KDE Commit-Digest for 5th October 2008

In this week's KDE Commit-Digest: Support for image file previews in the "FolderView" Plasmoid, which are enabled by default. Kross support for making comic providers using scripting languages in the "Comic" Plasma applet. First fully-working version of the QEdje script engine for Plasma is moved into kdereview, then into kdebase. More progress in the "Weather" Plasmoid, more integration of D-Bus in PowerDevil. A more accessible configuration option to enable "show my bookmarks" as the start page in Konqueror. Initial implementation of session management in Konsole. Support for editing multiple languages at the same time with the scripting API of Lokalize. First version of an Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) generator for Okular. A collection of new data plugins in Kst. Configuration support for thumbnail cache options in Gwenview. Support for playing music during a slideshow in kipi-plugins (used by Digikam, etc). Preliminary support for the PIMO concept in NEPOMUK (a key idea of the framework). More refinements to the search bar in Kate. First parts of a "partly-usable" Media Devices applet in Amarok 2. "Ink" receiving support, and the ability to preview file transfers for the WLM protocol in Kopete. More work on a "cost breakdown" view in KPlato. Work on improving the handling of lists in the "TextShape" of KOffice. A draft of a TCP-based real-time syncing model in Okteta. Optimisations in KDevelop and KHTML. Removal of the wizard in Parley. Kapman moves from playground/games to kdereview. Initial import of KJots rewrite, with plans to port to Akonadi, NEPOMUK, and Plasma. Read the rest of the Digest here.

Dot Categories: 

Comments

Interesting, thanks for the link. Never heard of it and right now I am having a bag of trouble with Flash on Firefox (it crashes my systeem after a few minutes of viewing videos) so if that really works then I will finally have a good reason to switch to Konqueror.

> Why is nspluginviewer so unstable?

Generally[1]: because the close-sourced flash plugin likes crashing with it. Why? It's impossible to know. Doing anything with flash is basically an exercise in trial-and-error. Why does npplayer work better? I can't answer either; my guess is because it's a Gtk application, and not a Qt one, so it works more like Mozilla in some subtle way.

[1] Though it's possible to break it by doing things like using Qt3 version of gtk-Qt style.

Is the flash-plug-in a Qt application? Are Gtk apps more stable than their Qt counterparts and why?

My guess is that flash crashes because it's closed source and we can't see the bugs. Konqueror as a KDE Qt-application is definitely more stable than the Gtk-Fox but I use the Fox because I like it more as a browser and it's much faster than Konqueror.

The Linux version of Flash uses GTK.

Thanks, so actually is't Gtk that's weak link and not Qt ;)

The problem is not the toolkit used, the problem is the fact that the Flash plug-in is closed source and Adobe offers near zero documentation on how it interfaces with the Netscape plug-in API. So right now there's a blackbox Flash plug-in which is only ensured to work with Firefox, while any other browsers supporting the Netscape plug-in API (not only Konqueror but also Opera and the webkit based ones) need to catch up by trial and error, looking which obscure usage of XEmbed or the likes makes a newer version of Adobe Flash crash everywhere except in Firefox.

It's very shameless of Adobe in this context to claim of having "open sourced" the Flash/SWF format while continuing offering its implementation as closed source only.

Actually I have to disagree with your claim that Flash doesn't crash on Firefox. Right now I am having a hell of a time trying to view a 5 minutes long flash video on Firefox without getting a crash. The problem is that it not only brings down Firefox but my whole system! I get a "no signal" on my monitor and a dead keyboard. This is a nightmare, believe me. Even Opera and Konqueror manage to play a longer Flash video on my machine than Firefox. Although I am not sure if it's the Intel GMA chip to be blamed or Adobe.

In a protected environment such as a unix system, it should be impossible for any user process to crash the system. So basically, you're hitting a driver or hardware bug (probably the former).

That's what I was always told and to be frank, I never experienced something like this since I am using Linux. What's killing me is that I don't know where the problem really is. I was wondering if it's a hardware flaw/defect but if that were the case then the video card shouldn't be working at all. Then I thought that the problem lies with openSuse 11 so I installed KUbuntu and later openSuse 11.1 Beta 4 but I ended up getting the same results after using the flash-plugin.
I filed a bug report at openSuse but it's closed due to a lack of response so it seems like I am the only one having such problem.
I was told to adjust the xorg.conf file by adding the EXA line but that actually made matters worst so I had to reverse the changes.
What I have noticed however is that it takes longer to crash if I am not using compositing.
If it's a driver problem then how can I get it solved?

Newer Adope Falsh plug-ins offer "hardware acceleration" and that seems to be enabled by default, maybe that crashes it for you?

I came a step further Anon. It wasn't openSuse, it wasn't Plasma, KDE or Gnome to be blamed. It wasn't even the flash plug-in nor the Intel GMA. The problem was the CPU. The CPU was overheating due to one of the fan pins that wasn't proberly tightened. The technician did the necessary adjustments and now it looks like everthing is OK.
I would still like to say thanks for all the suggestions and help :)

I see, glad you found and fixed that. =) I find it quite telling though that apparently running a Flash plugin is the most processing intensive activity you seem to have on your system in case you really didn't notice that overheating effect anywhere else.

