mailing-list for TeXmacs Users

[Henri Lesourd <address@hidden>]

> I think that the focus of the TeXmacs-project should be on improving
> the essential functionality of TeXmacs instead of adding new (major)
> functions, like the graphical mode.

In fact, the graphical functionality **should** be considered as
something that belongs to the essential functionality of TeXmacs. The
fact that it appears relatively late in the history of TeXmacs doesn't
change this.

> It is impossible to compete with purposebuilt applications such as
> Xfig or (the non-free) Illustrator on "their turf".

In general, I think that the really important thing is to succeed in
finding your own way, not to compare yourself with others ; but as far
as Xfig is concerned, of course I --must-- disagree with you : it is in
fact quite realistic to say that **today**, we are already successfully
competing on their very turf ! ;-)

> Such new functions only have some justification if they can in some
> way enhance the existing program e.g. via resizing/place graphics with
> the mouse.
> I fully understand that TeXmacs is dependent on volunteers, and that
> it is often more exciting to work on "new fancy things"

This could become a real problem, I see your point. But it should be
noted that the development of a new mode for graphics in TeXmacs brings
us more insight, and thus leads us closer to exactly the kind of
enhancements you discuss, namely, resizing/moving objets with the mouse.
For example, in a not too far future, it could lead us to new features
for resizing non-graphical objects (like tables, for example), directly
with the mouse.

> , but if TeXmacs should ever be a mature, widely used program, someone
> has to do the boring stuff too.

On the one hand, you are right. But on the other hand, the "boring"
stuff is often the stuff that is difficult to do because we lack support
for a more fundamental feature. In such a case, we must develop the
fundamental future first, and thus we discover that a seemingly simple
task will in fact take quite a long time to be achieved. This is a
little bit the case with the graphics in TeXmacs : it probably turns a
lot of "boring stuff" into something feasible (and even fun) to do.