[Qgis-developer] How to deal with plugins which are not useful for users (e.g. Hello world)

[Jonathan Moules]

+1 to Anita's post. The vast majority of GIS users aren't programmers in my
experience (which is my masters and my current employment with 100+ people
who use GIS in some form). Simpler is almost always better.

It may not seem that way from mailing lists, but these are a self-selecting
group of the more technically-proactive users (dev lists even more so).
Cheers,
Jonathan


On 30 December 2013 13:32, Anita Graser <anitagraser at gmx.at> wrote:

> Hi Alessandro,
>
> Am 30.12.2013, 13:54 Uhr, schrieb Alessandro Pasotti <apasotti at gmail.com>:
>
>> Did you have any real feedback from users being confused from the
>> HelloWorld plugin? After all, it clearly advertises itself as an example
>> do-nothing plugin.
>>
>
> There is feedback from at least one user who think it should not be on the
> list of "official" plugins:
> https://twitter.com/dig_geo_com/statuses/417293802387152896
>
> I can understand that it does not leave the most professional impression
> if users find "weird testing stuff" in the "official" plugin list. (Note
> that I'm speaking from the perspective of users without open
> source/programming background.)
>
>  Can you explain me why do you put plugin developers in a different
>> category
>> than users? I tend to see plugin authors as (power) users.
>>
>
> Many GIS users are not programmers. They have QGIS installed by their IT
> department and might or might not be able to install additional plugins.
> They certainly won't touch programming with a ten-foot pole.
> I think it's a valid distinction to make and the first impression should
> not alienate these more casual users.
>
>   If I were a new QGIS user, I would like to have starting point to develop
>> plugins, of course we have the coockbook and the builder plus plenty of
>> blog articles, but as a programmer, what I would search is exactly that:
>> the simplest possible plugin to start tampering with.
>>
>
> I totally agree with your statement from the perspective of someone who
> knows at least some programming. But not everyone is in this position. Many
> users come to QGIS without feeling the need to develop plugins. Too often
> all they want to do is visualize some data, maybe have some background map
> from OpenLayers plugin.
>
>  But I definitely agree that HelloWorld should not have a dual purpose
>> (testing the plugin repository and provide a barebone example for wannabe
>> plugin authors), so here's my proposal: unpublish HelloWorld and create a
>> new Example plugin with the purpose of providing a simple starting point
>> for new plugin authors.
>>
>
> Personally, that doesn't bother me. I'm fine however you decide.
>
> Best wishes,
> Anita
>
>
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