- Inkscape Board of Directors

Developer Meeting Notes; March 28th
by Martin Owens 28 Mar '24

28 Mar '24

Hey everyone, Big developer meeting this week, thanks to everyone who came and participated. Event: https://inkscape.org/cals/event/1/ Next Meeting: Friday April 5th, 1pm EST Attending: Marc, Martin, Mikekov, René, pbs, Ravi Arora, Tamir, Vaibhav, Tav, Javier ------- (René) We have macOS Apple silcon for Gtk4. We don't have intel support and we don't have a full test suite run. René wants to merge them with about 4 tests failing to recruit some help from other people. The new version of Gtk4 will be out soon. There is a time out delay in the test suite which René was hoping would be fixed in the next Gtk release, but hasn't so it'll have to be looked into as the test suite takes too long. Martin wanted to know how the macOS version on Gtk4 is performing. René reports that there is plenty of bugs, but the speed seems compariable. The extensions don't work yet. Some objects aren't appearing when drawn and pbs thinks this is a missed events. René will work on Windows development/building when the MSYS2 libraries are updated. ------- Mikekov has been trying to fix some regressions with 1.4.x, and has been fixing Gtk4 every now and then. Mikekov wants to merge the "Font selector UX study" into 1.4.x, it would be switched off by default. He's making a version for the Gtk4 master branch before it would ever be switched on. https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inkscape/-/merge_requests/4578 The developer team are ok with it being merged. ------- Vaibhav has been working on the toolbars, specifically issues with the text toolbar. It's almost ready to go. Mikekov mentioned the size of combo boxes in Gtk4. PBS had some ideas for how to set group priorities using boxes in the UI file by having boxes in boxes. Designers/UX-team can now customise the toolbars in such a way that they can decide what should disapear first when the toolbars are too small. ------- Jonathan asked about the SFC getting in touch. Martin and Vaibhav have recieved information from the SFC about the Bug Accelerator project. But Tav's email might have gotten eaten by his spam filter. Martin has signed the contract adjustment and will start working on bugs on April 1st. Vaibhav is communicating his details which should be complete by next week. ------- Martin and René worked on fixing a double parsing mystery issue in the color parser on macOS which turned out to be a long standing difference between clang and gcc with the C++ specification. Martin wrote a custom double parser for macOS and PBS suggested a possible function in lib2geom which might fix it too. (Martin) Rebasing the color branch for gtk4 - "new code". Some adjustement needed, but thankfully few of them. UI conflicts were easy to spot and look doable (still a few things like sliders, color drag and drop, to fix). The branch is big, and tiring to maintain. PBS offers help ------- (jabier) split of the mega corners fix into a 7 MR. It add stability to this LPE seems one or the most crashing one, by the way I implement beabiours to work as expected in operations like Join,Combine, Brak Apart, alowing retain spected results. Fix also lot of issues with knots than usualy crash even away of the LPE system. Also fix a issue in the status bar toolbar, targeted to windows OS, that fix a big lag randomly dragging and creation cause by a upstream bug in probably Pango or Label Gtk3 implementation. Finaly I do a Linux issue about redrawing SelectorStyle in status bar afecting debian Adwaita when we change some labels from normal to bold. Whole app is resized. ------- Ravi is contributing to GSoC looking at the node based editor using an infinate canvas with widgets. Experimenting with the Gtk4 branch and has noticed a lot of issues. Marc makes sure what everyone has their two merge requests accepted. ------- PBS had an unmerge request with SPDesktop refactoring which will be coming soon. A bunch of changes which he's wanted to fix for a while. Fixing lots of issues with popups and their life times. PBS asks the AppImage tool yanks the old app images and we should pin the app images. Marc says we need to store things in a place that we control. There are some issues with AppImages, for example it doesn't have GPU support. A possible tool to try out is AppImageCrafters. https://github.com/appimagecrafters/appimage-builder ------- Marc has been managing the GSoC and wants to make sure that their merge requsts and proposal drafts are getting reviewed in time. He asks everyone if they'd like to be mentors with GSoC. Jabier asks how much time it would take and Marc says that it really depends on the student as it can be as low as just reviewing the merge requests but it could be a student that needs a lot more help. ------- Martin would like to remind everyone to keep reviewing all merge requests if possible. ------- René explained why the version of XCode tools is pegged to a specific version to pbs and mikekov after the meeting ended. So technically this part of the meeting notes is impossible, since it was sent before people finished talking. See you all next time!

