suggestion about themability

[Olaf Grüttner <o gruettner tu-bs de>]

Another suggestion in the field of themes. 
I thought about the unix strength to "separate and rule". Like with
mutt using an external editor, an external mail sending program and
external programs to view attachments. 

So far when you install a theme, you install background, window decor
and ??widget color??

Why not have several theming stages !!!

Stage 1 part: background (one picture, e.g. tux, together with,
konqui, freebsd daemon, helix ape, ...)
Stage 1 part: audio for general applications (new mail, closing
window, save session...)
Stage 1 part: different borders for different windows (xterm,
gnumeric, gedit...)
...
Stage 1: all included e.g. backgrounds, audio, border settings,
colors...

Stage 2 part: panel configuration (big icons, panels on all four
edges, certain apps are preset (if available) 3 panels are autohidden)
Stage 2 part: gnome configuration settings (language, icons placement,
default editor, ...)
Stage 2 part: window manager settings (3 virtual screens, kill window
with C-A-k, iconify with C-A-i,...)
Stage 2 part: Shortcut settings (C-Q for exiting will be C-V or
Esc...) 
...

Stage 2: all of the above: panel, gnome configuration and window
manager settings ...

Stage 3: both Stages 1 and 2 are completely included. The theme will
serve as a reference. 


Stage 4 part: icons (changing the foot, gnumeric icons, abiword
icons...)
Stage 4 part: sounds (special sounds for gnumeric, xterm closing,
gnome-icu message...)
Stage 4 part: splash windows (corporate icon instead of helix sundown,
an helix ape instead of blue abiword ant...)
Stage 4 part: different user interface (no mouse, only some sounds, no
network programs visible in foot menue, corporate foot menue, special
session properties preset...)

Stage 4: all of above: Stages 1,2 and 3 are completly included and
defined


I have the opinion, that every part of a stage (or theme level if this
word fits better) can be developed separately. One likes to take
pictures for backgrounds, another one likes to flush the toilet for
some kewl xterm closing sounds ... . They can develop and create art
indepently. If they leave out things, a fallback (maybe compiled into
the gnome-system or default theme) will take over.

Tell me what you think of my idea.

Olaf