[Portland] Proposal - desktop-integration-utils

[Banginwar, Rajesh]

I would actually suggest extending the desktop-file-utils (which is
already part of most of the Linux distros) package instead of creating a
new one. At least for all the command line tools. This has two
advantages: It will be easier for distros to pick it up (even the ones
which are already feature freeze like SLES10) in their service
pack/update cycle. Another advantage is all similar tools will be in one
place/package.

For this to be useful to as many ISVs as possible, the tools should
become part of the distributions. Once they get accepted by most of the
distros, LSB can come up and document these in addition to making it
part of the LSB desktop certification. 

Thanks,

-Rajesh

> -----Original Message-----
> From: portland-bounces at lists.freedesktop.org [mailto:portland-
> bounces at lists.freedesktop.org] On Behalf Of Jeremy White
> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 11:47 AM
> To: portland at lists.freedesktop.org
> Subject: [Portland] Proposal - desktop-integration-utils
> 
> I would like to propose that we take Kevin's work, add
> a few more scripts, and publish it to the world.
> 
> I think we should publish it on www.freedesktop.org
> as a package called 'desktop-integration-utils'
> (in parallel with desktop-file-utils).
> 
> In addition to the utilities already written, we
> should write shells for the remaining items
> on the short term integration tasks.
> 
> It should be released under a license such that anyone
> can use it in any way they like (ISVs, distros, etc).
> 
> I see three major customers for the utilities:
> 
>   1.  ISVs
> 
>       Would package the utility inside their app.
> 
> 
>   2.  Window Environment authors
> 
>       Would enhance the utilities to support their environment.
>       This gives XFCE, blackbox, etc, an opportunity to
>       reach for parity with Gnome and KDE.
> 
>       My hope is that these folks would end up doing the
>       bulk of the actual development work on this package.
> 
> 
>   3.  Distribution vendors
> 
>       They also would gain the ability to provide customized
>       versions of the scripts; this allows Mandriva to
>       keep their twisted menu system if they so desire.
> 
> I would request that Freedesktop and OSDL publicize
> to the world that these exist, with sufficient force
> that an ISV can say:  "Our software is xdg-utils
> compliant."
> 
> One technical challenge that still needs to be solved
> is how to allow a distro version of the utilities to
> override a version bundled by the ISV.  I'll take that
> up in a separate thread.
> 
> I'm willing to assemble a first package set with
> README, TODO, and the scripts, although I'd be even
> happier if someone with commit access volunteered for
> that job.
> 
> Thoughts?  Comments?  Flames? <g>
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Jeremy
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