AbiWord Weekly News #157, (2003, week 33, released 2003.08.17)

Welcome to this issue 157 of the AbiWord Weekly News.

Follow-ups:

      A re-summarisation of OTS within, and 1.99.4 released.

This week in development

      "Who is John Gaalt" is a pathetic question.   Try these:   "Where are the Release Candidates?"   "What do RTF and ABW have in common?"   "What virus was stashed inside AbiWord binaries?"   And, before you answer those, read my personal article on "Why Isn't Windows Ready for Me?"

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

      First, some not so silly stuff from the realm of the Open Text Summarizer.   There are currently two applications using the Open Text Summariser, and for action shots, you can view them: AbiWord's Open Text Summarizer GUI and the new Gnome Summarizer utility.   Additionally, in case you missed last week's mention, you can learn how the whole thing works here.   OTS has re-titled "How It Works" to "GPL Graph Grader Nadav b0rkedcode."   And, once again, for those that get confused by math-speak, here's a handy-dandy background/reference report.   Finally, and very nifty!, Nadav has informed me that the new term frequency grader (as mentioned in the CVS) may very well be ready by next week.   Naturally, this shall result in many coolness karma points in his direction.

      Carnival experience presents: Almost Amazing Factoids:   Though not usually mentioned, many rides have a maximum height limitation...which seems to be around six and one half feet.

      Now, how about a freakish and true story?   Here's one about a GNOME user who tried WindowsXP for the first time.

      Yons ago, I actually used Windows95, so I thought I would "get it" when it comes to WindowsXP.   My cousin accidentally had her menu shortcut to minesweeper moved to the desktop and couldn't get it back there.   My six months on the Millennium Edition gave me the bright idea to remove the auto-arrange on the desktop, move the icon over, then drag it to the menu.   This resulted in a NEW games subdirectory being created!   Ok, I can fix that.   So, I spend 3 minutes trying to figure out how to get to C:/.   Unexpectedly, file:/// actually works on Windows!   Unfortunately the "show hidden files" option is a, um, misfeature.   After going through directory after directory of trying to locate where that menu folder was (and hitting the "Show these files" option every new directory).   "Ok," I said, "I'll just see if I can find the editor in Control Panel."   Did I?   Yes, but it didn't have any actual editing options until I switched to "classic."   I succeeded in...making another minesweeper link in the same D*ed games folder.   I gave up on that REAL FAST.   So, next, I try to edit individual menu items from the menu itself.   Properties was a nice little joke; I wonder why it's really there (kind of like the "Quick View" of Windows 95.   No, actually, that had a point, if you read binary/hex.   But once the meaning of "explore" dawned on me, I finally got it...about 24 minutes since I began.   At this rate, Microsoft's Windows product line won't be ready for Joe User for another 5 years.   This is just further proof that the Closed Source revolution isn't going anywhere fast.

      I had other thoughts, but that's the only thing I could remember (and I know you'd all love to read that one).   I swear to root by it.

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. ATTN: Tree closed for 1.99.4 and
   ATTN: tree open :   As those who paid attention to The Final Release Calendar already know, 1.99.4 was released last week, with the first full set of binaries for Windows in the longest time (thanks to Mikey).   As schedule watchers already know, the first Release Candidate is already due out, so, keep on eye out for 2.0RC1!

2. fonts on Unix: where are they? :   And the number one reason not to hit the reply button for a new topic is...the editor might lose it somewhere.   Raphael Finkel is trying to figure out why two nearly identical machines use fonts completely differently.   Dom explains that the Unix environment, being the server nature it has always been, leaves all font management to FontConfig.   A small editing of the appropriate file later, and all's well in UnixLand (12 degrees North, 8 degrees west of Humorixia).

3. commit: GUADEC document now round-trips to RTF. :   Have you told Martin how cool he is, today?   Just for your benefit, the complexity of The GUADEC Document can be explained by Martin's final remark: "So now we have merged cells in nested tables sitting in merged cells imported and exported to RTF."

