[Bug 301206] New: Wish: Improve KDE, be less obtrusive!

[Niels van Mourik]

https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=301206

            Bug ID: 301206
          Severity: wishlist
           Version: unspecified
          Priority: NOR
          Assignee: kdepim-bugs at kde.org
           Summary: Wish: Improve KDE, be less obtrusive!
    Classification: Unclassified
                OS: Linux
          Reporter: niels at shodan.nl
          Hardware: Other
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
         Component: general
           Product: Akonadi

Hi there,

As a wintered programmer the first thing - besides stating that I don't have
enough time myself - I would like to state is how much of a beautiful piece of
tech Akonadi actually is. It's architecture makes total sense, the system works
and came a very long way but is getting rock solid.

The point I would like to make to everybody is that Akonadi is a background
service that never facilitates users directly, it facilitates developers of
front-end implementations like Kmail and Korganizer. Although I'm not telling
any new here, where I do want to emphasize on is Akonadi's role in the user
interface of the average KDE user ("John Ko" :p).

The fact the project has a logo and is named generically "PIM services" in some
dialogues is good and there's nothing wrong with that. However, there are
several examples in it's design where we wouldn't want the user to be bothered
with things - most users - won't understand initially, let me give some
examples:

 - Not automatically going back to online mode after connection failure
(kmail).
 - Failed connection notifications, technical error messages that disturb
users.
 - Conflict notification that disturb users instead of forced automatic
conflict resolution.
 - Presence of the systray applet named "AkonadiTray", why no generic naming?
 - Any direct mentioning of "Akonadi" where users expect something they
understand.
 - Akonadi not automatically shutting down when it's not needed anymore, saving
resources.

Well I gave some examples and I do know and realize that many tickets created
probably try to mention them or users giving their irritation on it. My point
here is a little bit different though. Once we are at the point that the
average user never sees Akonadi or knows about its existence anymore we have
accomplished something very useful, a KDE experience that "just works " (TM)
with rock solid PIM service integration everywhere.

I genuinely think that getting more user expected behavior in the interface
bits will improve the product and thus the long-term satisfaction for the
limited resources behind Akonadi!

When I ever find the time I will try to work on bits like the ones mentioned!

Thanks a lot for listening to my plea!
Niels

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