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[Vote] Hardware for Developers
by Jonathan Neuhauser 27 Mar '24

27 Mar '24

Dear PLC, ==== Background ==== The developer team would like to improve cross platform support, and one measure towards that goal is to improve the access to Windows and macOS machines for core contributors. With merging the GTK4 branch (yay!) I'd like to give this idea a try. I've conducted a poll in the developer chat about whose work would benefit from a macOS / Windows machine, results see below. We require a short device policy for this. It's intentionally simple, as this will be relevant only to people we already trust. I've discussed this with René in advance. ==== Device Policy ==== 1) The Inkscape project entrusts the devices to individual contributors, selected by Project Leadership Committee (PLC) vote. 2) The project asks of the contributor to use the hardware primarily in a way that serves the project goal. Within these boundaries, the contributor may use the devices as they see fit. In particular, they have root (or comparable) permission on those devices, and can configure it to their needs. 3) The project asks the contributors to handle the device with care. 4) The project expects the contributor to return / pass on the device once their cross-platform work is finished, or they stop making meaningful and sustained contributions; gatherings like the Inkscape Summit, FOSDEM or LGM are good opportunities for this. 5) The PLC reserves the right to recall / reclaim the device at any time and the project will cover the shipping costs. 6) When returning the device (4 or 5), the contributor is expected to hand over the device in a usable state. 6) The projects accepts that the device may break while in possession of the contributor. Return or warranty policies should be taken advantage of. In the event of willful or clearly negligent damage, the contributor shall replace the device. ==== Selection of recipients & devices ==== From the poll and previous discussion, the following contributors are interested: - Tavmjong: macOS (Gtk4 development. Cross-platform support) - pbs3141: Windows (Fixing bugs/missing functionality/bad performance in Inkscape and GTK4, improving Visual Studio integration, investigating bundled Mesa/MoltenVK.) - VaibhavMalik4187: macOS (GTK4 migration) - Adam Belis: Windows (Testing on Windows, HiDPI, Touchscreen / Pencil support) Following this vote, these contributors may choose a device that suits their needs, and that they expect to be useful for other developers in the future. For example, Mac Mini Pro + Keyboard, Surface Pro, or just a general Windows machine with maxed out CPU. (They may of course decline the above Device Policy, then they won't get a device.) ==== Budget and Formalities === Allocate USD 2,000 for each contributor listed above for this purpose. The SFC will decide how to formally do this - directly buying the devices or reimbursing them. ==== Vote ==== a) Approve the above device policy, and allocate a total of $8,000. Each of the 4 contributors listed above are eligible to be sent / buy & be reimbursed for a device that they choose, with a per-contributor budget of $2,000. b) Only approve the device policy, I don't agree with the choice of contributors. c) Don't approve either. d) Other: .... Thanks in advance, Jonathan

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Developer Meeting Notes: March 12th 2024
by doctormo＠gmail.com 12 Mar '24

