Re: State of Konqueror - Was: Konqueror: webkit instead of khtml
Hi,
Valerio Passini wrote:
I think you are just missing the point that this is Open Source/Free
Software and its development is not tied to any economical revenue.
I don't think I'm missing anything here.
Developers implement and program following a common project layout and
goal just for personal pleasure (that is) in most cases.
Exactly, and I am happily helping some Free/OSS projects by sending
bugreports, feedback and patches (I even contributed a patch to the
Linux kernel itself). I do it for my personal pleasure. The more I like
the project the more effort do I put in helping the project.
Right now, I could send a backtrace of a Konqueror crash almost every
hour. I don't have the time for that! You see, I'm not payed for it
either. (And mostly the crash is related to a bug already reported).
they generally ask two things as a contribution: feedback for bugs and
patience.
I've reported every single bug I came along in Konqueror unless it had
been reported before (chances are high, there are so many reports for
Konqueror).
For patience, it depends on how severe the issue is. Let me give you an
example: Before 4.2.2 Konqueror crashed whenever you tried to move a
bookmark folder around in the bookmark editor. An annoying issue, but it
wouldn't stop me from using Konqueror as the default browser. If on the
other hand I can't visit my own homepage with Konqueror anymore it's not
a matter of patience, then I just *have* to use a different browser.
You on the other hand are seemingly missing another point: The
developers put their program out in the public. Moreover, in the case of
KDE/Konqueror they even claim that it is "the most advanced and powerful
free desktop" (see www.kde.org).
Measured on that basis, Konqueror as an integral part of KDE cannot hold
up to that claim. See, we're not talking about KDE 4.0 here, this is KDE
4.2.2 which should be usable for most users.
I'm not demanding anything, I'm not angry at KDE/Konqueror developers,
the developers should take all the time they need, I'm not pushing them.
I'm just saying "I as a person who needs to *work* with a browser can't
use Konqueror as the default browser anymore. It is just too buggy at
the moment." And I'm very sad having to say that. You see, I'm about to
loose a good old friend, so to say.
This kind of feedback must be allowed. And it must be allowed to point
out the related danger for the KDE project in general: If the most
central applications (mail, browser, file manager) do not work properly,
a KDE is in danger of loosing users. Actually, I for one slowly drifted
into using KDE mainly as a window manager, unwillingly.
(BTW, I don't know how good the current KMail works, is the GUI freeze
fixed, finally?)
In my opinion KDE 4.2.2 is in a state, that should rather be advertised
as a release candidate.
Don't get me wrong: I like KDE 4, I love the looks of it, I even started
to like the new desktop paradigma. I can live with most of the flaws
(4.2.2 really is *much* better the its predecessors). But I can't use
Konqueror as the standard browser at the moment.
this kind
of emails full of complains and menacing to switch to others application
it's simply not in the right direction. Best regards
I'm not complaining, I'm reporting. I'm not menacing to switch. I
already *have* switched, while I would really have preferred to stay
with Konqueror.
Kind regards,
Felix
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