Re: Gnumeric 1.7.11 for Windows?

["Pedro Lino" <plino cripsul ipimar pt>]

Hi again Jody

Just to clear where I stand: I'm not a brat shouting on a mailing list.
I'm someone who cares about Gnumeric and is trying to contribute to have a
stable, powerful Windows spreadsheet.

> What modifications or suggestions have we ignored ?
> I'll make another win32 release when it will fix problems.

This is just the proof that my messages are being ignored... Since the
1.7.6 installer you can not create a chart in Gnumeric (due to the problem
with the dislocated pixmaps). I think that creating charts is a pretty
important feature (at least in my work). Isn't that reason enough to
create a new win32 release?

I know you can move the files manually to the appropriate folder but this
is just for advanced users. Imagine a new user that downloads the 1.7.10
build for the first time (there is no warning on the Gnumeric homepage
that this is a development build) and tries to do something as simple as
adding a chart...

> 2) Welcome to open source.  My development window is on the commuter
>    train in the mornings and evenings and things take time.  Check
>    your irritation at the door.  As my grandmother taught me.
>     "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything"

I have been using and supporting open source projects for a long time
(years). I have said many nice things about Gnumeric but I think that I
don't need to start every email with compliments...

> 3) The priorities for win32 are
>       a) enable python
>       b) fix printing
>       c) create an installer
>       d) finish automating the build
>     in that order.

I would consider the first priority eliminating all bugs that cause the
program to crash and then add new features.

> NOTE : I intentionally released the 1.7.11 package in something the
>     average win32 user would not install, a tar.bz2.  Without an
>     installer it was not suitable for anyone that did not know how
>     to handle that non-standard format.  eg it did not update the
>     registry, or install shortcuts, or mime type handlers ...

That sounds reasonable. But you could warn the users (at least those in
the mailing list)

> Win32 is in better shape than before in that I can actually debug
> things finally.  However, there is some polish to be done before
> 1.8.0.

I agree that Gnumeric is improving with each version. That's why I
insisted on having the latest build to keep contributing!

Peace,
Pedro