KUbuntu and Muon Discover

[Jonathan Thomas]

On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 7:37 PM, Aleix Pol <aleixpol at kde.org> wrote:
> On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 12:52 AM, Jonathan Thomas <echidnaman at gmail.com> wrote:
>> As project maintainer for the Muon Suite, the way I see things going
>> is keeping the existing QWidget-based Muon Software Center throughout
>> the life of Qt/KDE4, as it will integrate best with the current
>> Qt/KDE4 QWidget-based environment. I'll probably port the existing
>> Software Center to Qt5 when the switch occurs in major distributions,
>> but development will pretty much be "finished" in that no more new
>> features will be added. Qt5 will remain mostly source-compatible with
>> Qt4,so this shouldn't be more than just changing a few #includes in
>> the source code. Essentially, the current Software Center will go in
>> to maintenance mode.
>>
>> When KDE Foundations 5 bears fruit and we get a comprehensive
>> KDE-standard way of writing QML applications (The Qt QML Desktop
>> Components currently targeted for release for Qt 5.1 or 5.2 seem to be
>> a prime candidate for this) is the time when I see Muon Discover
>> "taking over the reigns" as the official app installer of the Muon
>> Suite. I believe Aleix has even made a branch in Git that uses the
>> alpha version of the QML Desktop Components. My main concern is that
>> KDE apps will "jump the gun" with QML and start to re-implement all
>> their widgets and themes in QML and lose coherence with the rest of
>> the KDE desktop, and I don't want that to happen with Muon.
>
> Yes, there's such a branch using desktop components (again video, in
> case anyone is interested [1]). I must say the port from Plasma
> Components to Desktop Components so it's not really a big deal.
>
> I must say that all KDE applications won't implement their styling and
> there's a very simple reason for that, we'd need a huge amount of
> artwork we don't have access to :).
>
> Anyhow, I'll make my best to have Muon Discover as much integrated
> with KDE as possible.
>
>>
>> But as it stands, Muon Discover currently uses Plasma QML components
>> for widgets/theming and integrates beautifully with the Plasma Active
>> environment. I could very well see shipping Muon Discover next release
>> as part of Kubuntu Active.
>
> I should warn you that Muon Discover wasn't tested on any touch device
> and things might not work. My interest regarding Muon Discover is for
> workspace-like uses so I'm not sure I'll try that any time soon. Of
> course, patches are welcome and I'll be glad to help.

Oh, ok. I was still holding on to the idea that QML = mobile, when I
see that that is not the case. :) The current trend of KDE QML apps
using the Plasma components doesn't help the confusion. :P

>
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 6:36 PM, James <james.cain.25 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Tuesday, April 24, 2012 04:19:19 PM Aleix Pol wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi!
>>>
>>>> As some of you will know already, I've been working on a new Muon
>>>
>>>> sub-project called Muon Discover. The idea of this application is to
>>>
>>>> provide a comfortable application where we can navigate through all
>>>
>>>> repositories browse the available applications and provide the
>>>
>>>> (hopefully) best tool to find the closest to what the user's looking
>>>
>>>> for.
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> Here there's a video displaying what it does, in case you're just curious:
>>>
>>>> http://proli.net/meu/netrunner/muon-installer-qml-8.ogv
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> We have created a ppa providing this (and some other stuff):
>>>
>>>> https://launchpad.net/~cyberspace/+archive/cyber-stuff
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> I'm sending this e-mail because I'd like to know what the KUbuntu
>>>
>>>> community thinks about this, so if you happen to have comments about
>>>
>>>> this, don't hesitate to answer here or contact me.
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> Also I'd like to remind the kubuntu community that the
>>>
>>>> screenshots.debian.org service is responsible for feeding us the
>>>
>>>> screenshots that will be displayed to the future KDE applications
>>>
>>>> users, so some initiative for making sure KDE applications are
>>>
>>>> properly represented there would be helpful, because at the moment
>>>
>>>> it's not on the best state (proofs [1]). I have created some tools for
>>>
>>>> this if somebody is interested.
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> Cheers!
>>>
>>>> Aleix
>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>> [1]
>>>
>>>> http://screenshots.debian.net/package/kmail
>>>
>>>> http://screenshots.debian.net/package/kontact
>>>
>>>> http://screenshots.debian.net/package/kdevelop
>>>
>>>> http://screenshots.debian.net/package/okular
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This looks like a great start and also a much-needed tool for deepening the
>>> end-user's experience. We are all maily used to the "app store" philosophy
>>> now, and this is especially true for new Linux users who are used to an
>>> Apple or Android-type experience. Also, I really like the sort options!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> One question for discussion however: How can all this be presented properly
>>> to the end user so that it is not confusing? There is already potential
>>> confusion withon Muon itself: new users do not understand the difference
>>> between the Muon Package Manager and Muon Software Center, let alone throw
>>> in Muon Update Manager. See here for expample
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Do you see this as a replacement for the Muon Software Center? Keep up the
>>> good work :)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> - James Cain
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
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>
> Aleix
>
> [1] http://proli.net/meu/netrunner/muon-installer-desktopcomponents2.ogv
>
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