KDE 4.0 Reviewer Reminders

Just to say that as a Gnome user since I can remember, this is the first KDE release, I'm looking forward to use.
From a user point of view, takes the usage of a desktop into a new paradigm that suites the evolution of desktop environments.
From a programmer point of view, finally, a new face on KDE's code. Thank you.
From a linux user point of view, keep up the good work, and YES, you're right, a software piece is never done.

Cheers,

>Last, again: KDE 4.0 is not KDE4.
No offense, but that simply makes no sense.

KDE 3.5.8 is an absolutely wonderful desktop. Everything works as intended, it is easily customized and it is feature rich. It is flexible.

The "release" of KDE 4 is simply unusable as a business desktop. It may have enormous potential but offering this as a "release" was, in my opinion, a colossal mistake. It creates expectations that are FAR beyond what is delivered. It is disingenuous not to have called this what it is, a BETA release. As such there would be no confusion and no reason to state that it is not KDE4.

One of the inherent problems is, IMHO, that there was seemingly an attempt to deliver too much at one time without incremental improvements. Perhaps, for example, 3.5x should have been ported to Cmake and QT4 as 3.6. I have been compiling the QT4 truck from svn, weekly, for some time now. I have submitted my share of bug reports. Yet, at the end of the day, what is missing more than anything is a clear and consistent expectation. I suspect that is the result of unclear or ambiguous objectives. Can anyone clearly state what KDE4 is supposed to fix or provide as an improvement to 3.5.8?

KDE has always been set on achieving superior functionality compared to other WMs.
This may mean that it is harder to use and is more complex but that matters not as it offers the concept of complete customization.

I believe that with the release of this so-called kde-4.0.0 version, which is _said_ to be a major release, this concept of liberty has faded away.

Take the problem with the non-resizable panel for example. This problem should not exist. I agree that new releases should be launched often. I also agree that SVN or developer preview versions be released.
But this is a message to the KDE devs: "Do NOT call a developer preview a major release." The current version of KDE shouldn't be 4.0.0. It should be something like 3.9.9.9 or something like that.

The idea that temporary elements appear in a major release is simply unbearable. Major releases should be finished an polished.

I think that instead of clarifying things, this post murkied the waters.

It is strange how this post brought people that haven't used KDE4 and bash it for not "being complete"

What's understandable is for people that are not developers or experienced evaluators to have misinterpreted your post.

I think that a better post (and marketing) would be to list what it is and what's a work in progress. That would be enough to make anyone that criticizes what's a "work in progress" look silly but would also give them all the ammunition to really review what is considered stable.

Another thing to understand is that some people are "new" to the computing business and don't understand that experienced people (regardless of age) do not consider .0 versions to be ready for full production use. That's what's called the "bleeding edge". It is ready to be evaluated, installed and deployed in a limited fashion in advance of the .1 release.

They also don't understand that without releasing a .0 release it is very difficult to continue development. And sadly they don't understand that if they don't go through the pain of using a .0 version - and abusing it - the developers will be in the dark about hidden bugs. Version .0 should works as intended by the developers under the foreseeable usage patterns. Now it's time for users to use it in ways the developers didn't think of.

Maybe the problem with your post was that it was too candid without thinking on the different interpretations it may have.

Additionally you cannot expect all people to understand the philosophical meaning of KDE 4.0 is not KDE4. It's like trying to explain that the present does not exist as it is always future in expectation or past in retrospective or to try to explain Zeno's paradox http://www.jimloy.com/physics/zeno.htm.

Yes, we developers and experienced users know that it will continue evolving and it will never be completed.

So for me KDE 4.0 IS KDE4, it's first release, the bleeding edge.

Next time just explain "known issues" and don't be defensive about people don't understanding it. That's their own fault.

maybe KDE 4.0 != KDE 3 + 1 but the little, better brother that will eventually grow up to be like his older brother, just better.

The vast majority of feedback I have read to this post (Digg & here) has been really negative. I think you guys may want to reconsider at least the naming of this release.

No matter how hard you try, the general public are not going to understand that KDE 4.0 != KDE4. Most people just see a bunch of excuses as to why the software is not ready. Think of those that simply see Kubuntu with KDE4 and install it. It's KDE 4.0, so it must be better than 3.5, right? Boy are they in for a shock.

It's hard to see much good that can come from releasing this as KDE 4.0, rather than KDE 4.0 RC X.