Mac users of OpenOffice.org hello! The following is an authorized translation of an excellent interview of Mac OS X port lead Eric Bachard conducted by macgeneration. The original, in French, is at http://www.macgeneration.com/mgnews/depeche.php?aIdDepeche=123941. My thanks to Christophe Laporte, who interviewed Eric Bachard and who has kindly given me permission to publish this translation, and to Eric Bachard.
BTW, there are also some good comments in the original, which I did not include.
---
Is 2007 the year of OpenOffice?
Posted Tuesday with 16:19 per Christophe Laporte
While we are all waiting for the new versions of iWork and Microsoft Office, the developers of OpenOffice have been working overtime. They have as an ambition to finalize this year a version Aqua for OpenOffice. Éric Bachard, one of the leads working on the port, graciously explains for us the advance of this titanic project. We also asked him about the evolution of free software, the position of Apple in this field and on safety issues vis-à-vis Microsoft Office.
- Will 2007 be the year of OpenOffice on Mac?
Without saying that it will be the year of OpenOffice.org on the Mac, the year 2007 will be a great year for the project, and we will do the utmost to prove it. We will produce, for example, a true native version of OpenOffice.org for the Mac (without X11)--one that conforms to the requisite look and feel users expect under Mac OS X.
These two last years were also very important for the port Mac OS X:
- January 2005: first version 2.0 to start under Mac OS X
- January 2006: first version for Intel (which did not use Rosetta). Microsoft has not yet done this.
And we did all this with our slender means.
For the moment, we will continue to work as we have been, because the work remaining to be made is very important, and it is what our resources (human and material) allow for.
But as the number of developers regularly increases, we must adapt our working methods. Thus, our recent meeting in Hamburg was of very great importance. Among other important points, we took stock, and made these considerable advances:
- a list of what we need to implement, for a functional version, was drawn up (this is hardly saying anything)
- assigned to each of the most important tasks a developer
- tested the version Aqua which I had prepared for the occasion and together learned how to use XCode for debugging.
It is incredible what one can learn at the time of such workshops!
What I will retain, is that we are a team which grows each day and which helps itself. Before anything else we are a community.
- In addition to the interface, what are your priorities so that OpenOffice is integrated better into Mac OS X?
Before anything else, our top priority is to have a true application for Mac OS X--one that behaves and is used like any other--easily--and which functions in a reliable and stable way. It has been necessary to move from X11 (which is what is used now); we then had to make an inventory of work to be done for the true port--and to find enough people to make a true port.
I’d like to recall for you our context: we use Carbon, which does not change anything about the look and feel of the application. The code, the result - i.e., appearance - is the same.
Now, the following, and with the same degree of importance:
- The ' Look': to respect, as much as possible, conformity with the standard defined by Apple, called "' Aqua Human Guidelines' Interfaces, because the visual impression is very important.
For that, we are implementing the Aqua look, such as all possible native controls, which will have a behavior identical to that of controls of a true Mac application. The Mac native fonts are already usable with ATS.
- The ' Feel': to progressively implement all that makes the Mac 'feel'. For example, for the opening of the files, to use the ' native FilePicker', to implement true drag and drop (implementation in progress), to use the same short cuts as any Mac OS X application, to have the same behavior in a similar situation (color of the selected buttons, when the mouse flies over the zone, etc.)
But it is also envisaged (though this will come a little later):
- the integration of Spotlight
- the integration of the player using QuickTime
- native impression (in progress)
To illustrate the difficulty we face, it has been necessary, first of all:
- to move completely from X11, once again,
- to rewrite ALL the missing code: we created a new version, a complete port (it is obviously not finished)
- to marry the event loops of OpenOffice.org with those of Mac OS X (this is done)
- to implement the Mac OS X windowing system (done)
- to implement the native menus (done)
The following stage:
To create a new set of icons, in conformity with the Aqua look (a set carried out under the GPL is not usable by OpenOffice.org).
The whole continuously to be synchronized with the last version of the code of OpenOffice.org.
- These last weeks, several faults relating to the Word documents, were discovered. Can the users of OpenOffice suffer from these faults?
With respect, a software free from bugs does not exist: -)
The fact that the historical owner of the .doc file format does not correctly document the file formats does not help. What is more, security by dissimulation (by claiming security only), is not a guarantee of security.
If you refer to the fault [in OpenOffice.org] recently discovered, this one causes a crash, but nothing more in fact. And it was corrected like all such, almost immediately after being reported.
In addition, no software always secure: certain security faults are discovered from time to time, but they are corrected as quickly as possible.
