[Pidgin] #3782: Change the preferences layout to use a tree view/info pane

[Pidgin]

#3782: Change the preferences layout to use a tree view/info pane
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  Reporter:  muellejo      |       Owner:             
      Type:  patch         |      Status:  new        
  Priority:  minor         |   Milestone:             
 Component:  pidgin (gtk)  |     Version:  2.2.2      
Resolution:                |    Keywords:  preferences
   Pending:  0             |  
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Comment (by muellejo):

 Replying to [comment:2 deryni]:
 > pidgin specifically moved *away* from a tree list like that to the
 tabbed view we have now. We did this because people found the tree much
 more confusing, it encouraged us to add random options because "we had
 space for them", and a handful of other reasons I don't remember anymore.

 I was already made fun of me for this in the IRC channel, so I am confused
 as to why that developer didn't close the ticket. It is nice to now have
 some of the reasons behind the decision.

 >
 > Likewise we moved plugins out of the preferences window at around the
 same time because we noticed that virtually no one was finding them.
 (Plugins weren't originally in the preferences window, and I protested the
 move to it when it originally happened, but I lost that argument.)

 Why would the following compromise not work? Move the plugins into
 preferences, keep the plugins menu item, make the plugins menu item open
 the appropriate page.

 >
 > So as far as I'm concerned both of these are huge steps backwards.
 >
 > Also, as a matter of style I am entirely unsure why this patch decided
 to include a new GTK+ widget to implement this.

 I made a new widget for a couple of reasons: 1) it seems like a good
 choice for a reusable component 2) I wanted to get my feet wet regarding
 development in C, GTK+, and Pidgin.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/3782#comment:3>
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