is there a spec for shutdown?

[Kristof Vansant]

I mean like in MS XP when you shutdown the system, apps like word will
ask the user to save the current documents. Since we can be working with
apps of gtk, qt etc we need a shared spec for this.

Maybe it would be even better to not show a dialog asking to save but
let the programmes tell the shutdown process that they need to save and
so delay the shutdown. When the apps have saved the current work in a
temperary file (that gets openend the next time you run the app) they'll
send a message to the shutdown process that they are done. (sending
using dbus maybe?) the shutdown process should have some timeouts or
something so it will continue shutdown even when not all programmes send
that they are done saving (program can crash durring saving and is not
able anymore to send the "done" message)

PS: letting the programme send "saving" message every time interval to
the shutdown could let the shutdown detect if a program has crashed. If
it doesn't receive saving for like 3 intervals the program has probably
crasht. Or if there is a way to just detect the crash :) by getting the
exit status :p could be easier offcourse :) 

-- 
lupusBE (Kristof Vansant Belgium