AbiWord Weekly News #155, (2003, week 31, released 2003.08.03)

Welcome to this issue 155 of the AbiWord Weekly News.

Follow-ups:

      Now, 1.99.3 has been released and one of the OS X problems have been conquered.   Criawips trickie screenshot by popular-esk request.

This week in development

      In this week's episode, Nadav's relaunches a far more advanced version of the Open Text Summarizer, OTS: Stemming the Tide.   Dom releases 1.99.3 to the world, which is already available on Latest Releases page.   We learn that we cannot --enable-gnome due to header issues from GNOME 2.2.   Most interesting of all, Dom releases the AbiWord 2.2: TSWMRCAUSSWVLSD RoadMap.   Lots of discussion and a criawips screenshot waiting within.

Request for user assistance

      If you want an equally rich and powerful Windows release, we really, really could use some Windows developers.   A whole mess of people with even just an hour a week could help.   Of course, the "three with only two hours a week" model hasn't been helping!   We're desperate!   We'll take a line a day if there's enough of you!   Please help...please!   Doesn't a platform like yours deserve a chance?

      Windows users, your help is doubly requested*.   We would like to see more bug reports coming from the Windows crowd, so, if you're feeling more daring, please download and try out the Win32 binaries when they're available.   If you want some sweet functionality in AbiWord II: The Wrath of Dom, you will have to participate.   You could also consider joining Project Blue Ant.

Silliness of the Week

  Happy Anniversary, Me!
  Why thank you, Me; that's very sweet of you!
  You're welcome, Me....  Oh, and I got you something?
  Really!?   For me!?
  Yes, here!
  OMG!   A George Foreman USB iGrill.
  Nope!
  Huh?
  Look closer!
  What's that!?   No!   It can't be!
  Yup, I refitted it with a firewire adaption, so, you can cook your goose in half the time!
  You Bastard!   How will I ever be able to correct the software!?
  You don't have to!   I signed their NDA and did it for you!
  Sweet!
  Not really.
  Oh?
  They're violating SCO's intellectual property; I read many int main()'s, printf's and return (0); statements in there.
  Wow...look, it's a weasel in a three piece suit...you should run now.

      And now, for your drooling pleasure, the Criawips ScreenShot

      Final Note: Jan, do contact me.   Joss, don't contact me.

      Want to stop unjust things from happening in chat?   Join!   It's #abiword at irc.gimp.org

This Issue

      And remember, I give you an email address so you can talk to me, in case you're not on either mailing list.

In this issue:

• Discussion
• Development
• Bug Update
• Release HackDown

Editor(s) of this issue:  E. A. Zen

      If you're interested in using AbiWord for the first time, receiving a more up-to-date version, any particular version or special release, feel free to visit the new  Latest Releases page.

DISCLAIMER:  It should be generally noted that anything said before the "In this issue:" line is purely editorial.   Actually, everything I say is purely editorial.   You kind of get used to it.

Discussions

Traffic on the  developer mailing list has settled at about 200-400 postings per week.   This week, interesting topics on the developer list included:

1. 1.99.3 soon? ,
   ATTN: 1.99.3 tomorrow ,
   ATTN: tree closed for 1.99.3 ,
   ATTN: tree open ,
   "Updated" 1-99-3   and
   1.99.3 released! :   over a week ago, Martin wanted to release 1.99.3, and one week ago, Dom actuall did it, though, without a co-release with Jody (Gnumeric).   After the first sourcage, Marc found missing tags for wv, popt and psiconv, which had James Ogley (Lord High SuSE Builder) ask, "Where Have All the Plugins Gone?"   Shortly thereafter, everything was new was buildable again (^_^).   For those of you that somehow missed it, the Latest Releases page was updated (though somewhat late).   Additionally, despite rumours to the contrary, David Glassey has not replaced Daniel Glassey in the AbiWord Project.

2. GNU libiconv 1.9.1 :   In case you missed it, or you just need a reminder, Dom would really love a somewhat less antiquated version of GNU libiconv (link corrected).

