[Scim-devel] Proposal: unified input method/keyboard layout switching support for kde4

[LiuCougar]

On 12/12/06, Zhe Su <james.su at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>   Following is my opinion on this issue:
>
>   Input method is some kind of lowlevel system service, all
> applications need it. So I think there should be a lower level generic
> input method framework which doesn't depends on any higher level
> windowing system, widget library or desktop environment.
>   Such kind of input method framework should have flexibility to
> support any kind of applications, any kind of GUI components which are
> based on different widget library, as well as any kind of existing
> input method engine systems, such as IIIMF, SCIM, UIM, M17N, etc.
>   Such kind of input method framework should be able to work with xkb
> or even replace xkb, so that we can deal with input method and
> keyboard issue in an unified way.
Sounds great

>   All applications and desktop environments can get benefit from such
> kind of input method framework, not only KDE4.
>   In such way, the only thing for desktop environments, such as
> KDE/GNOME, is to develop their own GUI components to make use of the
> low level input method framework.
>
>   That's what we (many input method experts from CJK) are working on,
> which is called IMBUS (Input Method BUS, inspired from D-BUS) project.
>   This project is still on very preliminary stage, so we still didn't
> announce it publicly. However, I'm working hard on it and the progress
> is impressive. Hope we can release the first prototype in middle of
> this year.
this year? you mean next year, here, right?
Will the API for this IMBUS published before that? As kde4 will
probably get out middle next year, I'd like to make sure that
something is included in kde4 which can then be ported to use IMBUS

>   After this new framework is mature enough, I'll port SCIM on top of it.
>
> Regards
> James Su
>
> On 12/12/06, LiuCougar <liucougar at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi All,
> > I am the author of skim (SCIM for KDE, an input method which supports
> > more than 30 languages, see http://www.scim-im.org ).
> >
> > I'd like to propose that KDE4 includes a similar app (let's name it
> > KDEINPUT for now) in its basic package (maybe kdebase?) which provides
> > not only an input method platform, but also multi-keyboard layout
> > switching capacity (and handwriting recognition in future).
> >
> > The current skim has a plugin framework: all UI elements are in its
> > own plugin (see screen shots here for a review of available UI
> > elements here: http://www.scim-im.org/galleries/skim_screenshots )
> >
> > but it does depend on SCIM: the core of skim is linked against libscim.
> >
> > I think in KDE4, the core of KDEINPUT should not depend on SCIM, it
> > just provides a framework which provides kde applications (and other
> > none-kde apps via dbus interface) these features:
> > 1. specify which keyboard layout to use. likely use case: a typing
> > practise app can switch the keyboard layout to the current practicing
> > layout specified in the app, without user switching that manually
> > 2. to activate an input method (in chinese version of microsoft
> > office, when you open word, chinese input method will automatically
> > activated)
> >
> > in future, this framework can also provide writing/voice recognition
> > as input means.
> > (some of these may be more appropriate to be placed under kdelibs, or no?)
> >
> > plugins can be written for KDEINPUT to provide the actual support.
> > Under linux, plugins to interact with SCIM can be implemented to
> > support input methods, while keyboard layout switching can be
> > implemented using some X command (or API, I can not remember exactly,
> > as I do not use any keyboard layouts other than US one). Under
> > windows, a plugin to interface the windows input methods/keyboard
> > configuration API can be made. I assume a similar case under Mac OS.
> >
> > What do you think?
> >
> > If it is agreed that something like this should be included in KDE 4,
> > I'd like to work with kxkb developers (given they share the same view
> > and would like to collaborate) and make this happen.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Cougar
> > --
> > http://www.liucougar.net
> > 生于忧患，死于安乐
> > "People's characters are strengthened through struggle against
> > difficulties; they are weakened by comfort."
> > - Old Chinese adage
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-- 
http://www.liucougar.net
生于忧患，死于安乐
"People's characters are strengthened through struggle against
difficulties; they are weakened by comfort."
- Old Chinese adage