Re: [orca-list] Page presentation issues

[Daniel Dalton <d dalton iinet net au>]

On Fri, 16 May 2008, Hermann wrote:

> > > Would writing the navigation functions for orca in c help? (Is python
> > > causing the slowness?) Or is it not related to that?
> >
> > It would increase performance to some extent, but slow down development a lot.
> > Python code, in general, is much shorter than the corresponding C code,
> > less prone to bugs (e.g., memory allocation problems) and quicker to develop.
>
> I'm no programmer, but I've read statements telling the exact opposit.

How so?

> > Let's state it this way: the Orca developers aren't going to rewrite the
> > Firefox support in C, and they are right in not doing so. This discussion has
> > been held before on the mailing list; perhaps consulting the archive would
> > help if you are interested.
>
> Rewriting Orca's code in C would not affect Firefox only, it would mean
> redeveloping the whole stuff.

Yes, but why can't some modules be in C?
Take cPickle as an example.

> But from my experience with Windows screen readers I think a program
> written in C or C++ is much faster; scripting is used for the fine tuning.

Yes, so why can't some modules be in C?

> But I agree that this are yesterday's decissions, and a real comparism
> only could be made if a competetive solution would exist, completely

Well, ok, but I agree with Jason, I don't think anyone would and don't 
think it is worth rewriting orca for such a small change.
Perhaps small parts of it that were easy, but I think firefox support is 
really coming along, so I can't complain.

> > > Which is better than the windows buffering I think I have seen in internet
> > > explorer.
> > > (I hardly ever use windows so that is why I didn't notice the speed thing)
> >
> > I don't notice any performance problems in Firefox.
>
> But I do, and I would suggest trying out Windows more extensively before
> judging.

Well I don't have windows as such.
And no need to, I use linux full time...

> > > > > Is there any hope of implementing a links list dialog?
> > > >
> > > > I think the majority of the community rejects such suggestions.
> > >
> > > Why not a hotkey to put the links into a list view or whatever so you can
> > > down arrow through links (same with forms, and perhaps objects) but when
> > > these lists are not active show the page as it looks. (Like it is shown
> > > now.) (Don't invent this buffering stuff)
> >
> > This sort of manipulation is best implemented as a Firefox extension so that
> > it can be used regardless of what screen reader happens to be operative, and
> > can also be used by people who aren't accessing Firefox with a screen reader,
> > but who may find a list of links, a list of headings, etc., helpful.
>
> Sorry, but I don't see why this is needed. To read the screen is the job of
> a screen reader, and why should one install such extensions to do a
> job that one program can do?

So everyone can use the add on, not just screenreader users since it is a 
useful thing.

> And BTW.: It is no solution for FF3, since these extensions become
> incompatible after every new step of development. I used this extension for

They should be easily resynced though.

--
Daniel Dalton

http://members.iinet.net.au/~ddalton/
<d dalton iinet net au>