Energizing
At the LGM, we've just had Peter Sikking and Kamila Giedrojć talk about Gimp usability -- really energizing and interesting. Because, yes while, there is overlap between Gimp and Krita, it's also clear that both projects have quite different core goals. To see those core goals stated clearly is very helpful. And although there is a clear difference, some of the problems facing the Gimp are very familiar in Krita. We had a good laugh yesterday comparing the user demands for mdi/sdi/apple-like interfaces for Krita and Gimp: but there are others, like organizing the user interface for use of dynamic effects or presenting often-used colors for a particular document to the user. I want to hack now!
We've also -- briefly -- met Louis Suarez-Potts. In some respects, Louis, who represents both OpenDocument and OpenOffice, is thinking along the same lines as I do: extending OpenDocument beyond pure, plain and traditional office documents into the creative realm. Music, raster images and video are interesting areas. Of course, innovation and cast-in-stone standards are hard to combine. But flexible standards that urge developers to use those standards as a basis to create innovations on top off are quite possible.
He invited me to an OpenDocument do in September. Not sure whether I'll be able to go, but we'll see... It should be interesting.