Re: Re: Debian packages and freedesktop.org (Gnome, KDE, etc) menu entries

[Moritz Moeller-Herrmann <mmh@gmx.net>]

Bruce Sass wrote:

> On Tue, 9 Dec 2003, Moritz Moeller-Herrmann wrote:
 
>> Freedesktop standard supporting
>> systems are probably used by 90% of all Debian desktop users.
> 
> Unsubstantial, and probably bullshit.

Maybe you are just incapable of finding arguments and have to resort to bad
language? Highly probable.

> Because nobody but KDE and Gnome use those features and they
> already support .desktop files.

How would e.g. the lyx debian package get an i18nized menu entry into the
menu of either KDE or Gnome. YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A DESKTOP FILE IF YOU WANT
A DECENT MENU. So your approach doubles the work for all people, because we
now need two menue entry files. Onde freedesktop and one for Bruce.

> True, but everyone except KDE and Gnome will toss out the freedesktop
> features.  Processing bloated .desktop files just to toss the
> results is a waste of resources.
How long does it take to strip a few information lines of let's exaggerate
6000 menu entries? Even a bash script on an old system wouldnt take long.
Use perl and you won't even notice a delay.

> older -> stability
> simpler -> faster, less resources hungry

nonstandard -> less stable, more work for maintainers
simpler -> hardly a CPU speed problem on today's desktop machines, also e.g.
KDE can process all the menu files it brings in about 10 secson an
Athlon-600MHz.

> 
>> I don't understand how anyone can not support this change.
> 
> Because:
> 
> Nobody benefits from the transition... not even KDE or Gnome, since
> they already support the features the freedesktop standard brings to
> the table.

Debian would profit. Debian users would have a complete menu. Maintainers
would be able to use upstream information for the menue entries.

> also
> 
> There is currently no way to provide system-wide alternates to the
> distributed .desktop files.  Only having per-user customisation
> available really, really, sucks, imo.

PArsing error? What is this problem?
 
> and
> 
> I regularily use KDE, UWM, pdmenu, and Fluxbox, I also have twm, xfce
> and mwm installed... processing the menues takes too much time and
> resources as it is, and you want to use up more, for what gain?

Jesus, how often do you update your fscking menus? thrice daily?

-- 
Moritz Moeller-Herrmann mmh@gmx.net wiss. Mitarbeiter, IMGB
        La loi, dans un grand souci d'égalité, interdit aux riches comme aux
        pauvres de coucher sous les ponts, de mendier dans les rues et de voler
        du pain. 
        (ANATOLE FRANCE)