Development Work Towards GIMP 2.8 Solidifies

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Development Work Towards GIMP 2.8 Solidifies

The developers behind the popular GIMP graphics application have announced the first development release in the road towards GIMP 2.8.0. GIMP 2.7.0 is this first development release and it brings a horde of changes and improvements...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=NzQ1OA

[loonyphoenix]

"As is showed" -> "As is shown"

[unimatrix]

"GIMP 2.8 is set to introduce many user-interface improvements"

Single-window mode maybe?

[nanonyme]

Single-window mode maybe?You wish. I don't think the developers are going to go for it. :/

[unimatrix]

You wish. I don't think the developers are going to go for it. :/

Yeah, they're making sure GIMP always stays a second-grade image editor.

[mirv]

I'd rather the choice between single window mode, and multi-window mode. I do have a reason for multi-window sometimes, so don't get rid of it, just also allow single window.

[benmoran]

I agree mirv. The multi window mode is useful when i'm multitasking.

[Remco]

Just what use cases are there for a single window?



Gimp utility windows don't show up in the task bar (on Windows and GNOME at least).
Gimp utility windows are on top of the image windows, but don't obscure the image because:
Your image is not constrained to the image window, you can scroll beyond the borders.
When you select an image from the task bar, all utility windows will show up too.


But utility windows have at least two advantages:



Implicit multi-monitor support.
Multitasking is more like Mac OS X: your panels stay in the same place, but work on the current image. It's document-centric.

So, why would you want a single window?

[nanonyme]

Just what use cases are there for a single window?It doesn't look like a confusing mess? ;)

[unimatrix]

It doesn't look like a confusing mess? ;)

Exactly, it makes a mess on the desktop. To make things worse I usually need Gimp when I'm doing something, meaning that lots of windows will already be open. It's very easy to lose Gimp's windows, and you'll spend lots of unnecessary time clicking around the desktop to get to them. It's simply annoying.

[Remco]

Exactly, it makes a mess on the desktop. To make things worse I usually need Gimp when I'm doing something, meaning that lots of windows will already be open. It's very easy to lose Gimp's windows, and you'll spend lots of unnecessary time clicking around the desktop to get to them. It's simply annoying.
How can you lose windows that are On Top? As soon as you select an image window, the utility windows will pop up with it.

[unimatrix]

How can you lose windows that are On Top? As soon as you select an image window, the utility windows will pop up with it.

If I waste 2 seconds doing that it pisses me off, because I know I wouldn't need to if they'd just give me an option to put the damn thing in one window.

[Remco]

If I waste 2 seconds doing that it pisses me off, because I know I wouldn't need to if they'd just give me an option to put the damn thing in one window.
The only thing you do is Alt-Tab to the image you want to edit, and you're all set. You would have to do this in a single window setup too. There is no difference between utility windows and a single window from a user interaction perspective.

[unimatrix]

The only thing you do is Alt-Tab to the image you want to edit, and you're all set. You would have to do this in a single window setup too. There is no difference between utility windows and a single window from a user interaction perspective.

Yes you need to alt-tab through 3 different windows, usually selecting the wrong one and yet again wasting precious time.

Multiple windows may be a good idea in theory, but in practice it's just horrible.

[Remco]

Yes you need to alt-tab through 3 different windows, usually selecting the wrong one and yet again wasting precious time.
Then your window manager doesn't differentiate between application windows and utility windows. Try Metacity or Windows. Metacity will only let you choose normal application windows with Alt-Tab. To select a utility window (or a panel, dock, or the desktop), you can use Ctrl-Alt-Tab.

[unimatrix]

Then your window manager doesn't differentiate between application windows and utility windows. Try Metacity or Windows. Metacity will only let you choose normal application windows with Alt-Tab. To select a utility window (or a panel, dock, or the desktop), you can use Ctrl-Alt-Tab.

Even if this sort of workaround would make things any less messy, I am not seriously going to switch my window manager just because one program desperately wants to stand out as lesser software. I'd rather Wine Photoshop or something.

[liam]

Even if this sort of workaround would make things any less messy, I am not seriously going to switch my window manager just because one program desperately wants to stand out as lesser software. I'd rather Wine Photoshop or something.

GIMP doesn't default to using utility windows for the tools. You can set this in edit -> preferences -> window manager and change the hints to utility window. Also, you can merge the two utility windows into one by dragging each tab into the other window.

Best,
Liam

[Remco]

Well, I need Gimp. It's a fine piece of software which lets me do the things I need to do for my job. It has a lot of filters and some nice editing tools. It's about 700 dollars cheaper than Photoshop. So no, I'm not going to Wine Photoshop.

[KDesk]

But it is not hard to do it in one window! Many people want one window, maybe the majority, but the arrogant deaf developers don't do it!

They should just give the option to do it.

[LostinSpacetime]

Even if this sort of workaround would make things any less messy, I am not seriously going to switch my window manager just because one program desperately wants to stand out as lesser software. I'd rather Wine Photoshop or something.

U are probably using Compiz, which is configured by default to show utility windows while Alt+Tab and scale, but it's really easy to change that within the configuration manager.

