[jsword-devel] Flexible layout

[Daniel Owens]

DM Smith wrote:
> There are a bunch of SWORD/JSword applications. Until very recently, 
> The SWORD Project for Windows and Bible Desktop (BD) were the only 
> ones available for Windows. Mac OS had BD and MacSword. On Linux, 
> there was BibleTime, GnomeSword (now renamed Xiphos) and BD. (This is 
> not to minimize AlKitab as it like BD runs on the same platforms.)
>
> This is changing. Xiphos now runs on Windows. Soon BibleTime will run 
> on Windows and Macs.
>
> In discussions on the sword-devel mailing list, we have noted that 
> these apps do pretty much the same thing, with some significant 
> feature differences. No one app has run away with the prize. There are 
> a variety of reasons, but I think the most common reason is that a 
> user's favorite app works the way that they want to approach scripture 
> reading and/or study.
>
> The current layout of BD assumes that the primary use is that of 
> reading the Bible. Our goal for Bible Desktop is to have a simple, 
> uncluttered interface, where the user can show/hide/adapt it to suit 
> their desires.  This is not quite full reality. We have had requests 
> to show/hide the right hand panel and to show/hide the built-in daily 
> reading plan.
>
> We have also had requests to make it a premier study tool complete 
> with deep linguistic analysis.
>
I have spoken up in favor of this, but I think what is below is more 
important.
> I think to make BD the killer application, we need to address both of 
> these ends of the spectrum.
>
> Here is where my head is at regarding this:
> 1) The user should be able to show/hide components of BD.
> 2) The user should be able to organize those components as they see 
> fit: side-by-side, tabbed, separate windows, ....
> 3) They shouldn't have to do it each time they start the application.
>
Yes. These are good priorities. Linguistic analysis is not a strength of 
SWORD in general yet, but once the gui itself reaches the above goals I 
would love to see complex linguistic searches possible.
> Today, for the Bible view, you either get a Multiple Document 
> Interface, aka MDI or a Tabbed Document Interface, TDI. I don't like 
> that dichotomy. And there is no Separate Document Interface, SDI, 
> where each BibleView gets its own top-level window. Sometimes I want 
> the tabs, but other times I want to see two tabs (out of several 
> more), side-by-side. There are times that I'd like to tear off a tab 
> and make it a separate standalone window. (And I imagine, I might want 
> to put it back.)
>
> The other thing is the notion of plugins. The idea here is that a 
> plugin would be independent from the main application and could be 
> added/removed and shown/hidden at will. Once added and shown, it could 
> be place as above. This probably will satisfy 1).
>
> It was noted that the NetBeans and Eclipse look and feel get in the 
> way. Largely, I agree. But, they provide these capabilities for free.
>
> This and solving the rendering problems that Peter noted are the two 
> strategic implementations I have for a 2.0 release.
>
> I'd like feedback.
>
> In Him,
>    DM
>
>
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