Everything in Launchpad
Over the summer, Jono and I have been compiling a list of all the features in Launchpad.
While the help wiki and the heads of various members of the Launchpad team are a pretty good guide to everything that’s in Launchpad, we haven’t had a canonical, comprehensive, list of Launchpad’s features. Obviously having that one page makes it easier to keep track of what’s there and to think about what Launchpad is and what it isn’t.
So, what do we consider to be a feature? Really, it’s anything where someone can interact with Launchpad or where bugs can live. Simple as that.
If you think something’s missing from this list, or needs more explanation, please do go ahead edit the wiki page.
Tags: front-page
September 30th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Dear Matthew, and fellow Gentlemen developers,
Wizardly gentlemen no doubt. To me as a compiling dummy, and I bet thousands of others like me, it is not utterly clear what Launchpad is. I do understand that it is a site for open source constructors to test and launch their magic. On the other hand I had to subscribe to find out more about open source on the USER side of things. It is adorable and brave indeed to initiate free software (who can be against that?), but the developed, and offered software seems to live in a world of its own, which is the world of programmers and/or compilers, a world totally strange and intimidating for us dummy users.
I assume there is a wish to have open source apps utilized by lay people, or even as many people as possible, it would then be useful if those people would UNDERSTAND the workings. We are not familiar with command lines, or ANY machine language at all. We can only handle apps that work with mouse clicks on visual interfaces with the machine process safely hidden in the background.
I am a music composer (classic) and getting more and more annoyed with apps on the market and Apple who seems to mess up its own Logic as a composer tool.
Hence, I, and a number of fellow composers are looking around if a WORKING tool can be found in the open source world, and get rid of Mac’s vending strategies.
Yes, there are goodies there (Lilypond, Rosegarden, fluidsynth, etc), but to make these apps work, and more so work together, one has to be a command line wizard! Of some of the offered apps it is not even clear if some form of Linux needs to be installed beforehand.
I think, virtually every routine to (let’s say) mimic the workings of Logic, Cubase, Sibelius and such can be found on the open source, but I think it would be useful to pack everything in ONE package using visual interfaces (buttons, faders, etc) to work with. I think you people can do this easily.
As a user and graphic designer I could gladly lend you people a hand on the lay-out side, or even give a clue of what makes a good composing tool. The buzzwords should be; CLARITY, WORKFLOW and USER FRIENDLINESS.
For me, things do not necessarily have to be free. If too much work is involved some sort of payment could be thought of.
Or. should I start a project on your site to try and combine all the goodies? Since I am not a programmer that would very much be a request thing, I could write a USER receipt?
All in all, I have great respect for the open source world, and I do check matters and even try some every now and then, but as said I’m equally amazed by its refusal to live in the world of, well, normal people. Silly as they are, they are many.
with regards, Greg
Rotterdam Netherlands