ImpDev Meetups/2009-12-29

Summary
ImpDev Meetup for December 29, 2009.


 * Armin has been trying to solve some Pango issues on Linux.
 * Jacek thinks it might be easier to use system libraries, instead of distributing libraries for the Linux version.
 * Armin says we need to distribute GTK at least, because llmozlib only works with the version of GTK it is compiled with.
 * If/when we change to Snowglobe's media plugin system, we could get rid of llmozlib, and then maybe we wouldn't have to distribute any libs.
 * Jacek wants to do a test release this week so people can test that the 1.23 merge hasn't broken anything. No new features, just regression testing.
 * Jacek says it looks good on Linux32 and Mac already. McCabe says it seems good for him on Windows.
 * Armin can prepare a Linux64 version for testing too.
 * Once the test release it done, we'll start merging in new features.
 * For object backup, Jacek wants to make sure that Imprudence still supports the old XML format, even after we have merged in HPA (hierarchical prim archive).
 * People may have tools that use the old format, plus they need to be able to reimport things they have already exported.
 * The old code has been removed in the HPA branch, but it will have to be added back in.
 * Jacek thinks we should do smaller, more frequent releases, to stay active in people's minds. Armin and McCabe agree.
 * McCabe reminded us that we still need to set up an update notification system. Jacek has a PHP script for the server, but hasn't set it up yet.
 * Armin wondered about the client list (for nametag coloring). Jacek says she put it online, but apparently forgot to tell Armin. (Client list XML)
 * Jacek thinks we should hold a skin contest to create a new viewer skin for Imprudence. Armin and McCabe like the idea.
 * k\o\w (Fabulous Hax) was working on a grayish skin for Meerkat, a modified verison of the Dazzle/Silver skin. It's in the MK repository.
 * Armin thinks we should add a new Imprudence preference panel, like how other viewers do, to fit preferences for new features.
 * Eventually we would implement a more modular/decentralized preferences system, but until then we need a place to add preferences so that users can find them.
 * k\o\w would like to add the Emerald preference tab for the Emerald features.
 * Jacek is reluctant about having Imprudence or Emerald tabs. She thinks it smells like a bad solution. But she says to go ahead with it as a temporary solution.
 * Armin says there is some problem with Imprudence not finding or loading the settings.xml file correctly, at least on Linux.
 * The correct file it should be loading is user_settings/settings_imprudence.xml. Maybe that broke during the 1.23 merge.

Links

 * - Use pango for text rendering
 * Client list XML