12 Mar '24

Dear Developers, Thanks everyone for coming to this week's meeting. We had a short meeting and then worked through a bunch of really old merge requests. If you had an MR which was not marked as draft but had it's last activity more than 7 months ago, we might have closed your MR to keep things clean. Reopen branches and mark them as draft if you are still working on them. Some were also reviewed and approved. We're down to 58 open merge requests. ---- Meeting: https://inkscape.org/cals/event/1/ Attending: Jonathan, Martin, Tav, René, Vaibhav, Elendil (Krlr17) # Bug Accelerator Program Jonathan Has tried to contact pono who is the third people in the hiring committee to finalise the process. May have to create tickets and move forwards as best as we can. # Machines for Developers Sent out a poll if people need a windows or macOS machine for their work. 2 responses. Will be approved case by case basis by the PLC since there won't be very many requests. # Website issues Martin was working on spam protections this morning. No further issues with DDos this week. # MacOS Rene has made it possible to get log files in the macOS tests on the CI. Probably an oversight in how it was created. The good news is that it's as fast as it used to be, under 5 minutes instead of 20 minutes. Achieved by downgrading to a previous os version likely a gtk issue. # Windows Wants to work on the Gtk4 windows builder. It's not ready yet, but expected int he next couple of days. # Gtk4 Tav has started working on a couple of different things. Doing the preview in the export dialog in the Gtk4 branch. Vaibhav is working on bug fixes on the Gtk4 branch this week. # Release Mikekov is looking at discrepencies between master and 1.3.x to see what is happening and what might need be fixed. Especially for the migration work. Made some MRs to adjust those small things, maintly cosmetic. Elendil - Reports an unstream windows issue with Pango which is fixed upstream but needs to make it's way to our msys2 builds. Will report it to msys2. # Other items Martin continues his work on the Color branch, not breakthroughs to report as of yet. Thanks everyone, see you all next week!

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Inkscape Summit at Rennes LGM: Vote
by tavmjong＠free.fr 10 Mar '24

10 Mar '24

Committee members, your response is required: a) Approve this proposal. b) Disapprove this proposal. c) Change this proposal. Background: Inkscape has traditionally held a gathering in conjunction with LGM (Libre Graphics Meeting). It's been a great success, not only to direct development of Inkscape, but also to the Inkscape community. We plan on doing the same for this years event (May 9-12th in Rennes, France). In order to be more inclusive of the Inkscape community, the event will be named "Inkscape Summit".** All Inkscape community members are welcome to attend. This proposal is to allocate funds to support Inkscape community members with travel expenses to, from, and during the event (transportation, accommodation, meals, misc. expenses), including attending LGM. Support will be offered to all active community members. Members can ask for support by contacting Tavmjong (the event organizer) with a short statement listing their contributions to Inkscape in the past year and with what they plan on working on during the summit.** In the past we've offered up to $2000 per person. I would propose increasing that to $2500 given the amount of inflation over the past few years. Most attendees will be coming from the European area so average travel costs should be lower. See: https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Inkscape_Summit_2024_Rennes Proposal: Allocate funds to support travel to an Inkscape Summit and to LGM. Up to $2500 will be available to each participant, subject to the SFC travel policy. The maximum total amount being limited to $25000 without further PLC approval. Allocate $500 for an Inkscape dinner for Inkscape community members and their guests. Allocate $200 for snacks during the Inkscape Summit. Authorize Tavmjong to approve applications for travel support. Notes: Meeting location to be confirmed with Cedric. ** After discussion with developers and Vectors about event name and travel support eligibility.

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Announcement: The Inkscape 1.4 About Screen contest is upon us!
by Maren Hachmann 03 Mar '24

03 Mar '24

For each new version of Inkscape, we invite all Inkscape artists, newcomers and seasoned professionals, to submit an artwork for the "About Screen" contest. The About Screen Contest is about more than the About Screen. Contest artwork is also frequently featured in news articles about the release, on the inkscape.org download page, and in other locations. Each and every submission also helps us test the newest version of Inkscape. The topic for this year's contest is "GROWTH". We're excited to see what great art is submitted this year! We're looking forward to your contributions, to helping spread the message about the contest, and helping us select a winner! Learn more here: https://inkscape.org/community/about-screen-contests/ Your Inkscape Vectors Team

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LGM and "Inkfest"
by tavmjong＠free.fr 29 Feb '24

