[Pidgin] #12932: Pidgin

[Pidgin]

#12932: Pidgin
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 Reporter:  Sebastian78   |     Owner:  rekkanoryo
     Type:  defect        |    Status:  new       
Component:  unclassified  |   Version:  2.7.5     
 Keywords:                |  
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 This is not a bug per se, but I have no other way to vent my opinions.
 It's not me trying to be difficult or nagging the developers. It's just a
 collection of thoughts after using Pidgin for 1+ years.


 '''What I like about Pidgin:
 '''


 '''1.''' Inherent simplicity, it's a chat client, nothing more, nothing
 less. No ads, no complicated UI, nothing you don't need. An opposite would
 be new Win Live Messenger, or whatever they call it nowadays.


 '''
 2.''' It integrates different protocols, mainly FB, Google and MSN which I
 use.


 '''3.''' There's no need to create a separate account to use Pidgin, ie.
 like Trillian.

 '''What I really don't like:'''

 '''1.''' Pidgin is inherently difficult to understand for "ordinary"
 users. It has a certain "you really REALLY need to be a geek to understand
 this software" feel to it. I would categorize myself as an advanced
 ordinary user. I'm the kind of guy my friends call when they screw up
 their computers.

 ''Example:'' Changing the skin/theme of Pidgin. I found it wholly
 complicated, taking hours to finally understand. When I did manage to
 change the skin, I got this annoying sound when pressing backspace which
 nobody could explain how to remove and the developers basically said "this
 has nothing to do with Pidgin, so we won't look into this".

 ''Example:'' The problem with non-blinking chat windows in the task bar.
 It was yet again hard to apply the suggested fix or finding out about it
 at all.

 ''Example:'' The recent SSL certificate problems with MSN. It was
 difficult to find out how to apply the solution. From the developers, I
 only got a very basic explanation to download two files, nothing more. Not
 what to do with them, for that I had to go to an external blog.

 '''2.''' Which brings me to my second gripe about Pidgin. The lack of
 community, hereunder a proper user forum. Which is the reason I post here
 in the first place.

 A lot of problems I have experienced with Pidgin, could easily have been
 sorted out by myself if I had a proper place to go with my problems. That
 way, I could also develop my skills further. I know there is a sort of way
 to do this with the bug tracker, but you cant really post "how do I do
 this" questions there. The way the system is now, it's more a "forum" for
 advanced users who know what they are talking about and can contribute.
 All in all, the whole system has a 1998-feel to it.

 In my opinion a proper user forum, with moderators, would offload a lot of
 work for the developers and users would have a place to go for requesting
 help.

 '''3.''' In search of simplicity, Pidgin is stuck in 1998, both in look,
 feel and usability. I can't really use Pidgin for anything else than the
 first iteration of Windows Messenger. I know this is sort of a design
 philosophy behind everything, but why does Pidgin have to LOOK like a
 program from 1998 as well? It does need a fresher look, more modern. The
 skinning, doesn't really help. It's to old-school. It actually reminds me
 of the chat client in Lotus Notes.

 '''4.''' Add-ons library? It's 2010, people want add-ons and they want a
 proper library to find them. The one Pidgin has is....hmm terrible.

 '''
 Suggestions:'''

 A) Modernize the GUI of Pidgin, giving it a more modern look. The software
 behind works, most of the time, flawlessly. If the developers dont want to
 spend time on this, help create a user community which can handle this.
 Check out Mediamonkey.com

 B) Create a proper, modern user forum.

 C)  Get on Twitter, use the account you have, tweet! It would be a great
 way to communicate with the user base and telling us when errors/bugs stop
 Pidgin working. Like the SSL problem.


 PS: I finally learned why Pidgin is called what it is. Neat....Pidgin
 langueage haha...

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/12932>
Pidgin <http://pidgin.im>
Pidgin