but there is simply not enough time to =
definitively
say which is the best way to go for 8.5.  treeview has some =
"deficiencies",
but that may just be my view of greater expectations from tree widgets.  =
I
know that Joe has done a good deal of work on this, and I really intend =
no
personal affront.  I want to look at it from an objective core future
perspective.

I use treectrl a lot, but there certainly is not enough time to wrangle =
it
into "core status" for 8.5.  Furthermore, Tim is continuing to work on =
it.
I'd like us to consider this again for 8.6 though (along with tktable).  =
One
of the current issues with treectrl is that it is a memory pig (notably =
more
than I expect should be necessary for some views), but I expect some API
changes (possibly compatible) would be in order as well.

treectrl also does a ton more than a simple treeview requires.  Useful =
for
some apps, but a multi-column list is really important by itself.  =
treeview is
nice, but it lacks functionality that others may find useful having come =
to
expect them in packages like tablelist and bwidget's tree.  treeview's
inclusion in the core will hamper any rapid improvements (that of course
depends on how objectionable others will be to feature improvements in
patchlevel releases).

As you may see, I'm currently still sitting on the fence on this one.

Jeff