- Firefox is an important success. Are there repercussions for other free software ? Is there to some extent a halo effect?
I do not know if it is a question of an halo effect. Perhaps it’s more a question of communication efforts concerning free software, the lack of money for some management, and then the publicity about some “forced” changes which make it so that free software begins to have both visibility and more and more users.
To cite just the school in which I work (the UTBM), free software is more and more installed, especially because there is a lack of means to continue paying for proprietary software. We have in fact done very little to assert the true value of free software as justification of its use.
- What is, according to you, the true value of free software?
All free software has in common respect for the user, constantly evolving quality, and especially, sharing of knowledge.
- How do you see the evolution of free software?
Seemingly all is well: free software is taking a share of the market, it is getting better, and it is being used a little more each day.
But that picture is not entirely true; in my humble opinion, we should discuss the ethics and economy of free software, so that things are clearly enunciated.
As the person in charge for the Mac port, I am constantly in search of solutions for our visibility, our development, etc.; and it is really a headache to renew our resources.
- What do you think of the Macintosh as a platform for free software?
Today, it is possible to port the majority of free software, that is to say, to adapt the source so that the software functions under Mac OS X, and many programs have already been ported.
The developmental tools offered are formidable, and make it possible to develop under excellent conditions. As a result, the port to Mac OS X of applications often coming from Linux, but also from Windows, is greatly facilitated.
Because they really merit it, here are just two examples of free software of quality which have been just ported to Mac OS X : OpenArena and SuperTux (0.3). They required few changes (in terms of code), to adapt this software to Mac OS X, and they really function very well on my MacBook Pro. In short, the Mac is an excellent platform as an operating system for free software.
- Do you think that could that be a selling point for Apple?
I have always said that free software encourages sales, because it is synonymous with quality today and of reliability, and Apple would have much to gain.
Thus, yes, that would constitute an additional sales point. But beyond free software, I would suggest that Apple takes the route of open formats, and there, the profit would be even larger, for everyone.
•
BTW, there are also some good comments in the original, which I did not include.
---
Is 2007 the year of OpenOffice?
Posted Tuesday with 16:19 per Christophe Laporte
While we are all waiting for the new versions of iWork and Microsoft Office, the developers of OpenOffice have been working overtime. They have as an ambition to finalize this year a version Aqua for OpenOffice. Éric Bachard, one of the leads working on the port, graciously explains for us the advance of this titanic project. We also asked him about the evolution of free software, the position of Apple in this field and on safety issues vis-à-vis Microsoft Office.
- Will 2007 be the year of OpenOffice on Mac?
Without saying that it will be the year of OpenOffice.org on the Mac, the year 2007 will be a great year for the project, and we will do the utmost to prove it. We will produce, for example, a true native version of OpenOffice.org for the Mac (without X11)--one that conforms to the requisite look and feel users expect under Mac OS X.
These two last years were also very important for the port Mac OS X:
- January 2005: first version 2.0 to start under Mac OS X
- January 2006: first version for Intel (which did not use Rosetta). Microsoft has not yet done this.
And we did all this with our slender means.
For the moment, we will continue to work as we have been, because the work remaining to be made is very important, and it is what our resources (human and material) allow for.
But as the number of developers regularly increases, we must adapt our working methods. Thus, our recent meeting in Hamburg was of very great importance. Among other important points, we took stock, and made these considerable advances:
- a list of what we need to implement, for a functional version, was drawn up (this is hardly saying anything)
- assigned to each of the most important tasks a developer
- tested the version Aqua which I had prepared for the occasion and together learned how to use XCode for debugging.
It is incredible what one can learn at the time of such workshops!
What I will retain, is that we are a team which grows each day and which helps itself. Before anything else we are a community.
- In addition to the interface, what are your priorities so that OpenOffice is integrated better into Mac OS X?
Before anything else, our top priority is to have a true application for Mac OS X--one that behaves and is used like any other--easily--and which functions in a reliable and stable way. It has been necessary to move from X11 (which is what is used now); we then had to make an inventory of work to be done for the true port--and to find enough people to make a true port.
I’d like to recall for you our context: we use Carbon, which does not change anything about the look and feel of the application. The code, the result - i.e., appearance - is the same.
Now, the following, and with the same degree of importance:
- The ' Look': to respect, as much as possible, conformity with the standard defined by Apple, called "' Aqua Human Guidelines' Interfaces, because the visual impression is very important.
For that, we are implementing the Aqua look, such as all possible native controls, which will have a behavior identical to that of controls of a true Mac application. The Mac native fonts are already usable with ATS.