I also had problems with the multi window character of Gimp. But after they changed the tools window type to utility and compiz learned to deal with it (ther where no problems with metacity from the beginning) I have exactly 0 problems. But of course it took a little additional time to loose my original antipathy. :D

[V!NCENT]

Yeah, they're making sure GIMP always stays a second-grade image editor.
Lol are you kidding me? The reason Photoshop is in one window in Windows (not in Mac OS X) is because the Windows WM is a total joke. But if you really want GIMP in one window then use GIMPshop -> http://www.gimpshop.com/

[rvdboom]

It doesn't work with KWin either. I'm using Gimp 2.6 and the tools are supposed to be utility windows, but they do not popup in front if I bring the image in front, do not disappear if the main windows doesn't have the focus and are not lowered when I lower the main window (this is really annoying). This is the only software I have this issue with : openoffice, scribus, etc. don't have this problem.
Here's some Kwin dev take on it :
The layer order of utility windows is not specified at all in the standards therefore there is no "standardized behaviour" at all and each and every window manager is doing the right thing in that regard."
Basically, it looks like window manager implement specific quirks for Gimp to work as expected and the KWin devs are reluctant to do it, which I understand.

I don't have anything against multi-windows, but it would be nice if this was fiwed somehow.

[Yfrwlf]

U are probably using Compiz, which is configured by default to show utility windows while Alt+Tab and scale, but it's really easy to change that within the configuration manager.

I also had problems with the multi window character of Gimp. But after they changed the tools window type to utility and compiz learned to deal with it (ther where no problems with metacity from the beginning) I have exactly 0 problems. But of course it took a little additional time to loose my original antipathy. :D

It'd be great to see the definitions of "utility" windows and "main" windows become a desktop standard so that this issue would be ironed out in all window managers. However, I still definitely think that having a single window option would be a great and needed option for Gimp. Not only does it give those used to that setup a break, but it is one way that some users like to "remove" their desktop clutter. A single window plasters over your background image, icons, and other windows, making it easy to see and focus on what you're working on. That is part of the nature of the aesthetics of the single window and it's really a matter of preference, so again, here's hoping that some developer(s) will give users that option. ^^

[mirza]

Can you imagine, say, OpenOffice with document window in the middle and dozen of utility windows flying around? Or Firefox? Eclipse? Thats insane. People usually have lots of icons on desktop and background image of their dog, thats mess already. Open Gimp on top of that and what you get is chaos. Yeah, I can change my desktop to single-color just because of Gimp, remove all distracting icons from desktop just because of Gimp, change my Compiz settings just because of Gimp... sure thing!

[unix_epoch]

Exactly, it makes a mess on the desktop. To make things worse I usually need Gimp when I'm doing something, meaning that lots of windows will already be open. It's very easy to lose Gimp's windows, and you'll spend lots of unnecessary time clicking around the desktop to get to them. It's simply annoying.

Try using virtual desktops. I put Firefox for e-mail and news on desktop 1; Eclipse, vim+terminal, and firefox for documentation on desktop 2, Gimp on desktop 3, and foobar2000 on desktop 4. Virtual desktops are effectively a single-window interface if you want them to be, they don't sacrifice the advantages of a multi-window interface (such as control over where the tool windows go, even across monitors), and you can switch between them using hot keys just like windows on the same desktop (ctrl-F1-F4 or ctrl-alt-left/right).

Or, better yet, learn how to make an MDI application with Gtk+, add an SDI/MDI option to the Gimp, and get the (sometimes overly stubborn) developers to accept your patch.

[KDesk]

Lol are you kidding me? The reason Photoshop is in one window in Windows (not in Mac OS X) is because the Windows WM is a total joke. But if you really want GIMP in one window then use GIMPshop -> http://www.gimpshop.com/

Are you kidding? The newest version GIMPshop is more three years old! Based on GIMP 2.2.

[V!NCENT]

Are you kidding? The newest version GIMPshop is more three years old! Based on GIMP 2.2.
Ah, I'm sorry. Here is the new alternative http://www.gimphoto.com/

[Wyatt]

Ah, I'm sorry. Here is the new alternative http://www.gimphoto.com/
"Based on GIMP 2.4.3" :rolleyes:

[V!NCENT]

"Based on GIMP 2.4.3" :rolleyes:
Go to DOWNLOADS -> Linux -> "update: 28 May 2009
new info: for Ubuntu 9.04 users or any Linux distro that using GIMP 2.6 as their default, run GimPhoto from /usr/local/gimphoto/gimphoto.sh
(don't run it from /usr/local/gimphoto/bin/gimphoto)"

[Wyatt]

Go to DOWNLOADS -> Linux -> "update: 28 May 2009
new info: for Ubuntu 9.04 users or any Linux distro that using GIMP 2.6 as their default, run GimPhoto from /usr/local/gimphoto/gimphoto.sh
(don't run it from /usr/local/gimphoto/bin/gimphoto)"

Unfortunately, right underneath that it reads:
"(warnings: sorry but GimPhoto for Linux still CAN'T do MDI UI like PS yet, this because GTK+ can't do MDI and i'm still searching workaround to do MDI under Linux)"

Also, I'm not seeing anything that says he merges changes from upstream. That he mentions a specific GIMP version is more indicative that this is not the case; 28 May would more likely refer to the latest release of his modified branch (based on GIMP 2.4.3).