some comments on digiKam

[Martin Böhm]

Hello digiKam developers,

I have written down a few ideas about possible bugs/shortcomings in
digiKam. I would be delighted if you could read those and think a
minute or two about them. Feel free either to ignore me or to disagree
with me.

http://mhb.ath.cx/blog/kubuntu/digikams-ui/

On the other hand, I would try to help with some of the issues I
mentioned if you consider them bugs like I do.

Thank you for your work on digiKam!

Martin Böhm
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Hello,

I think you err in your most basec assumption: digiKam really isn't for
mythical "common user". Such person should probably use Gwenview, or
ShowImg or some other simpler application. digiKam is for advanced
phototographers. Some of us are professional photograhers, some works in
photo shops. For those persons some features of digiKam are even to
simplicistic.

Few comments to your text:

1) Vertical tabs: screenshots, practical examples of Dolphin? But we
need many, many information to properly judge photos and speed up
workflow
2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for KDE4, we
will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
3) Complexity: there were numerous discussions about that. Due to
technical issues we have choice: separate windows or no features
at all

m.

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[Gilles Caulier-4]

2007/9/13, Mikołaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:

Hello,

I think you err in your most basec assumption: digiKam really isn't for
mythical "common user". Such person should probably use Gwenview, or
ShowImg or some other simpler application. digiKam is for advanced
phototographers. Some of us are professional photograhers, some works in
photo shops. For those persons some features of digiKam are even to
simplicistic.

Few comments to your text:

1) Vertical tabs: screenshots, practical examples of Dolphin? But we
need many, many information to properly judge photos and speed up
workflow

And this way have been discuted in a past with users under B.K.O. I remember long thread on mailing list about this subject...
 

2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for KDE4, we
will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on

Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from toolsbar :

http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtoolsbar.png

3) Complexity: there were numerous discussions about that. Due to
technical issues we have choice: separate windows or no features
at all

And B.K.O is dedicaced for that. It's a real public area with an history where users can vote.

Gilles

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[Martin Böhm]

Thanks for your comments.

I do not think my assumptions are that wrong. Of course, digiKam is
quite a power user photo management tool and it should stay that way.
Removing features is not what I had in mind.

On the other hand, digiKam advertises itself as "the photo management
for the masses". When it comes to photo management, I am the Joe User.
 I tried to point out several areas where an improvement could be
handy "for the masses" like me.

I apologize for not knowing the lengthy threads in bugs.kde.org or
this mailing list. and for blogging instead of filing bugs. My usual
policy is "if devs do not think this is a bug, they will NOTABUG it
anyway. Better ask first."

M.

2007/9/13, Gilles Caulier <[hidden email]>:

>
>
> 2007/9/13, Mikołaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I think you err in your most basec assumption: digiKam really isn't for
> > mythical "common user". Such person should probably use Gwenview, or
> > ShowImg or some other simpler application. digiKam is for advanced
> > phototographers. Some of us are professional photograhers, some works in
> > photo shops. For those persons some features of digiKam are even to
> > simplicistic.
> >
> > Few comments to your text:
> >
> > 1) Vertical tabs: screenshots, practical examples of Dolphin? But we
> > need many, many information to properly judge photos and speed up
> > workflow
>
> And this way have been discuted in a past with users under B.K.O. I remember
> long thread on mailing list about this subject...
>
> > 2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for KDE4, we
> > will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
>
> Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from toolsbar :
>
> http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtoolsbar.png
>
> > 3) Complexity: there were numerous discussions about that. Due to
> > technical issues we have choice: separate windows or no features
> > at all
>
> And B.K.O is dedicaced for that. It's a real public area with an history
> where users can vote.
>
> Gilles
>
> _______________________________________________
> Digikam-devel mailing list
> [hidden email]
> https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-devel
>
>

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> > 2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for KDE4, we
> > will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
>
> Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from toolsbar :
>
> > http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtoolsbar.png

Is it default setting? Also I think some entries could be shorter, eg.
"Full Screen" instead of "Full Screen Mode" and "Album Properties", not
"Edit Album Properties". Similar review should be done for IE and LT.

m.

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[Gilles Caulier-4]

2007/9/13, Mikołaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:

> > 2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for KDE4, we
> > will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
>
> Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from toolsbar :
>
> > http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtoolsbar.png

Is it default setting?

??? just pop-up contextual menu of toolbar and use the right option (:=))) Settings is saved at end session of digiKam

This rule exist in _all_ KDE applications. I'm afraid to see than KDE users do not know this feature (:=)))
 

Also I think some entries could be shorter, eg.
"Full Screen" instead of "Full Screen Mode" and "Album Properties", not
"Edit Album Properties". Similar review should be done for IE and LT.

