Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!quintus!pds
From: pds@quintus.UUCP (Peter Schachte)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Workbench and object-oriented programming (was Re: Iconification)
Message-ID: <499@cresswell.quintus.UUCP>
Date: 30 Dec 87 01:29:42 GMT
References: <1076@sugar.UUCP> <2826@cbmvax.UUCP> <1103@sugar.UUCP> <1328@sugar.UUCP>
Organization: Quintus Computer Systems, Mountain View, CA
Lines: 39

> What you really want to do is write a tool called "print" that looks up
> "PRINTER" in the ToolTypes array and fires off the named program when
> you shift-double-click it. Then we want to beat C= into implementing the
> drop-an-icon-onto-a-tool method of firing off programs.

Sounds great!  Another thing that would be really useful is to have a
COPY tool that is invoked when someone drags an icon into a drawer.
This would be necessary for someone to bundle files into groups with a
single icon.  E.g., a text file and a backup version of it.

> THEN you want to get C= to allow you to snapshot icons onto the workbench, so
> they're automatically there when you boot up. THEN get them to allow you to
> drag windows off-screen so you can actually get to the workbench when you need
> to.

Snapshotting icons onto the screen would be really useful.  I'm not so
sure about (partially) off-screen windows.  It's not something I've
ever wanted.  If it's put in, it should be as an option.  What I would
find more useful is if icons were more like windows, in that windows
could be pushed behind them.  Could be confusing if you pushed a
directory window behind an icon, but, as an option, I would find it
very helpful.  Being able to iconify any window would also be helpful,
probably best of all.  I'm still (eagerly) waiting for this hack to show
up on comp.sources.amiga.

> The workbench is about 25% of a great tool. The more people ask stupid questions
> (not saying yours are, or that mine aren't) the more likely C= is to fix that
> sucker up.

Amen.  I hope 1.3 (or at least 1.4) fixes some of these shortcomings.
I know it's traditional for programmers to eschew icons and such for
development purposes, but I think many might be converted if the other
75% of the workbench were there.  It works as it is, but it really
needs LOTS more generality.

-- 
-Peter Schachte
pds@quintus.uucp
...!sun!quintus!pds