Re: Re: Release plans for the GUI

[Oz Nahum Tiram]

> Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 09:52:05 -0300
> From: J?lio Hoffimann <address@hidden>
> To: Jacob Dawid <address@hidden>
> Cc: Octave Maintainers List <address@hidden>
> Subject: Re: Release plans for the GUI
> Message-ID:
>        <address@hidden>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hi all,
>
> I would like to share my modest opinion on Octave GUI development. It's
> amazing to have an official GUI, we hope this way Octave can reach more
> people, particularly undergraduate courses.
>
> What i think:
>
> 1) 90% Octave users are Linux users. (please correct me if i'm wrong)
> 2) Canonical made easy for every student to have a GNU/Linux operating
> system installed and working in dual boot.
> 3) Octave works on Windows, a GUI is not strictly necessary.
>
> 1+2+3 => To implement a feature in a way is not good just to reach other
> platforms is not a good paradigm, if there aren't experienced Windows
> developers working in Octave, we can't waste time by making this to work
> ourselves. It's so much easy for a end-user to install Ubuntu in dual boot
> and download Octave GUI from repositories than make it to work well on
> Windows.
>
> If people is caring about a GUI, they can install Linux. If not, they just
> still running their scripts on the console. Seems radical, maybe it is, it's
> just my pragmatic(superficial) vision on the project.
>
> Regards,
> J?lio.
>
> P.S.: Jacob is nice to see you again. :-)
>


Hi Everyone,
Although I am not an active developer, I do use octave heavily, and I'd like to
get more involved. That is why I read the list daily...

Anyway, I think Julio said what I wanted to say, but didn't dare to.

I feel that Octave has no so much resources to waste on porting to a
non-*NIX like OS.

I'd like to see a GUI, and I'd like to see more features, BEFORE I'd
like to see a windows
port ...

And I think that this is important to make alternative application
which is GOOD, before it
is Cross Platform. After all many people stick to Windows because
there is "no alternative"
for some applications (in their minds ...).
There are many Mathematical Software packages for windows, and not so
many FOSS and
for Linux ... Make octave better, and people will find the way to use
it. Most modern (5 years>)
can easily run a Virtual Machine or a Live CD.

About 3 years ago, I wrote to JWE about my desire to build a live CD
demonstarting Octave.
If needed, I am suggesting again myself to help build a live CD with
octave, which could be easily
downloaded from the Octave website.

Cheers,

Oz