[Lazarus] Suggestion: Remove GTK1 support from IDE and LCL.

[Mattias Gaertner]

On Sat, 15 May 2010 16:32:33 +0200
Krisztián Nagy <nkrisztian89 at gmail.com> wrote:

> First some facts:
> I've checked some popular distros about supported gtk+ version.
> Moving to 2.12 means supporting
> Debian: back to 5.0 Lenny released 2009/02/15 - 15 months ago (see
> http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=debian)
> Ubuntu: back to 7.10 Gutsy released 2007/10/18 - 31 months ago (see
> ...=ubuntu)
> Fedora: back to 8 (werewolf) released 2007/11/08 - 30 months ago (see
> ...=fedora)
> openSUSE: back to 10.3 released 2007/10/04 - 31 months ago (see ...=suse)
> Mandriva: back to 2008 released 2007/10/09 - 31 months ago (see
> ...=mandriva)
> 
> While the current state (supporting 2.6) means supporting
> Debian: 2005/06/06
> Ubuntu: 2005/04/08
> Fedora: 2005/06/13
> openSUSE: 2005/04/15
> Mandriva: 2005/04/14
> 
> To summarize, now Lazarus supports systems being up to 5 years old, while
> changing to 2.12 would mean supporting < 2.5 years old
> systems, except for debian, which in fact is a widely used distro (AFAIK)
> but it's 2007 release only supports gtk+ 2.8.20.
> So much for the facts.

Wow. Nice list.

 
> For my opinion, I think such decision requires sufficient knowledge
> regarding the users of lazarus, how many users do we have running different
> systems, and what are their opinion or requests.
> I know in open source users are also developers and that this list is also
> open for users (as in fact I am also a user and not developer) but are there
> any information available based on which we could make such decision? If not
> shouldn't we gather it? (by making a platform for it, for example having a
> "start page" showing up first time you run lazarus with links urging users
> to share their thoughts and information (register) (and other useful links)
> like many other IDE has, or creating polls or anything (just ideas).
> 
> Sorry if I said something irrelevant or stupid, I'm relatively new to this
> list. Just trying to share my ideas.

Yes, this is welcome.

Let's summarize:
Some features require a higher gtk version. Solutions:
a) do not use the new feature
b) enclose the new feature in IFDEFs and enable it by default
c) enclose the new feature in IFDEFs and disable it by default
d) use feature without IFDEF
e) use dynamic linking and check for the version. Maybe add an IFDEF to
support static linking.

Obviously a is not wanted.
Apparently b, c and d does not work for all. The decision between
b, c and d depends on your gathered facts.
And there is e.

First look at the feature, check if e is not possible, then we can
discuss b,c,d.


Mattias