Re: detach thread

[alanr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dan Pilone wrote:
> Previously written in blue crayon:
>  > At the request of Bharat and Alan (Harder), I'm forwarding this
>  > information about the KDE "Hot-Sync" manager to the list.  Note that
>  > the email address below is incorrect.  Direct inquires to
>  > pilone@xxxxxxxxx  I have no idea if Dan Pilone (the author of Kpilot) is
>  > aware of the existence of PilotManager.  He has not announced his Kpilot
>  > effort to the pilot-unix list.  I've CC'ed him for good measure.
> 
>      Hello.  First let me clear a few things up.  I am _slightly_
> aware of PilotManager, in that I have heard it exists.  Beyond that,
> I don't know much.  As for not sending an announcement to the pilot
> unix list, I actually have tried.  Twice.  Neither of my posts
> appeared.  I BCC'ed myself from both, and received the copies, and
> never received any form of error from the listserv, however, have yet
> to see anything I've ever sent pilot-unix show up anywhere, nor have I 
> ever received any email from that list.
> 
>  > I know nothing about this that you won't know if you read the web page.
> 
>      The web page lacks vital information, I agree.  That will be
> corrected.  I wrote this for two reasons:  1) I wanted to write
> something for KDE using the QT widget set, and 2) Up until present had 
> no syncing software for unix.  The release version does not do partial 
> backups or allow editing of the data backed up, however the soon to be 
> released 1.1 version does.  I do not mean to step on anyone's toes and 
> hope that I haven't caused any problems on the unix list.  I have not
> been following the discussions there, as stated before none of the
> mail seems to make it to me.
>      I do intend to check out PilotManager, but I also intend to
> continue on KPilot.  Both for personal reasons (I enjoy developing
> this and have a lot left I want to put in) and because I think the KDE 
> community generally seems to appreciate it.  I have had requests to
> port it to gtk and GNOME, to which I haven't committed.
>      I don't know everyone listed above in the CC line, but figured 
> if they made it on the original copy of this mailing they should see
> the followups.  I feel very much like I've walked in halfway through
> some discussion, so if someone could clue me in I'd be appreciative.
> Thanks -- Dan
> 
> pilone@xxxxxxxx


Dan,

My apologies on dropping you in on the middle of a conversation.  See if this
helps.

Here's what was going on that led to my dropping you mail.  There is a thought
that some set of people may decide to create a new PilotManager in Java (or
port the existing one).  I had just heard about your effort a few days ago -
through which I heard of KDE which I had never heard of before either.

So, someone suggested that a mechanism be added to PilotManager whereby Java
sync plugins could be added to PilotManager.  To which I added a comment,
something like "by all means, make them compatible with the Java port of
PilotManager because otherwise this will make three incompatible UNIX-based
programs to do the same thing".  This led to the leaders of the PilotManager
effort to ask me "What's the third one", to which I wrote the reply I copied
you to.  Personally, I have no toes to be stepped on in this matter, but do
lament the dilution of effort, because I'd like a fully functional tool with
more people working on it than seems likely to occur with three different
groups doing independent, uncoordinated things.

On the other hand, the right tool with the right conceptual basis with the
right leadership can bring more people to come and play.  So, it has the
potential to be an improvement over the current situation in PilotManager, in
which much of the work is being done by two (dedicated and skilled) people. 
This is not intended in any way as a criticism of the current PilotManager
release or developers who have done a great job on PilotManager so far.  They
even wrote two sync conduits (and one desktop application) not available on the
PC.

Since KDE is an integrated development environment which has a single set of 
Address book and PIM tools, syncing with it would be easier than syncing with
20 different UNIX tools that various people use on various platforms.  So, in
that respect, it has potential that a tool for a broader audience (any UNIX,
any desktop) might have more difficulty fulfilling.

The point of making everyone aware of all the things going on is to encourage
synergy and cooperation.  I suspect my mail came across as more whiney about
the current situation than encouraging of synergy.

My apologies for any confusion or offense which my mail may have caused you. 
My apologies to Bharat and Alan Harder if something in this mail offends them.

	-- Alan Robertson
	   alanr@xxxxxxxxxx
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