Gnome Screensaver issues?

[Diamond Software]

> could you please stop the thread in the current form - there was a
> complete loss of arguments in here.

I brought this up here because it was a hot topic in the forums, and  
it was suggested that if real change was to be effected prior to UI  
freeze, it should be raised on this list. If this issue should move  
elsewhere to have a chance of correcting this mistake, then please  
tell me where to take it.

> Additionally could you try to consider other arguments for the use of
> gnome-screensaver as well and not just "I can't configure my
> screensaver"?
>       * gnome-screensaver is tightly integrated with
>         gnome-power-manager, which enables us to do stuff like locking
>         after opening the lid again.
>       * gnome-screensaver uses dbus and can therefore receive messages
>         from video players and other goodness.
>       * gnome-screensaver is the first attempt to integrate the
>         screensaver more directly into the desktop.

No one has said that architecturally it's not a major improvement,  
although this is the first time anyone has actually enlightened us  
with such details, and I appreciate that.

None of these "under-the-hood" improvements change the fact that:
- It will cause problems with many existing apps (as previously  
discussed)
- It will break numerous screensavers (which is sort of its whole  
reason for existence)
- Depending on a hard-coded "Pictures" folder causes localization  
issues, which goes against the whole Ubuntu philosophy

At least the latter two issues would be easily and simply fixed by  
adding a "Configure" button, just as every other screen saver has had  
since the first ones appeared two decades ago. It's an arrogant  
position that is otherwise marring what is a great technical  
improvement. The argument boils down to "users shouldn't want to do  
that", which is a fundamentally incorrect way of looking at UI, and  
especially sad to see come from the Gnome group.

  - Joshua Ochs