GTK2 key theme

[Greg Folkert]

On Mon, 2009-07-06 at 15:10 -0700, Brian J. Tarricone wrote:
> On 2009/07/06 13:26, Greg Folkert wrote:
> > On Sun, 2009-07-05 at 23:05 +0200, Stephan Arts wrote:
> >> On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 7:20 PM, Mike McNally<emmecinque at gmail.com>  wrote:
> >>> I found a thread from last November about getting in xfce4 the
> >>> behavior afforded by having:
> >>>
> >>>   gtk-key-theme-name = "Emacs"
> >>>
> >>> in the ~/.gtkrc-2.0.mine file.  The answer in the thread was to
> >>> (somehow) select "Emacs" in the xfce "keyboard" settings dialog. Well,
> >>> when I bring up the "keyboard" settings dialog I see no mention of
> >>> Emacs anywhere. Can somebody elaborate on exactly where in that tool
> >>> one picks Emacs functionality?
> >>>
> >>> I'm running xfce4.6 on Ubuntu 9.04 if it matters.
> >> xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Gtk/KeyThemeName -s Emacs
> >>
> >> Option was dropped from the GUI because almost nobody seemed to use
> >> it, you can still set it with the command mentioned above.
> >
> > /me points out that this is a bit of a hot pot with his-self.
> >
> > Since when did you guys start listening to the all knowing, all being,
> > all directing "Havoc Pennington"... you know they guy that espouses
> > "Sane Defaults" and "less is more" as far as GUI interfaces...
> 
> "Sane defaults" is an excellent idea.  Or would you perhaps be a 
> proponent of "insane" or possibly "ludicrous" defaults?

Sane defaults at the expense of broad usability. Yeah. OK.

> And sometimes less *is* more.  In this particular case, people were at 
> times confused as to what the extra keytheme option was for.  Back when 
> we supported keythemes for keyboard shortcuts (and for WM keyboard 
> shortcuts), this was even more confusing.  As far as we can tell, most 
> people don't change the default gtk keytheme.  This is the first time 
> anyone's asked about it since the option was removed, so I'm feeling 
> like removing it was a decently good decision.

My point here was mainly, Removing the ability to configure things with
the GUI, but have to use a second or third or fourth command line tool
to make things the way you want.

And removing functionality regardless of what people that use the
program/system for or how they use it. Make changes regardless of what
people request or suggest (sometimes in bulk).

> (Os for your assertion that HP is regarded as "all knowing" or "all 
> directing," I'll assume you're merely exaggerating for emotional effect. 
>   I've read a lot of things the man has written: some I agree with, some 
> I don't.  That applies just as well to pretty much anyone.)

It was sort of tongue in cheek, but I do think he has some very good
ideas and some are misguided. Overall his implementation of his ideas
and ideals are some what... less than optimal. Not that *I* am any
better.

> If there's enough noise by enough people, it might get added back.  But 
> I'd rather not see it come back.  The gtk keytheme setting is a power 
> user setting.  People who want to set it can figure out how to do so in 
> their ~/.gtkrc-2.0.

Never suggested it had to go back, I questioned the decision to make the
feature get removed, period.

> To wit: please don't clutter xfce@ with useless rants.  If you want to 
> offer constructive feedback, feel free.  Your email basically makes me 
> want to believe and do the opposite of whatever you suggest, mainly on 
> principle.  How is that useful?

Hmmm, spite, a wonderful tool. I personally only wanted to make sure you
and the other core developers don't fall into making changes just
because you can and refuse to take suggestions.

You shall hear no more on this subject from me. I've made it clear, and
I agree a "useless" rant about HP and his ideals aren't for this list.
-- 
greg at gregfolkert.net
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