propostion framework : directory.xfce.org

[samuel verstraete]

This is a copy of the mail sent to xfce-apps mailing list... (it is an
invitation to join the discussion on this subject and to subscribe to
the xfce-apps mailing list)


So, 

As other 5 volunteers seem to have stop development of a framework on
directory.xfce.org, I decided to volunteer...

(find me on #xfce nick ElAngelo)

The idea is simple and pretty logic. 
Lets center all applications and artwork for xfce4. 

url : directory.xfce.org

I would subdivide the 2 "main categories" (lists are not exclusive....
others can and will be added)

1. applications 
            - media
            - office
            - graphics
            - plug-ins
            - ...

2. art 
            - desktop (let's keep this low priority)
            - window manager (window border art)
            - User Interface (gtk2.0 themes)
            - Icon themes
            - Splash Screens
            - xffm themes
            - rox themes?
            - ...

Artwork will be controlled and certified. (for instance one can submit
as much artwork as he likes but all of this artwork (not quite sure on
the applications) will be tested by (a) maintainer(s) before they are
released. I understand that this is in a way obstructive but it is
mainly to guarantee a flawless xfce4 experience. None of the artwork is
off course property so the submitter can submit his work on other
websites too if he thinks the framework is to obstructive.

As far as I see we need a framework where one could submit his artwork
and depending on the "kind" of artwork it has to pass the maintainer
before it is released. 
I will try to start guidelines of "good" artwork as quickly as
possible... (i need some real standard themes for this so i can check
against a standard).

Next we could think on releasing themes in a package but that seems more
like the work for the people of certain linux/bsd-distributions. I could
release monthly tar.gz package which gathers all "certified" themes.
This would then have to be done by a script as i don't think this is
something someone wants to do on a monthly basis. (this seems like low
priority for me now)

I would like to keep the "applications" frame quite open until we have a
substantial set of applications that are xfce-oriented. This is a matter
of opportunism in a way that we do not scare developers away...
(basically i don't have a lot ideas on the application thing)

We have to make sure that even non-art-creators can submit artwork of
other people. (giving credits to creator) This is mainly the case for
gtk2 artwork. I can imagine that there will be theme creators that are
not really interested in xfce4 but develop gtk2 for gnome... if these
themes work on xfce somebody must be able to submit them

For me, the framework of icewalkers.com seems quite nice.
So I want a kind of "development" feeling in the framework. This will
show to the art-creators that we think the artwork is important and will
stimulate them to create nice themes. Notice the "feeling", as i do not
want to create a second freshmeat or sourceforge.

A real forum will only complicate things and is hard to maintain
(especially if we ever want to bundle the artwork)

We better have some wiki thing to so we can develop some howto's
(although i want to be able to maintain and to monitor it)

Now i want to create a little brainstorming on this subject i will try
to bundle this to create the final thing :)

This is not meant to be in any way obligatory so feel free to correct
and add your own ideas :)

gr,

Samuel


(and yes, i'm not a native speaker, as long as everybody understands me
i'm happy)