Le 26/03/2019 à 03:22, Uwe Stöhr a écrit :
Am 11.02.2019 um 06:10 schrieb Richard Kimberly Heck:
Yes, we decided no longer to offer a bundled installer. That was a
decision we made as a group.
My point of view is: A group of non-Windows developers (at least not on
a daily basis) and with lots of background knowledge made a decision
what is good for Windows users that are no developers and have no
background knowledge.
Exactly. My algorithm is simple: I look at what people actually complain
about, and I see whether I can do something about it (personally, I do
not have solution to all problems). What is yours?
Last week I spent quite a few hours trying to hunt down performance
issues on windows, installing profilers, trying to convince visual
studio to build with debug information, rewriting my own profiling
helper, and fixin the issue. I do not ask for a cookie in exchange. I
just do not want to have to apologize for being only an academic for
which time does not really matter (after all the state pays me even if I
do not do anything, right?).
Now that this is off my chest, a few more technical points.
The main competitor for free writing software is LibreOffice and for
this you don't reed in advance, just click a few times in the installer
you you get a ready to use program and can focus on learning the program
itself rather than to learn how it works in its background.
What is wrong with Libreoffice? I use it myself, it depends on what I
am doing.
I mean when LyX was founded the goal was to hide LaTeX - to avoid that
users need to learn that much before they can start writing.
It still does that, but not in the absolutist way. We are not pretending
that LaTeX does not exist, we are giving a hand to make it easier to use.
Have you had a look at the download statistics? Does LyX got more
downloads than before or less? That is what counts, not what we
developers like or not. Yes, providing a user-friendly installer is
stress but when I want to get users I cannot just do what pleases me as
developer the most.
Do you have statistic you are hiding from us, or is this just words? The
fact is that we have close to no idea of who is using LyX and on which OS.
But that is my main problem with LyX - the development focus on
developers needs, not on the needs of average users. Average users don't
need a dozen more expert features every release but a better workflow
allowing them to write more in shorter time, to collaborate with
colleagues, good and up-to date documentation etc.
I got the feeling that most core LyX developers are working at
universities and institutes while the majority of users have business
jobs where time matters. When you have to deliver a documentation of a
device, a SOP for your colleagues, a project report etc. you don't have
time to fiddle around with packages but must be ready within the time
frame your boss defined. One could work everywhere as long as one
understands that the vast majority of persons writing texts are no
computer specialists. LyX drifted in my experience bit by bit towards
pleasing at first users with computer background knowledge instead of
thinking what average users needs and how more users can be attracted.
Developers preferably put in what they need personally.
I am speechless. I do not know in what fantasy world would people take
on their own time to do only the precise things important people need
because these do not have time to waste on mundane tasks. Do you re-read
what you write?
JMarc
PS: do we have to have this same discussion every 6 months?