- The ' Feel': to progressively implement all that makes the Mac 'feel'. For example, for the opening of the files, to use the ' native FilePicker', to implement true drag and drop (implementation in progress), to use the same short cuts as any Mac OS X application, to have the same behavior in a similar situation (color of the selected buttons, when the mouse flies over the zone, etc.)
But it is also envisaged (though this will come a little later):
- the integration of Spotlight
- the integration of the player using QuickTime
- native impression (in progress)
To illustrate the difficulty we face, it has been necessary, first of all:
- to move completely from X11, once again,
- to rewrite ALL the missing code: we created a new version, a complete port (it is obviously not finished)
- to marry the event loops of OpenOffice.org with those of Mac OS X (this is done)
- to implement the Mac OS X windowing system (done)
- to implement the native menus (done)
The following stage:
To create a new set of icons, in conformity with the Aqua look (a set carried out under the GPL is not usable by OpenOffice.org).
The whole continuously to be synchronized with the last version of the code of OpenOffice.org.
- These last weeks, several faults relating to the Word documents, were discovered. Can the users of OpenOffice suffer from these faults?
With respect, a software free from bugs does not exist: -)
The fact that the historical owner of the .doc file format does not correctly document the file formats does not help. What is more, security by dissimulation (by claiming security only), is not a guarantee of security.
If you refer to the fault [in OpenOffice.org] recently discovered, this one causes a crash, but nothing more in fact. And it was corrected like all such, almost immediately after being reported.
In addition, no software always secure: certain security faults are discovered from time to time, but they are corrected as quickly as possible.
- Firefox is an important success. Are there repercussions for other free software ? Is there to some extent a halo effect?
I do not know if it is a question of an halo effect. Perhaps it’s more a question of communication efforts concerning free software, the lack of money for some management, and then the publicity about some “forced” changes which make it so that free software begins to have both visibility and more and more users.
To cite just the school in which I work (the UTBM), free software is more and more installed, especially because there is a lack of means to continue paying for proprietary software. We have in fact done very little to assert the true value of free software as justification of its use.
- What is, according to you, the true value of free software?
All free software has in common respect for the user, constantly evolving quality, and especially, sharing of knowledge.
- How do you see the evolution of free software?
Seemingly all is well: free software is taking a share of the market, it is getting better, and it is being used a little more each day.
But that picture is not entirely true; in my humble opinion, we should discuss the ethics and economy of free software, so that things are clearly enunciated.
As the person in charge for the Mac port, I am constantly in search of solutions for our visibility, our development, etc.; and it is really a headache to renew our resources.
- What do you think of the Macintosh as a platform for free software?
Today, it is possible to port the majority of free software, that is to say, to adapt the source so that the software functions under Mac OS X, and many programs have already been ported.
The developmental tools offered are formidable, and make it possible to develop under excellent conditions. As a result, the port to Mac OS X of applications often coming from Linux, but also from Windows, is greatly facilitated.
Because they really merit it, here are just two examples of free software of quality which have been just ported to Mac OS X : OpenArena and SuperTux (0.3). They required few changes (in terms of code), to adapt this software to Mac OS X, and they really function very well on my MacBook Pro. In short, the Mac is an excellent platform as an operating system for free software.
- Do you think that could that be a selling point for Apple?
I have always said that free software encourages sales, because it is synonymous with quality today and of reliability, and Apple would have much to gain.
Thus, yes, that would constitute an additional sales point. But beyond free software, I would suggest that Apple takes the route of open formats, and there, the profit would be even larger, for everyone.
•
I personally think that the OpenOffice.org and NeoOffice’s combined marketshare on Mac OS X will soon going to match and then surpass Microsoft Office’s share somewhere in 2009 and this certainly will have ramifications for Mac users (and me like many others being a mac user both at home and in office at aquabot certainly adore the move) but will also accelerate interest in OOo on Windows as they see Mac mavens migrating to the new tool.
ReplyDeleteThe really big thing in building adoption of OOMac (and Windows if it comes to that) is interoperability with MS Office. Since MS Office is ubiquitous and many of its users literally don't think anything else exists (and go into shock when you suggest, for example, that they might "save as" a Word doc to RTF instead of simply saving to MS Office's default .doc or .docx format) OOMac and Win need to save to open and saved to the .doc and .docx formats with everything intact, including marked text, marked changes and so on.
ReplyDeleteThen OO can quietly slip into offices where MS is installed, and demostrate the ease of both document and user transition.
Cheers, Geoff
Geoffrey Heard, Business Writer & Publisher
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