GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 129772
Add Warning about code-generation
Last modified: 2005-08-15 01:56:54 UTC
This patch (glade_codegeneration_warning.patch) adds a warning in the Options dialog so that beginners know that they should use libglade instead of code generation.
Created attachment 22612 [details] [review] glade2_codegeneration_warning.patch
This is documented at the top of the README and in the FAQ, so I don't really think we need to add it to the dialog. C code generation is fine for new users playing with small projects.
It's not fine. It's a massive problem leading to massive confusion among beginners. Various READMEs, FAQs, and repeated explanations in email archives are not fixing this problem. I see no disadvantage to apply this patch, and great advantage to applying the patch.
I disagree with this proposed patch: generating code may be innapropriate for serious C or C++ projects, but is completely appropriate for e.g. Ada projects. Arno
> generating code may be innapropriate for serious C or C++ projects, > but is completely appropriate for e.g. Ada projects. The patch adds the warning in 2 places - for C-code-generation options, and for code-generation in general. I am happy to rephrase the 2nd warning to mention C. Even for GtkAda, I suspect that code-generation has disadvantages compared to libglade, though it and C++-code-generation have some small advantages. But this is a warning only - I do not want to remove the feature precisely because code-generation is not so clearly useless with Ada and C++.
I don't really agree that its a 'massive problem leading to massive confusion'. It has rarely been mentioned on the glade-users or glade-devel list over the years, so it can't be that bad. Where are you hearing about the problem? On irc? Why is it a massive problem?
There are regular questions on the GTK+ and gtkmm and anjuta lists, among others, and several every day on irc. In general, all of these people have no idea that libglade exists. I think you know that Owen Taylor has the same experience: http://www.mail-archive.com/glade-devel@lists.ximian.com/msg00004.html However, I'm not asking to remove it (from glade-2) - just to add a little warning.
Damon, do you still think that it isn't a problem?
I think the problem has been exaggerated quite a bit. I would be interested in seeing what problems users are really having.
Well, just about everyone seems to believe that many beginners are very confused about code-generation versus libglade. This is not a radical opinion. The warning will not hurt anyone, while giving useful information.
I've added this note to the C options page: <b>Note:</b> for large applications the use of libglade is recommended.