[Qgis-developer] Plugins: "standalone" versus more tightly integrated

[Matthias Kuhn]

Hi Tom,

Offering the possibility for this sounds good to me. I have already
added an API to register custom pages on the vector layer properties
page and will be happy to see more such functionality.

https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/visualchangelog216/index.html#feature-api-add-pages-to-vector-layer-properties

Are you talking about qgis2web in particular or more generally?

I think most of the cons can be neglected because the whole process is
opt-in. If someone wants he can still use a simple single dialog. Or
create the integrated option windows while keeping a simple "setup
wizard" around for people to get started with.

At the same time, the risk of "cluttering" the UI is present. But there
are already now a ton of possibilities to decrease UX from plugins.
That's the cost of giving power to plugin developers, "with great power
comes great responsibility" ;)

Cheers
Matthias

On 11/14/2016 12:23 PM, Tom Chadwin wrote:
> Hello all
> 
> Nathan got in touch over the weekend, and we discussed possible plugin
> changes. He suggested breaking up the one-dialog GUI, and instead embedding
> the different parts into appropriate places in QGIS:
> 
> - general options into own pane
> - preview window into own pane
> - layer settings as plugin to style dock
> 
> I honestly can't decide what I think about this.
> 
> Pros:
> - tighter integration with QGIS and improved workflow (instead of start
> plugin, preview, close plugin, change QGIS settings, start plugin)
> - remove GUI duplication
> - reduce GUI development of plugin (perhaps)
> 
> Cons:
> - plugin loses identity (vague)
> - cluttering/confusion/pollution of QGIS GUI
> - initially less simply for user, as not all functionality in one dialog
> 
> What do others think about this? I think it could probably improve workflow
> for the plugin, by using QGIS UI to allow user customization of the UI
> (dock/undock panes, etc). However, one dialog is certainly simple.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Tom
> 
> 
> 
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