For whatever reason, sites I usually go to all have working flash for me. I run trunk, but I guess my flash version is a bit old. When you make bug reports, give your flash version.

Sites that don't have working flash are the ones that get bugreported. ;)

For whatever reason, sites I usually go to all have working flash for me. I run trunk, but I guess my flash version is a bit old. When you make bug reports, give your flash version.

Sites that don't have working flash are the ones that get bugreported. ;)

For whatever reason, sites I usually go to all have working flash for me. I run trunk, but I guess my flash version is a bit old. When you make bug reports, give your flash version.

Sites that don't have working flash are the ones that get bugreported. ;)

For whatever reason, sites I usually go to all have working flash for me. I run trunk, but I guess my flash version is a bit old. When you make bug reports, give your flash version.

Sites that don't have working flash are the ones that get bugreported. ;)

by Grósz Dániel (not verified)

Related to the problem of not being able to use KDE because of the need of Windows:
We can hear much about compiling KDE apps (but not the DE) for Windows with Qt/Windows. Is it currently possible to compile KDE including Plasma, KWin, etc. for Windows using Qt/X11 on CygWin and running it in an X server on Windows? With *nix-specific features removed it could be possible.

by alex (not verified)

No, cygwin is not supported.
At least I know nobody who tried, and I also think it doesn't make a lot of sense, since you can run the stuff natively.

Alex

by Grósz Dániel (not verified)

"you can run the stuff natively"

If you run it natively, you have to use the lame Windows window manager, a crap compared to KWin.

by Bobby (not verified)

I agree with you 100%. I tried KDE on Windows XP a few weeks ago (out of curiosity) and I also think that it doesn't make any sense if I can't use all the components of KDE (on top of the Windows Kernel) so that I can enjoy all the goodness of KWin and Plasma. That would really breath some life in the aged Windows instead of pouring new wine into an old bottle.

by slacker (not verified)

Actually, I believe the best way of using windows apps _IS_ pouring new Wine into the old unix bottle...

by T. J. Brumfield (not verified)

I saw on the Planet someone working on porting Plasma to Windows. From what I recall Aaron said he wouldn't do it himself, but he wouldn't stop anyone else from doing it.

by Aaron Seigo (not verified)

that is correct; some people have even gotten the Plasma desktop shell working as a Windows shell replacement.

by Sebastian (not verified)

It is possible to run many applications natively. I tried the packages a few weeks ago.

BUT: ...!

KDE was adjusted for use with UNIX-like systems. You may see that you can not access any harddrive except C:\, you will see that "My Computer" of MS Windows is not accessible. There is no support for Windows file "links" (which are special files on Windows)

That speaking: KWrite/Kate do really work good as long as you edit a file on C:\
The others applications can start, but do not create any benefit.

by Morty (not verified)

Then the packages you tried must have been broken, or something wrong in your installation.

I just tested and had no problem opening a file from a non c:\ location and saving it to a networked drive also not c:\. I also get access to stuff like My Documents, My Recent Documnets, Desktop and whatever else you usually get in a windows file dialog.

by debianuser (not verified)

So what's the PIMO concept?

by dkite (not verified)

http://www.semanticdesktop.org/ontologies/2007/11/01/pimo/

Personal Information Model (PIMO)

Derek (found it by looking at the code diff)

by dkite (not verified)

This is starting to get interesting, essentially PIMO is the class structures for keeping track of what you do, where you are, who you are, the tasks that you are working on.

A file could be tagged with all that.

Neat.

Derek (read the link above. All preliminary of course)

by yman (not verified)

"keeping track of what you do, where you are, who you are, the tasks that you are working on."

Scary.

by dkite (not verified)

Maybe if it is public.

But I keep a diary of all those things during my work day.

The other day I was working on a spreadsheet, referring to a group of web pages and emailing a contact, all to do with a particular project. The work continues, and will over the next 6 months. In addition to the handwritten notes, drawings etc. All this stuff has in common one word that describes the project.

It would be very nice to have available a history of everything to do with the project, an easy way to see each discrete element of that history, so that when I sit down next time I don't have to collect the disparate bits all over again.

To have the whole thing automatically be tracked if I do it in a plasma activity, and readily available when I open that activity would be extremely useful.

PIMO only describes the categories of data that can potentially be stored. How it gets there and in what detail, available to whom are other issues entirely.

Derek

by Jordi (not verified)

PIMO is your personal vision of the world.
You have a Think called YYY who happens to be a person and to have a email address whatever@whoknows.

