[Gossip-dev] 0.11 Feedback

[Martyn Russell]

On Thu, 2006-05-11 at 13:43 +0200, foser wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-05-11 at 13:22 +0200, Richard Hult wrote:
> > That's not a solution, that's like adding more RAM instead of fixing
> > leaks or optimizing memory usage when running of out memory.
> 
> No, it's another approach to the same problem, it's out of the box
> thinking.

It might be another approach but that doesn't mean it is a good
solution.  

I agree with a lot of the things said, but frankly saying "Solution: do
it the same ways as the other GNOME apps" just doesn't cut it.

The problem is that Gossip's use of tabs is by no means regular. As
Micke has already pointed out, using tabs in the same fashion as other
applications is like trying to use a round peg in a square hole, it
doesn't fit.

The problem as Micke clearly puts it is the width and unlike other tab
based applications we don't have that luxury.

My views are: 

        * Having 'x' on EVERY tab is a waste of space.
        
        * Having 'x' at the end of the tab is ok, but lacks teeth.
        
        * Having 'x' show when hovering over it is not very intuitive.
        
        * Having a < and > to scroll tabs (like GEdit) doesn't work very
        well because you won't see important tab information like new
        message icons and presence information; it would be better off
        having a separate window.
        
I like being able to just close a tab at any time without click on it
first (i.e. a one click solution), but you have to ask what is more
important, the space/aesthetics or the slight usability issue of an
extra click?

My crack pot ideas:

        * Have a GtkTreeView in the chat window (which can be toggled)
        for a list of people you are talking to so you can easily select
        one and the width of the window is not an issue then. The list
        could be a bunch of people you have spoken to today (or in this
        session). This might be weird with the group chat contact list
        though.
        
        * Use the main contact list to toggle chat tabs and show some
        sort of message icon to show you have a chat window open
        somewhere with that contact.
        
        * Show the tabs from top to bottom (on the left or right)?
        
        * Multiple rows for tabs.
        
        * Use a toolbar with the emote icon, send and close buttons on
        (this means you need to select a tab before closing it though,
        which sounds reasonable to me, I don't mind the extra click).

Suggestions welcome.

-- 
Regards,
Martyn