Text == buttons descriptions entries. It's simple to optimize (no need to be developper  to do it (:=)))...
 

Gilles

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Dnia piątek 14 wrzesień 2007, Gilles Caulier napisał:

> 2007/9/13, Mikołaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:
> > > > 2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for
> > > > KDE4,
> >
> > we
> >
> > > > will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
> > >
> > > Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from
> > > toolsbar
> >
> > http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtoolsbar.
> >png
> >
> > Is it default setting?
>
> ??? just pop-up contextual menu of toolbar and use the right option
> (:=))) Settings is saved at end session of digiKam
>
> This rule exist in _all_ KDE applications. I'm afraid to see than KDE
> users do not know this feature (:=)))

That is not the case :) In HIG for KDE4 text+icon is default option and
should be distributed with that setting. It is common for most users to
not change such thing and toolbar with t+i should be optimized with
this in mind.
>
> Text == buttons descriptions entries. It's simple to optimize (no need
> to be developper  to do it (:=)))...

OK. I will mark it to do when KDE4 will be stable enough for production
usage.

m.

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[Gilles Caulier-4]

2007/9/14, Mikolaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:

Dnia piątek 14 wrzesień 2007, Gilles Caulier napisał:

> 2007/9/13, Mikołaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:
> > > > 2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for
> > > > KDE4,
> >
> > we
> >
> > > > will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
> > >
> > > Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from
> > > toolsbar
> >
> > http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtoolsbar.
> >png
> >
> > Is it default setting?
>
> ??? just pop-up contextual menu of toolbar and use the right option
> (:=))) Settings is saved at end session of digiKam
>
> This rule exist in _all_ KDE applications. I'm afraid to see than KDE
> users do not know this feature (:=)))

That is not the case :) In HIG for KDE4 text+icon is default option and
should be distributed with that setting.

and from my vierwpoint, this is weird. This will bloat the gui with this default settings. Personally, i never use this way under KDE (and Win32 apps. too)
 

It is common for most users to
not change such thing and toolbar with t+i should be optimized with
this in mind.
>
> Text == buttons descriptions entries. It's simple to optimize (no need
> to be developper  to do it (:=)))...

OK. I will mark it to do when KDE4 will be stable enough for production
usage.

OK. We waiting your patch (:=)))

Gilles

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Dnia piątek 14 wrzesień 2007, Gilles Caulier napisał:

> 2007/9/14, Mikolaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:
> > Dnia piątek 14 wrzesień 2007, Gilles Caulier napisał:
> > > 2007/9/13, Mikołaj Machowski <[hidden email]>:
> > > > > > 2) Icons: OK, this is valid point but Icons+text is in HIG for
> > > > > > KDE4,
> > > >
> > > > we
> > > >
> > > > > > will get there when there will be stable KDE4 to work on
> > > > >
> > > > > Where is the problem. We can already use text under icons from
> > > > > toolsbar
> > > >
> > > > http://digikam3rdparty.free.fr/Screenshots/textundericonsfromtools
> > > >bar. png
> > > >
> > > > Is it default setting?
> > >
> > > ??? just pop-up contextual menu of toolbar and use the right option
> > > (:=))) Settings is saved at end session of digiKam
> > >
> > > This rule exist in _all_ KDE applications. I'm afraid to see than
> > > KDE users do not know this feature (:=)))
> >
> > That is not the case :) In HIG for KDE4 text+icon is default option
> > and should be distributed with that setting.
>
> and from my vierwpoint, this is weird. This will bloat the gui with this
> default settings. Personally, i never use this way under KDE (and Win32
> apps. too)

It has some merits:
a) buttons in toolbar are bigger and easier to hit
b) icon+text provide fastest recognition; important because KDE *has*
problems with similar icons (digiKam included)

m.

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[Marcel Wiesweg]

> > > This rule exist in _all_ KDE applications. I'm afraid to see than KDE
> > > users do not know this feature (:=)))
> >
> > That is not the case :) In HIG for KDE4 text+icon is default option and
> > should be distributed with that setting.
>
> and from my vierwpoint, this is weird. This will bloat the gui with this
> default settings. Personally, i never use this way under KDE (and Win32
> apps. too)

This was a very deliberate and well-thought decision to make text+icon default
for KDE4, I remember reading some blog entries about it.
Usability experts argue that text+icon is the good and they will have data
supporting it.
Making this the default will force us developers to rethink the action
descriptions, making them short and precise.
This means when finishing our KDE4 version, we will have to test with default
settings!
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