[Mapbender-dev] Motion to change terminology: "Application" instead of "GUI"

[Marc Jansen]

Hi all,

I'm +1, too.

Bye,
Marc

Christoph Baudson (WhereGroup) schrieb:
> Arnulf Christl schrieb:
>> Hello,
>> as discussed earlier on IRC I propose to change the terminology use din
>> Mapbender WIki, documentation, presentations, etc. from "GUI" to
>> "Application".
>>
>> Motion to change Mapbender terminology from "GUI" to "Application".
>>   
>
> Seconded and +1.
>
>> The rationale is that "GUI" is not a term well known to end users and it
>> does not reflect what a Mapbender applicaiton actually is - namely an
>> Application.
>>
>> A "Graphic User Interface" by definition needs to have somethign visible
>> to the user. In many cases Mapbender "GUI" do not have an interface fo
>> rthe user but are just containers to structure permissions or to be used
>> as sources for catalogs. To call this a "GUI" is simply wrong (for 
>> example
>> wms_africa).
>>
>> Mapbender is a framework to create, maintain and operate separate
>> applications that can use the same services. The idea is that the
>> application contains not only graphic user interfaces but also services
>> that can be configured individually and functionality that is 
>> designed for
>> a specific use case - and application.
>>
>> An application is focused on a work flow or process whereas a GUI is 
>> just
>> the graphic user interface. Mapbender "GUI"s have links to services,
>> functionality and even users, groups and user rights. This is a lot more
>> than what the term GUI can convey.
>>
>> What will this change break?
>> All existing users of Mapbender will have to learn that what was a "GUI"
>> is now an "Application". But we are well connected to all existing 
>> users,
>> so informing them is easy.
>>
>> What good will this change do?
>> It will be much easier to explain what Mapbender is good for. Its 
>> good to
>> build applications. Sentences like "Please open your guigui" or "Please
>> open your guiguione" will not bother us anymore. So it will help to
>> attract people to look into Mapbender because they know that an
>> application is more than just yet another interface.
>>
>> With Mapbender growing to be more of a management, security and 
>> brokering
>> system we should get rid of the confining term GUI.
>>
>> Please take you time to discuss this in detail.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>>   
>
>