3. ATTN: 2.2 roadmap :   Eons ago, an honest-to-bob roadmap was released detailing the development upto 2.0.   Now, Dom has created a new roadmap to take us to AbiWord 2.2: The Scene Where Martin Realises that the Crashed Application is the USS WV Library...the Ship of Dom.   That was just a bit laboured.   I don't think Dom likes the idea of wv crashing....   Anyhow, you might actually want to see the AbiWord 2.2: TSWMRCAUSSWVLSD* RoadMap.   Everything from layout restructuring, version management and there are some things a user might actually notice....

4. Commit: enchant work, 0.1.1 release :   Though not mind blowing in and of itself, it is worth to note that Dom intends to support Microsoft's Common Spell API.   "By ('supporting MS CSAPI'), I mean I'm interested in exporting Enchant's various functions via the CSAPI."   When that gets done, I think we'll see 0.2.0, but what do I know?   If you ever had the nickname "$20," you are not allowed to answer that.

5. problem buildling current cvs with --gnome   and
   Re: problem buildling current cvs with --gnome :   For GNOME lovers out there having issues enabling their gnome extended functionality, there appears to be issues with GNOME bits and bobs themselves.   Have a look at 118850 and 118851* to see if you're having these problems before reporting them to AbiLand.   Thank GNU, Mike Martin, for catching and a reporting this bug.

6. Open Text Summarizer - new file format translations. :   Compared to various AI's that do similar things, Nadav's summarisation technique verges on brute force, but there's something to be said about stemming, grouping(synonymns) and re-shivving(ripping out the old, adding a new) the parser.   People interested in advancing OTS's capabilities in their own language (read: translation) should download The New OTS File Format Tutorial.   Naturally, assisting OTS automatically ensures that you rock.

7. Why the strings are not updated in 2.0beta? :   Funda Wang asks a question that I believe might be in the twiki somewhere.   As seeing that there's been some translation to Chinese over time, I believe this is a case of not scripting po2string before committing.   Anyhow, if it's otherwise, believe it or not, if your language hasn't been updated (or doesn't exist) in AbiWord, feel free to fix it, so it can be committed, and everyone of your language can look at the credits file and go, "Gumbui, gumbui, neetoa <Your Name Here> desa ena CREDITS.TXT!"   Of course, depending on language, your mileage may vary.*

8. Open Text Summarizer - 0.4.0 released :   OTS: Stemming the Tide has been release, as promised.   To learn more about OTS, you read its project page, and to download it, you can, of course, head to its download page.

Traffic on the  user mailing list is sporadic at best.   Often, a good topic comes up, but users tend to only respond to the original poster rather than the list (as well), which limits what I would add, as the only lone threads I post are announcements of importance or points of great interest.   This week, interesting topics on the user list included:

1. Re: Installing TrueType Fonts   and
   reasons to stick with stable (was: Installing TrueType Fonts) :   Hub, maintainer of the 1.x series, states something that has been a long time coming: "BTW, as the STABLE (ie 1.0.x) branch maintainer, I recommend to jump to 1.99.x."   No, it's not an August Fool's Day Joke either; he really did say that.   This is practically a whole new thread from what the title of the original suggests.   Dom's primary goal for releasing 2.0, introduce no bugs not already present in 1.x, seems to have come into reach (unless you're on BeOS).   Dom goes into detail in the wrong list, including the three reasons to continue using 1.x.   So...What's stopping you?

2. Using 2 different versions of AbiWord :   Hanxue Lee asks a relatively common question regarding whether a person can install two different versions of Abi on the same system (Windows here).   The answer, in short, is yes.   For more details, read Alan's reply.

3. 1.99.3 missing abi_plugin_builtin.h :   Geoff was daring to test Frank's 40-day old -built-in option for the plugins.   Actually, Geoff seems to be unaware of its experimentality.   However, if Frank had taken the time usually reserved for ST:VOY reruns to put in some documentation, issues like this would be reduced ;o)   Elsewhere, there are some quickie notes here, there and elsewhere.   Geoff decided to forego the -built-in option and installed the plugins in the normal fashion and some fixes occurred.   Life is good.

