[Pidgin] #4986: automatic chat input field resizing should be optional, regression from 2.3

[Pidgin]

#4986: automatic chat input field resizing should be optional, regression from 2.3
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  Reporter:  swbrown       |       Owner:                   
      Type:  enhancement   |      Status:  reopened         
  Priority:  minor         |   Milestone:                   
 Component:  pidgin (gtk)  |     Version:  2.4.0            
Resolution:                |    Keywords:  chat input resize
   Pending:  0             |  
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Comment (by Proto):

 Replying to [comment:184 deryni]:
 > Replying to [comment:177 btm]:
 > Adding options for things which serve no purpose is not worth it,
 regardless of cost. I am still unconvinced that given a properly
 functional auto-resizing entry area there is any reason to need a manual
 resizing option.
 >
 > All users believe themselves advanced users (who wants to believe they
 are stupid or that others are better then they are?). As to your comments
 about advanced preferences I direct you at large sections of
 http://pidgin.im/~elb/cgi-bin/pyblosxom.cgi/giving_back.html which covers
 the costs of preferences and how advanced preferences suffer from this
 more than others.
 >
 > As a specific aside about:config is a UI abomination and should not be
 duplicated or used as a basis for ideas. It is a horrible hack for a
 program with many too many options for its size; and further it is simply
 an excuse to toss in random option garbage without needing to consider
 even attempting to create a user interface for said options.
 >
 > *Why* do you need manual control back? What about the auto-resizing (of
 the new 2.4.1 version, so minimum of two lines maximum of half the window
 and no zero-pixel bug) is unacceptable to you? Is there anything that
 could be done to it to make it acceptable to you?

 The default minimum of two lines is just bad UI design. You have the
 formatting bar and the tiny input box jammed at the bottom of the screen.
 It makes things look really cramped when initially typing. The window
 looks "unbalanced" because of it. Furthermore, because of the relatively
 small area to click into it adds just a little irritation where there
 shouldn't be any.

 Extending the default minimum to say 6-8 lines would be an improvement.
 But really, the best fix would be to allow the user to alter it manually.
 IM programs are all about the user interface. If that doesn't work right
 the user will go elsewhere. Every programmer likes to think they are good
 at UI design, but very few of us are. That's why the best solution is to
 let the user configure the interface to meet their needs whenever
 possible.

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Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/4986#comment:214>
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