[Kget] branches/work/make_kget_cool/kget

[Dario Massarin]

On Sunday 12 February 2006 21:11, Urs Wolfer wrote:
> I think we need a sidebar for powerusers. My idea: Create a "simple" and an
> "expert" mode. The simple version is like the old KGet with a very easy
> gui. The expert mode should have features for powerusers (e.g. sidebar with
> queues, groups, ...). It's only an idea. What do you think?

It could be a solution, but I'm not sure.

> I've searched for other download mangers to see what sidebars they have.
> Some inspirations:
> iGetter: http://www.igetter.net/images/iGetterX2.gif
> d4x: http://www.krasu.ru/soft/chuchelo/d4x1_big.png

Good.

I've already spent too much time implementing parts of the gui just to come to 
the end and say: "Oh nooo. That's not good.". So I'm completely convinced on 
the fact that BEFORE doing any coding we have to take some sheets of paper, a 
pen, and start drawing mocups and thinking all together about it.
I don't know if you guys read somewhere what "Paper prototyping" is. I've 
given it a glance some days ago and it's currently the only way, which is 
used by small and big companies, to come out with a good interface. 
Microsoft, for example, used it for its microsoft office 12. It consists in 
designing completely the gui on paper, and when I say completely I mean even 
toolbars (with its buttons) and menus. Once the prototype is ready, we can 
call our friends and ask them to perform certain tasks with that gui. They 
will tell us where they would click, what they would do, and this way we can 
understand what are the weaknesses and the strength points of it. At this 
time we can modify our prototype and start over again (it's an iterative 
approach), until the gui is exactly what we want.

I don't have any experience with this approach, but I want to go this way. We 
can have the best software architecture and the best code, but what really 
matters at the end is the user interface. Right? So let's spend lots on 
resources on designing it!

> BTW: It would be nice to have a meeting with all current KGet developers on
> IRC. Then we can easily discuss things like that.

Ok. For me it's ok. I don't think to have problems about the specific time 
when to meet. Just propose somethink you think is good for you.
Pino? Manolo?

Best regards,
	Dario