4. N.B. Microsoft Hidden Text, Oops bad (mentioned in Cryptogram) :   Some people just read Slashdot to have something to mention in chat.   Alan might be one of those people ;o)   Anyhow, two ideas are brought up.   The first asks, "What non-document data should (if any) AbiWord keep in a document?"   This being the like of the author, last edit, last revisions and so forth.   The second, Alan briefly ponders, "Could a 'scrubber' be made in wv or as a plugin for AbiWord?"   Refer to the previous CryptoGram.   This week, I learned Simon Byers is a git and a total one at that.

5. ATTN: Possible Virus in AbiWord.exe :   You know, when I come back from a night of fun, the first thing I like to read about is that Free Software is being compiled with viral programming (as opposed to just its usually viral license).   Mikey, the current WinBuilder was in one heck of a hot seat for a few hours.   So, what happened?   As Dom suggested, the virus scanner (The Solo Virus Scanner from SRN Micro in this case) was on crack.   The signature file will be corrected, so, please, DO NOT WIG!   On the subject of Virii, if you Windows users get a programme in the mail claiming to be from Norton as a trial viral software or that like, which really just wants to wipe out your hard drive, please zip it and send it my way (very clearly marked, btw, thank you).   This has been proving hard to catch, so, any help would be appreciated.

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. Debian Woody and 1.99.3 :   Jack Dodds is one of the most daring Linux Newbies I've ever met.   Since he didn't write in to complain, here's your Wood-around Worky.   First, consider Sid, their unstable branch, which contains many of the bits you'd probably want.   Second, if you're already all Woodied up, you should check GNOME's 2.2 links for Woody-specific packages to get all uptodate-y.   Third and most simple, use the command apt-get install unstable/abiword-gtk   For someone willing to use Alien, this might seem like the world's greatest idea.   Hats off to you, Jack, for becoming a virtual power user overnight.   Hey, Man, I need some sed scripts if you've got time... ;o)

2. abiword-user@abisource.com ,
   ebuild abiword-1.99.4? and
   Re: ebuild abiword-1.99.4? :   Ebuilds are great...as long as nothing ever changes!   Today, Walt Shekrota learns about unmasking a Portage package and crossing his fingers.   The real question is, "Why is Mark 'not in a position to commit at the moment?' "   I mean, outside of romance....

3. bidi :   RedHat users wanting to use the 1.1.x and later AbiWord versions should take note:   Copies of packages Red Hat does not support but are needed to have AbiWord are made available in the Latest Release Page.   Also, please note that though I do maintain the Latest Releases Page (maintain being used really loosely here; it's more like notice it every once in a while), these packages are updated, built and distributed by the vigilant efforts Rui Miguel Silva Seabra, whose time is greatly appreciated by many.

4. Abiword and Libranet :   This may really be just like Debian Woody and 1.99.3, so, I'm currently hoping the same answer will work out.   The real purpose of this thread is to yell at mhatta, the abidebian maintainer, in hopes of getting some some uptodate Abi-on-Debian information.   The developers have been spared my presence on IRC for awhile, so, I might not get the chance to kvetch at him, ASCII to ASCII.

5. Outlining :   Ted Parks learns what makes Open Source fun.   After finding out that, though there is no utility in AbiWord to manage Outlining, there is an RFE awaiting help on the subject, he suggests he'd really like to help out.   Stephen pops in with the right answers at the right time, "One way to start would be adding a commment [sic.] to the RFE in Bugzilla.   All help (ideas, testing, developing, documentation) is much appreciated."

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 +37 (38 : 1), VeriNew +9 (17 : 8), ClosAssi -2 (0 : 2),

      ResoUnconf seems lower, but is concentrated on more difficult bugs; more interestingly, VeriNew has jumped back into the positive, while ClosedAssi makes a micro (and unexpected) dip into the negative.   Louis Bugkeyser suggested that I go stuff myself and Alan Bluespan, for the first time in a long time, concurred with Louis Bugkeyser.

      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.

      A couple of older bugs popped off some even older bugs, but I see more people wanting Open Office / OASIS more than there are people working on it.   Volunteers?

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.

      One bug gouged from 3064, [TRACKER] AbiWord Performance, but also one new but to 5232, [META] Win32 Blocker bugs for 2.0 Release.   Other than that, it's been a quite week (not really...).

      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