Request for Comment.
A feature for the 0.91 release and going forwards.
The idea is for inkscape to have a way to alert our users about some goings on in the inkscape world 'in app'. This is needed because many users either download the app and fail to upgrade after that, or are not aware of anything beyond the app download. And for users who get inkscape through their package manager and are thus cut off from us.
An xml file would be made generated (and cached) on inkscape.org which would be controllable by the inkscape board by vote. It would contain a list of translated alert 'items' specific for an inkscape released version, each one would contain:
- unique id (int) - A subject (translated-text) - A body (translated-text) - A link (url) - Start Date (iso date) - Expire Date (iso date) - Importance (int)
This file would be downloaded every so often and cached locally. (default one month between updates). Stored in ~/.cache/inkscape/alerts-${inkscape-version}-${lang}.xml
When the app has been opened for a certain delayed time (default 3 seconds) it will check for alerts never shown before by id. It will then filter out any outside of the date range start-expire.
It will then check the user's preference for alerts (Developer-Notice(0), Community-Update(5), Important(10), Critical(15), Never(20)) and if >= display the alert[1] saving the fact it has displayed this alert-id.
[1] http://inkscape.org/en/gallery/item/704/
The importance might be reflected in an icon displayed. The user might be alerted by default to go to inkscape.org to register (and also check their alert settings if they never want to be disturbed)
Your thoughts on this proposal are needed.
Best Regards, Martin Owens