Currently, the most talked about and criticized development project is the 4th major version released by the KDE team – KDE4. It is an ambitious open-source project which focuses on providing a new and unique desktop experience combined with fun.
Though KDE4 omits features of its previous versions; it is much more powerful and has more potential than critics have expressed. After their challenging comments, I felt compelled to scrutinize some aspects of the same. On that note, as part of my blog; I've listed my findings on FolderView component.
· Inability to see long file names (since most songs, videos, C++/C/Python files in my hdd have long names).
· Easy navigation (through key board) to the desired files in the FolderView Widget when number of files goes beyond a single snapshot view.
· Inability to control the opacity of the Widget.
· Expand/Collapse feature to keep the Widget minimized on the Desktop to save space and view them when wanted.
· Having different types of view options (Detailed, List, Icon) would be nicer.
· A built in search to find the files within the Widget when the number of files goes way beyond the view.
· Option to adjust opacity on certain part of the container (I can make it look solid on the Title bar and transparent for the rest so that I don't have to strain my eyes to look the folder name on the title bar through the wallpaper).
Conclusion
Overall; I like the FolderView widget and the idea of Icon-less desktop through sets of plasmoids. Kudos to the KDE development team for the component - a must have widget in the default collection.
This project is evolving and the future looks promising. But as most visions go, this too will take its own course and its evolution will happen eventually. Now that the basic desktop is ready, the developers will be focusing on each part of the DE and iron out the issues in the forth coming releases. My suggestion is to keep patience and support the team for its astonishing and monumental effort.
Please watch the below event web cast to know the vision and the road map of KDE project from its lead developer.
KDE 4.0 Release Event Video - Aaron Seigo
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6642148224800885420
2 comments:
Hi,
most of the points addressed are planned.
oh and for searching you can try the filter option in the applet settings.
I hope they wont leave out single-users who can compile on their own.
I dislike repetitive "use your distribution" replies as "answer" to problems. When an "advanced" user comes and tells specifically he has a problem with compiling from source, he should be taken serious. Time is not so much a problem, as he can resolve most problems quickly on his own (googling is easy) anyway.
= Full important stop =
Other than that I guess for people who use binaries, they will have less problems either way - since their distribution will take care of it.
I used to say compiling all of gnome is very very hard compared to KDE. And compiling KDE 3.x is nice and easy.
Let's see how the next KDE 4.x will turn out.
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