[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:  closed           
  Priority:  minor         |   Milestone:                   
 Component:  pidgin (gtk)  |     Version:  2.4.0            
Resolution:  wontfix       |    Keywords:  chat input resize
   Pending:  0             |  
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Comment (by rekkanoryo):

 Replying to [comment:272 DanLivingston]:
 > I teach "Collaboration in an Open Source World" at a local college.  I
 have been searching for, and in this ticket have found, a perfect example
 where communication between open source developers and users fails at
 multiple, fundamental levels.

 [[BR]]
 You are making a fundamental mistake here in assuming that communication
 has failed.  The fact that we aren't willing to undo our UI changes is not
 a sign of communications failure.  We have listened to the whining, the
 complaining, the threats, and the few well-presented and logical arguments
 we've received.  We are working to improve the changed UI; reverting this
 is a step ''backwards'' in the development process that we're not willing
 to take.

 [[BR]]

 > What happens when those same newfound powers are taken away?  What
 happens when the developers impose their personal dogmas upon the project?
 Even for as small an issue as chat window resizing, a minority (or
 majority) of users will emphatically express dissent.

 [[BR]]
 As I noted in another ticket related to the automatic resizing, we had
 similar numbers of complaints about our changes to the buddy list and
 status UIs in the transition from 1.5.0 to 2.0.0.  The complaints died
 down after several weeks.  The loss of protocol icons as status indicators
 is a dead issue and has been for many months now.  The change to a status
 selector that is a first-class citizen in the buddy list window also
 caused some friction that died down after a short time.  The same will
 happen with the input area resizing given time.

 [[BR]]

 > ''<snip of long, rambling text only tangentially related to the
 following>'' [[BR]]
 > The fact is that typing letters into an IM window is THE most critical
 task of an IM program.  Users have varying needs, needs which can not be
 addressed by your limited attempts to come up with "one solution for
 everything" that incorporates "shiny new logic" that demonstrates how
 smart you are.  You are ignoring the fan base with a dedication to your
 convictions that is alarmingly evident to even the most unobservant of
 followers, and as such, you are demonstrating that you no longer deserve
 to be in the position of servicing the needs of your user base.

 [[BR]]
 None of us develop Pidgin as a function of our job.  Pidgin is a hobby for
 us.  We don't claim to represent a community--we claim to make an IM
 client that meets '''our own needs''' and ''hopefully'' meets others'
 needs as well.  We aren't forcing anyone to use our software, nor are we
 profiting from our users.  As you noted, we have the autonomy to make our
 own decisions.  We are the people putting forth the development effort,
 and therefore we have a right to decide what goes into our software.

 Quite simply, it doesn't matter if we have one user or six billion users
 outside the developer community.  We have long understood that we can
 never please all our users with our single user interface--it's simply not
 possible.  Because of that, we do not aim to please all our users, but
 instead to please ourselves and hope that we have pleased like-minded
 users.  We encourage users whose needs are not met by our software to find
 other software that does meet their needs.

 [[BR]]

 > For the sake of everyone involved, I hope you find your path back to the
 light.

 [[BR]]
 We never strayed from our path.  The Path to Enlightenment is unique for
 each individual.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/4986#comment:275>
Pidgin <http://pidgin.im>
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