[Scribus] Windows Port

[Jason Crowtz]

Hello all,

It is very much in the interest of the Scribus community to release a
version for Windows. Here's why:

One: Let us remember that the vast majority of design and desktop
publishing professionals have no ingrained allegiance to any particular 
operating system. They flock to the program, not the OS. Witness the move
to the Mac in early 1980s due its position as the only practical choice 
to run affordable DTP (Desk Top Publishing) software, or the use of
windows-based PCs by the sign industry in the late 1980s/early 1990s
because it was the only OS to support CorelDraw.  Even now (though this
example is not OS-related) QuarkXpress is slowly fading away in the face
of Adobe InDesign.

(My perepective is somewhat skewed as a graphic design student, not a
working professional, but let me tell you: once a student at my school
starts using InDesign, they stop using Quark. For good. We use the program
- and the OS - that does the job quickest, the most elegantly, and best. )

Two: Scribus, to make its greatest inpact, must reach out to all those
people who have barely heard of Linux, let alone care about it. That means
a Windows version. But don't fear: this will not pilfer support away from
Linux. I believe the opposite is true: it will strengthen it. Let the user
learn about Scribus in his "comfortable" environment (Windows). Then when
the OS bugs, privacy concerns, and system insecurity remove Windows as an
option from which to run DTP, there will be Scribus, familiar and safe as
ever, sitting contentedly on Linux. The migration will be swift.

But remember - that migration will only happen if users know what they're
getting into. Trying out Scribus first - on Windows - is the key.

Three: the current method of running Scribus on Windows is simply
unacceptable. Average users need a binary installation, period. No
compiling, no installing KDE first, etc. One file, call it setup.exe or
whatever, double-click on it and go. Anything else just won't fly.

Linux users who do DTP have it rough. An absense of quality design
programs, difficult efforts to get them up and running, a multitude of
thankless tasks - yes, things are not fair. But a Scribus port for
Windows, despite the time and resources it will consume, is a necessity
for Scribus's future. I suppose, in the final analysis, Scribus could grow
and flourish *without* a Windows port....

But it will grow and flourish quicker WITH it.


- Jason Crowtz
  long-time lurker, first-time poster
  www.jasoncrowtz.com


On Mon, 17 Nov 2003, Brian Marr wrote:

> 
> Is this a high priority ? Windows users have access to a huge range of
> software. I envy their choice. Linux users on the other hand have to get by
> with what ever we can get our hands on. No disrespect meant, but Linux users 
> need the focus of development effort for some time yet just to break even with 
> the other OS. We are still very much playing catch up.
> 
> Please correct me if I am wrong.
> 
> Brian
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun, Nov 16, 2003 at 11:29:01AM +0000, Paul wrote:
> > Hi,
> > 
> > > Hey guys is there still a Windows version planned or is that idea pretty 
> > > much dead?
> > 
> > Check the Scribus website documentation - it tells you how to do it.
> > 
> > I should have started this week on the Windows port, but as I'm only in
> > Monday of this week, next week looks more likely.
> > 
> > TTFN
> > 
> > Paul
> > -- 
> > One OS to fool them all
> > One browser to find them
> > One email client to bring them all
> > And through security holes, blind them...
> > 
> 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Scribus mailing list
> > Scribus at nashi.altmuehlnet.de
> > http://nashi.altmuehlnet.de/mailman/listinfo/scribus
> 
> 
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