29 Feb '24

Hi, Please add to tomorrow's agenda: We've talked about having an Inkscape event to be held just before LGM (Thursday, 9th - Sunday, 12th May Rennes, France https://libregraphicsmeeting.org/2024/). I've contacted Cedric (LGM organizer and long-time Inkscape community member) about space and he indicted it wouldn't be a problem. To organize the fest we need to make some decisions: 1. What the event should be called? (Inkfest?) 2. Who do we invite with what level of support? (Developers, Vectors, Translators, Users?) 3. Dates? (Monday 6th through Wednesday 8th?) 4. Budget ($20,000?) At the Bensberg hackfest we had 11 attendees with a budget of $20,000. At the Saarbrucken hackfest we had 13 attendees, of which 10 received Inkscape funding up to $2000 per person. Bensberg hackfest: https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Hackfest2023_Bensberg Saarbrucken hackfest page: https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Hackfest2019_Saarbr%C3%BCcken 2020 Rennes hackfest page (never finished): https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Hackfest2020_Rennes Tav

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Developer Meeting: Feb 25th 2024
by Martin Owens 25 Feb '24

25 Feb '24

Dear Devs, Big thanks to everyone who came to our meeting and all the new faces who came to talk about their work this week with us. Also thanks to everyone who stuck around for 2 HOURS! We got through some deep talk and a bunch of merge requests in our backlog (see below) Meeting: https://inkscape.org/cals/event/1/ Attending: Martin, Mansi, Marc, MikeKov, pbs, Rafael, Siddhant Agarwal, Tav, Vaibhav Malik, Ishaan Next Meeting: March 4th 2024 = Website DDOS Situation Martin talked about the DDos attack against the website and reported what happened and what things have been put in place to help bring it back. The website is still being attacked today. (two days) = Gtk4 Work PBS builds a Gtk4 app image and we can get the CI to build it. Currently we use an old ubuntu for app image and a newer ubuntu for other builds. We can actually get over this if we use a new tool introduced for building app images. Philip would like to hand this work onto another developer if we can find someone who's interested in the work. Some bugs fixed in the gtk4 branch. There's some bugs which were fixed in gtk4 branch but not merged into master and he's working on finding them and porting them. = Testing PBS reports that since we upgraded to C++20, the 2geom code coverage isn't working any more. It'll need to be fixed or disabled. = Release Schedules We talked a lot about release schedules, if other teams are seeing our plans and are in sync with us. How hard our deadlines are and why we use strctured releases in our project to help keep things moving and keep contributions going out to users etc. Many more details were covered casually. Vaibhav wanted to talk about test coverage and how we can improve our automated testing. He's also been working on some regressions related to toolbars migration and regressions related to context menu selection logic. = Packaging Marc is working on a complete rework of the debian packaging stuff, separating stuff in multiple packages, no more "inkscape-trunk" incompatibilities, no more "separate branch" with deps. = Color Refactoring PBS, Mikekov and Rafael helped reviewing Martin's large color refactoring merge request and work through some of the issues as well as explaining how it's structured. Martin made a video to explain the outline and the other developers were able to review the various issues and how it needs to be improved going forwards. = Other Work PBS wants to finish the command line bitmap tracing branch for 1.4, somebody made a fork of inkscape and replaced the gui with a command line and someone else then tried backporting that back into inkscape to give us command line bitmap tracing. Mikekov has pushed a bunch of small bug fixes. There are so many things that have changed in 1.4 and there's some concerns that the refactoring will cause instability and we may not have the bug fixing resources. Mansi will be wrapping up revamping of filter gallery with one more mr :) (most of them have been fixed). Apart from them diving deep into rendering of selection tool and trying to figure out the cause of the issue - selection tool corner handles off by a small amount Siddhant wanted to ask about livarot functionality and the lib2geom GSoC and wanted to know what work had already been done. = Group Activity: Merge Request Review We work on our merge requests backlog as there is a large number of merge requests (90!) that need to be either merged or closed. We got through 9 of them today. --------------------------- Best Regards, Martin Owens