4. Tables wish list. :   Greg Madden sends an RFE to the wrong place, but it is generously accepted by Martin.   It is also the first time I noticed that AbiWord II: The Wrath of Dom doesn't allow you to split cells.

5. Solved: Mac OS X AbiWord not showing file :   Ed Rush announces the solution to this li'l bugger in AbiWord.   If you have this problem, you may be using the 1.0.6 from May instead of from June (1.0.6-2).   If you don't have it, you can get it here.

Traffic outside of the AbiDomain is tracked and occasionally reported.   This weeks includes selection(s) from: FootNotes

1. Re: AbiWord Weekly News #154 :   CRIAWIPS!   I can't believe I didn't even mention this in 154.   Even worse, I actually asked Sven about the source of the name...12 hours before finding it out for myself...my bad!   Rightfully, he ignored me...li'l git.   If he wants to avoid putting a 'G' in the name, like GStringOfSlides, GSpotLight, GSlideOutOfYourPants or GShowUsYourBoobies, I don't think we can talk him into calling it an 'Abi'SomethingNaughty.   "Criawips" is properly pronounced as "teht-ees'."

2. Re: AbiWord Weekly News #154 :   Can OTS make into becoming a FreeDestkop.Org standard?   Derr, of course, but the real question here is, "How long until Red Hat includes it into their distro?"

3. Weird. Very weird :   You're right!   Lashing out at young projects is much better than giving them positive feedback!   Screw the open model of development where everyone starts off as equal!   "Let's leave innovation to the professionals."   Anyhow...more importantly, Dom defends his project in an extensive post (where he mildly seems pro-OTS).   The funny thing is, it's only just large enough to warrant a "read the rest of this comment..." link.   But really, read this if you haven't already.   And, as a personal note to the coward who considers me the grand embarrassment of the development reporting community, which I am but just for different reason:   Go wank off onto an electric fence!*

4. Re: AbiWord 1.99.3 released! :   Another no one in particular noticed that, for the most part, AbiWord's importing capabilities rock, except for OLE handling.   Back in the day, before Microsoft could afford to buy great idea, Object Linking and Embedding was a brilliant concept.   Unfortunately, it was executed and crufted over so bad, that not even Microsoft is quick to alter much in the way of its functionality.   In reality, the technique needs to be scrapped and replaced, but that a whole article, if not a freaking thesis, with freaking laser guns!

5. Presentation software? :   Sri catches the criawips notice in this release note.   Unfortunately for some speculators, criawips is not known to be "just some internal 'code-name'" no matter if you think it is "is really retarded name for anything that is not just some hobby project."   For more about renaming criawips, see this earlier discussion.

6. Re: AbiWord 1.99.3 released! (Improving all the time) :   What could I say that beats the conclusion of this message:   "If anyone tried the pre gtk2 version and was disappointed, they must try this one, its improved 100% 

7. Screw that :   I'm still working very hard to get the message of my Latest Releases page out there.   I'm just blown away that one of the most consistent links in the AWN is scrolled over ;o)   Alan started this...I should have seen it all coming!

8. Couple of problems :   Every release, we go through this, don't we?   Ok, average user, I got a question for you.   The best place for bug reporting when Abi compiles successfully is which of the following:
   A) FootNotes
   B) Developer Mailing List
   C) Bugzilla
     Now, I'm certain we all love knowing what going on, so, it can be fixed, and all these are great ways of being heard, but the correct answer is, in fact, C.   We thank you for all reports (positive and negative LISP(especially positive ones, or factually-based ones) ^_^ ), but keep the bugs under the bugzilla jar, so they maybe squished.

9. Re: AbiWord 1.99.3 released! :   Do you want to play with LibGDA?   Do ya?   Huh?   I bet you do!   Yes you do!   Dom explains the simplicity that will be brought to AbiWord though this powerful plugin, thank you and kudos to Rodrigo Moya and the LibGDA team.

Development

      Track who put in how much and why.   And, while you're at it, consider whether you'd like to keep your own cvs build as well.   Tables...ooh....