This is your vision of the world regarding YYY

by neaghi (not verified)

hello..I wrote many times about same thing..In yahoo protocol kopete don't display buddy icons, don't work file transfers and don't work webcam no send no receive..I upgrade to 4.1.3 in hope to change something but all is the same...Could tell me somebody if is in plan to repair this defects?or kopete team consider this is normal...all the best!

by neaghi (not verified)

I must to say, I see it's a lot of work for things who I don't use, even worse..I don't know at least what it's is this things..and some basics who everybody see and use,like buddy icons, file transfers, webcam..nobody care..what to talk about another feature like audio..

by Jordi (not verified)

I don't use yahoo protocol so I just don't care
Anyway I remember I used it some time ago and the webcam was working perfectly.

by Anon (not verified)

Have you filed bug reports?

by neaghi (not verified)

no, I don't filled because I consider is a basic things who everybody see, including devs-people...it's not an extra feature or something.And for those who don't care about, maybe for they is good enouh a text IM, but in my country is most used yahoo..all my friends have acccounts on it, and for us is a progres to see us, to hear, and this is a progres not a regres..In this moment every people I try to switch from Widowz to linux, stop when I tell her " for moment in linux dont't exist capability of audio-video in yahoo..." If somebody want to make a change, want something better not worse..or the big majority don't understand the background advantage of linux..and don't care about..im my country most people have Win and programs cracked..so is not a matter of money..:P..In this context missing feature like what I say it's not understandable...and , yes in 3.5 kopete work fine..Anyway if kopete or pidgin..who is faster.:) .implemented audio and video..beside buddy icons&so..I see a great movement from Win to Linux..for big majority..till then people stay with XP and fight with viruses, trojans..& co..So if community is interest to grow home-users not only specialists, must to fullfill needs of them...
ok example..my friend get drunk last night and want to show this everybody ...or buy a new car..:)..what is most quick? send a pic to everybody from list or put a picture in avatar?Or...my friend don't know english and see an eror message on the screen..I ask him to tell what write here..and he give me the web and i see with my eyes...or write by hand a couple of rows..and posibility to wrong is big enough...and some examples can continue..

by Anon (not verified)

"no, I don't filled because I consider is a basic things who everybody see, including devs-people."

Well, that's where you're wrong - what if none of the devs personally use Yahoo? What if they're too busy work on some other protocol to test to see if Yahoo still works?

I'm reminded of the time when everyone was complaining about the fact that Digg was clearly broken in Khtml, and no one actually bothered to report it because it was so "obviously" broken. What they didn't realise, of course, is that none of the Khtml devs (quite sensibly) ever visit Digg! :)

by blauzahl (not verified)

Hint: Developers will notice more quickly if you file bug reports.

If they look like common issues, as these do, they are likely already filed but not recently updated. Several months ago BugSquad did actually go through all the kopete bugs, but not all items could be checked because some required a particular videocamera or something. Lots of things were fixed... Not all.

Check that you're using the latest version, and then look for an open bugreport and comment on it that you still have the same issue, AND give what version number you are using.

Odds are that someone will look at it again. Incidentally, kopete is in need of developers, so if anyone out there is interested, #kopete and bug reports await you. ;)

And I guess I'll try yahoo some. Other things that can be an issue for developers: you have to have someone to actually talk to! If everyone you know is on a different service, you have won't run into problems on some as easily, since you aren't using it.

by Simon (not verified)

File transfer works for me (0.60.1 on KDE 4.1.1). No buddy icons but I don't care about that. I don't have a webcam.

by Laura (not verified)

For yahoo i am using Gyachi 1.51, is working great. Yahoo procotocol on Kopete really sucks.

by Vide (not verified)

This link

http://dot.kde.org/issues/2008-09-28/#2

doesn't work, it gives a 404

by Danny Allen (not verified)

Fixed, thanks.

Danny

by bumbl (not verified)

It should be 5th November instead of 5th October

by Anon (not verified)

No, it's correct. Danny built a little backlog to catch up on again.

by Danny Allen (not verified)

No, it is correct.
I've been busy (and still am!) with other stuff.

Danny

by Thorsten Schnebeck (not verified)

It looks like kdenlive is nearly ready to release its first stable KDE 4 version. As many users are shouting: "KDE4... ok, but where are the native apps?", this is one of the big apps and maybe worth a special look:
http://www.kdenlive.org/

Bye

Thorsten

by Mark Hannessen (not verified)

Looks like a project i'll have to keep my eye on.
Thanks for the suggestion ;)

by T. J. Brumfield (not verified)

I tried using the KDE 3 version, but it would not capture any video where as Kino worked immediately. I normally look for KDE/GTK apps first to fill my needs, but fighting with Kdenlive for a day, I could not get it to work.

by Thomas (not verified)

I have not heard anything from k3b in a while. Seems a bit stalled...
Will we have to stick with the kde3 version of k3b?
digikam for kde4 is getting along nicely though (the other still-kde3 app I use frequently)

by Bobby (not verified)

I am also forced to use the KDE 3 version of K3b because I can't even burn .iso images with the KDE version. Don't know what's going on. I might file a bug report or something.