Re: [bug-myserver] Google Summer of Code '09 - GUI

[Karol \"Zal\" Zalewski]

Giuseppe Scrivano wrote:
> I would avoid to have two separate modes.  It should be easy enough for
> beginners and at the same time allow advanced users to do their job.

  OK!


>>   - it must work with configuration written in XML (only with it? what
>> about "control protocol"?),
> 
> Yes, it must work with configuration written in XML, but better add an
> abstraction level here, keeping all the XML related code in a
> class/package.  This will add the possibility later to use something
> different than XML.
> The control protocol offers few commands, the only one you need to
> really investigate is file transfer.  If a remote server want to be
> managed, then {myserver, virtualhosts, MIMEtypes}.xml are transferred
> locally, modified by the user and send back to the remote server.
> Shortly, any configuration session is based on these three files, it
> should be possible to choose exactly their path.

  Now I understand. Thanks for explaining that.


>>   - support for many languages,
> 
> do you mean localization?

  Yes, I mean localization or built-in support for it. If we have
documentation in different languages, it would be nice to do that. I
think that it is not a critical feature, but would be practical.


>>   Hmm... maybe it would be better to make web interface (security would
>> be a potential problem)? I think it will not be possible to make
>> **good** application (tested, without minor bugs) with all above
>> functionality in 12-13 weeks. Maybe I am wrong? Could we discuss that on
>> mailing list or is it "participants private problem"? :D
> 
> This is a subject that can be discussed on a public mailing list without
> problems :)

  Great!


> How we will develop the UI is the first decision to take.  Surely a web
> interface has many  benefits, first of all that there is need only of a
> browser to manage MyServer.  But in the case of a web interface, which
> language to use that can be portable on Windows too?
> 
> PHP|PYTHON -> you will have to install php|python before you can manage
>               the server.
> C/C++ -> for a web interface, it is like shooting at yourself.
> any other?
> 
> Another disadvantage with a web interface is that it requires a
> HTTP/HTTPS virtual host while in reality MyServer could be used only
> with FTP or any other protocol that can be implemented in future.

  I am a newbie in this topic, so I should ask more experienced
programmer about it, for ex. you - is it possible to use existing Python
code in code written in other language without modifications in that
Python code? If answer for that question is "yes", we will have more
options from we can choose.

  At the beginning we fought about standalone GUI application in Python
+ PyGTK. In what form we want to distribute it? As OS-dependent
executable binary? Or as script? If we choose that first form we can
also distribute it as CGI. If in that second form, we must also add
Python interpreter and... also use CGI. Am I right? Or maybe my idea is
"defective by design"? ;]

  Have we made silent assumption that it easier to find Python
interpreter on Linux than on Windows? :)

  More problematic is that what you wrote about HTTP and FTP. So there
is an option that in some cases MyServer would be acting as only FTP
server without web support? In that case I must agree with you -
standalone app with support for "control protocol" would be only one
truly correct solution for that problem.

  In conclusion - we stay on standalone app in Python? :D


> You are free to manage your time as you want.

  Thanks. As I wrote below - I have no more questions about work
organization.


> As I said you already, the only problem is that GSOC finishes at August
> so you will not be able to use your September time for the GSOC, but you
> can use this time to complete something missing or bug fixing (you will
> not desappear after GSOC, right? :)).

  Right! ;] I made mistake by putting "=" between this project and GSoC.


> The development done for GSOC should follow normal rules, it is better
> for us to follow you and it is better for you to be part of the
> development team.  Any design decision should be take here on the
> mailing list so other people can partecipate actively. 
> Live communication on IRC/Jabber can be done too keeping in mind that if
> important decisions are took there, the discussion must be moved here.
> Commits will be done directly to a branch on the MyServer SVN
> repository.

  Everything that is connected with work organization is now clear for
me :] I did not know where original project ends and GSoC starts. Now I
see that the main objective is *this* project - GSoC is only a background.

-- 
Regards,
Karol "Zal" Zalewski

WWW: www.4zal.net
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