      Current pows are here. This will probably be replaced next week if not this very week.

Name:  More Windows Maintainers
Description:  Jordi and Jeremy could always use help
Advertisement:  Help free people from the oppression of MSWord today!
Recommended Outline:  You must become magical to know how to fix this.
Comments:  Wouldn't be a bad idea to start with the printing bug...
System:  Windows
Challenge level:  ****. 4 stars out of 5
Current Heros:  Jordi Mas, Jeremy Davis

Bug Update

Bug Market

      This week's activity: ResoUnconf +30 (33 : 3), VeriNew +19 (27 : 8), ClosAssi -1 (0 : 1),

      Staying somewhere between the predictions of Louis Bugkeyser, who suggested the markets would return to their old trends, and Alan Bluespan, who said that the growth would remain positive, only ClosedAssi went into the negative and only minorly.   In other news, an advanced AI was programmed to recognise how code is constructed over a long time.   When fed information on AbiWord of the past four years, it gave an unanticipated final extrapolation of what to expect in the next two years:   "I SHALL RULE ALL OF YOU, YOU PATHETIC BIOLOGICAL THINGS OF DISGUST!"   It is believed that the presence of KoRn music on a local P2P connection my have caused this problem.

      For information about how to view the chart, please read 142's Special Interest.

Bug Votes

      These are the week's Top 20 Bugs in the categories  problems and  requests for enhancements.   Influence next week's results by  casting your own votes.   Ah, another release, another change of what bugs are on the "Most Wanted" list.

      Back on the Bug Ranch, with 4031, Hebrew status line message is not displayed correctly, sudden return to the list, 1333, Inserting a word is O(n) in the number of words in the do, has been pushed off once again :o(

Release HackDown

      This is an AbiWord Weekly News original concept:  The Release Hackdown.   In the table below, you can watch what bugs are being fixed in preparation for the very next release.   Check the key at the bottom to understand formatting.

      No pressure, guys, I'm sure only 2000 or so people will be watching to see what you do weekly.   That breaks down to about 285 people daily and 12 people hourly, so, it's like being peeked at once every five minutes, literally.   "Isn't that veird!?"

Stable

      There is not stable tracker bug, so, I'm chopping it out until told otherwise.

Head

      On our way to two-point-oh, affectionately referred to as, AbiWord II: The Wrath of Dom.

      Windows Printing Bugs (3932) takes two more beatings, bringing the total down under ten!   A new bug was added to spelling bugs, notching up the yet-to-be-squashed by one, as well.

      See Announce: 2.0 release plan for more details on the intended route towards Abiword II: The Wrath of Dom.

Open Source, Open Books.

      Approximately once a month, don't hedge bets, I'll get this updated by asking (read: whining at) dom.   In the meantime, whenever you want to see how much is in and where it gets diverted, just peek down here.

      Word of caution, numbers lightly fudged due to (hopefully) temporarily incomplete data.   Like a consultant's suggested price, you'll find hidden meaning in the data if you stare long and hard.   Surgeon's General's Warning:  Staring long and hard may have psychotropic affects; keep out of reach of people who like that sort of thing.

      I cannot promise the time of de-fudging, nor can I promise there will be de-fudging any time soon. However, I feel confident that there will be some de-fudging going on.

Current Balance: $1604.34
Interest earned: $8.64

Expenditures: $950
$400 to pay for Martin's Boston Gnome Summit Trip
$400 to buy Andrew Dunbar a new computer
$ 60 to misc./entertainment expenses at GNOME summit, GUAD3C, other, paid out of dom's pocket
$225 Patch Prize (those already successfully awarded)
-   $ 45 Will Lachance
-   $ 45 Marc Maurer
-   $ 45 Ruud Vring
-   $ 45 Patrick Lam
-   $ 45 Dom Lachowicz

Unique contributors: 58*
paypal: 57
check :  3
cash  :  1
*58: plusse 3 repeat offenders whom we love dearly

Contributions: $2723.00
Less paypal and other banking fees: $115.00