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Inkscape lagging
by Finn Downey 08 Feb '24

08 Feb '24

> > > : > > > > > > > > > > > Hello Inkscape. My name is Finn Downey. And I have been using Inkscape to make a drawing but I am having a slight problem. > It seems that the bigger my drawing gets, the slower the website seems to act. I mean whenever I try to move a whole bunch of objects at once, it just moves so slowly. I have tried pretty much everything to get it to work the way it should. I tried using layers and even changing the Gaussian blur quality and filter effect quality to their lowest quality which is said to be the fastest. I have even tried cleaning my computer but nothing seems to work. Do you know what is wrong and if there is anything that can be done to fix these problems? Is there any chance you could even give the program some kind of overhaul so it keeps moving at the right speed no matter how much stuff is on the screen? because I feel that would be really great. > > Thank you kindly! > > > > > > > > > > > > >

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[VOTE] Bugfix accelerator 2024
by Jonathan Neuhauser 03 Feb '24

03 Feb '24

Dear PLC, the developer team requests to repeat the sucessful 2023 Bugfix accelerator program in 2024 with a few upgrades as discussed in last week's developer meeting. Background: see attached document, but to give you a summary of the changes: * No fixed list of contractors at the time of the vote; instead Call for applications like with the GTK4 internal contractor + hiring team. * Scenario of a contractor dropping out is explicitly covered; extension for the 1.4.x release series contained in the proposal. * Clarification that the selection of issues to work on is done primarily by the project. * Simplification of contract section. As for other major expenses from contracting in 2024, my grants proposal is still awaiting SFC review. Ballot: a) Repeat the bugfix accelerator program under the conditions outlined in the proposal; allocate USD 20'000 to it. b) No bugfix accelerator program in 2024. c) Other: ______ Best regards, Jonathan ___________________

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Developer Meeting: Jan 24th 2024
by Martin Owens 24 Jan '24

24 Jan '24

Hey everyone, Attending: Martin, Tav, Mikekov, Krlr17, NPJ, Mansi, Jonathan, Marc, René ------ Mansi - introduced themselves, they are from India and are a computer science and interested to help with Inkscape with the filters. Tav - XML editor rewriting it for Gtk4 compatibility trying to add drag and drop but it's a bit of a nightmare. The code hasn't been touched much in 20 years. There's a couple of different options, and he's going for the tree view. He copied the code from the object dialog, but it turns out the drag and drop wasn't working in the object dialog and it was segfaulting with an asserts. But even fixing those wasn't fixing it. We discussed the details further for ten minutes. Mikekov - Been on vacation but recommends studying the Gtk4 which details all the new concepts and it's going to be important for our developers to learn them and get comfortable with using it properly. Krlr17 - Martin wanted to know how the issues tracker is going, they said they could do with some help. On bug fixing they think a bug accelerator program would greatly help. For the triaging side, we should do a mentorship program where we spend some time getting new people into the project. People on the forum might be a good source of potential candidates. Jonthan - Bug accelerator program, has a draft but is not ready to be submitted. The goal is to have people apply for the position. We talked briefly about the way the new project should be run. We created a poll to ask people who would be interested in joining the hiring committee. Marc and Jonathan said yes. Everyone else abstained. Another poll for who would be interested, and there were people who answered yes (named withheld). A third poll about if we should run the program again came back with a 100% in favor vote that we should do it. Jonathan will set up a PLC vote at the weekend. René - Martin asked about a testing bug on macOS and René will look at it and will be able to run the whole test suite locally to find out what's going on. René is reviewing the mac-statium article and keep in touch with those guys. Also working on Gtk building stuff in general. We talked briefly about rocket chat, matrix and alternative chat, we will continue to have this chat to make sure we're doing the right thing. We're not going to rush into making a change at this time though. Thanks to everyone who came and talked about developer issues. It was a full and fun meeting today. Best Regards, Martin Owens

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