[Demexp-dev] Re: [RFC] Using a file browser as demexp GUI?

[GISQUET Christophe]

Good evening,

(let's not forget everything in this mail)
as usual please Cc: me as I'm not subscribed.

On Fri, 8 Jul 2005, David MENTRE wrote:
> [RFC stand for Request For Comments]
>
> Hello,
>
> I would like to have your advice on following point.
>
> I'm thinking seriously at using the native file browser of the desktop
> machine as a client for demexp. That would enable easy integration
> with LFS (Logical File System) and would relieve us of most GUI issues
> (the hard graphical parts is done by the OS and desktop applications,
> we only write generic parts emulating files and folders).

I'm not sure to understand. Is it really a file browser, like mc, 
nautilus, and so on? Or is it a web browser? The second was probably 
considered (would be neat), but I guess there are too many security 
problems.

As you quote LFS, I wonder how much it restricts the supported platforms.

> locally as a WebDAV server. Files types ensure we can vote and/or see
> needed information, with appropriate helper applications.

You mean like:
- a file type that holds the poll question
- a file type for proposed replies or whatever
- a file type for sorting
and so on? (seems so from the following part)

>          o the classification (tags and questions) appears as a set
> of folders and files

Sounds a bit like web-browser Opera's mail client. I'm not at all 
proficient with it, so don't ask me to explain it - it is a mere 
reference. I'd be like you searching more details on some websearch 
engine. I kind of remember you can create "virtual folders" that are 
result of previous search/filtering patterns.

> The main issue is how to differentiate between seeing a question and
> voting on it. How to display it? As two different files? And how to
> display information specific to a question? Into a sub-folder?
>
> And how to delegate? Put the question in a delegation folder inside
> the folder of the delegate?
>
> And how to classify? Move a question into a tag folder?

I have a hard time to grasp how most voters would work it out. I mean, it 
seems very unnatural, so it's also about how to make it obvious to those 
voters.

Have you any example of a LFS test example used in such a way, and being 
still practical? LISFS still seems in the research and experimentation 
side. And I still think this is going to narrow audience even more.

Sorry for being so dense, but this the only side I can really comment.

Regards,
--
Christophe GISQUET
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