[I7] I7 projects and bundle files

[Andrew Plotkin]

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007, Jesse McGrew wrote:

> For this reason, I must disagree with Andrew that zipped projects are
> only for people who know how zip works.

Then disagree with *both* claims, because it cuts both ways.

Any flat assertion of "we know how the user wants to manage his source 
code" is going to be wrong for a lot of users, and will be a nasty kick in 
the shins to some (current) users. Can we please not unilateratally and 
mandatorily change the project format on everybody just because it would 
be convenient for XO?

> I don't think it's worth worrying about interoperability with
> older versions of I7

...because nobody is in the middle of working on any I7 projects *now*, 
right? Who might want to upgrade? Sheesh.

A one-file project format is a good idea of itself, but:

- I worry about new failure modes. Does the IDE update the archive on 
every save? (Or every time the skein updates?) If so, that's a lot of file 
rewriting (potentially costly on, say, XO). If not, does an IDE crash mean 
you lose all your recent source-code changes? (If I email you my project 
file without quitting I7, does the latest version go out?)

- The IDE should be able to read both formats (archive and directory), and 
write either. A checkbox in the save dialog for "save as archive" is not a 
user-interface nightmare. People can ignore it, and messing with the 
setting doesn't hurt their ability to use the app. If you hate the idea, 
then come back in a year -- after people have had a chance to try it both 
ways -- and *ask* if it makes sense to take out one format or the other.

- I don't care whether the archive or directory setting is the default.

- But don't label one "recommended". That's pointless. If people have a 
reason to prefer one, they'll do so.

- Only one format, please. Zip is good. Zip/tar/gz/bz is a nightmare.

- A distinct file suffix is good (.i7p looks fine). Lots of file formats 
these days are .zip with semantics on the content (.jar, for example).

- If none of this ever gets implemented, that would be okay, really.

--Z

-- 
"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."
*
9/11 did change everything. Since 9/12, the biggest threat to American
society has been the American president. I'd call that a change.