[plt-scheme] Hack to make help desk a modal window?

Version 4 of DrScheme will use a browser for its documentation. Does
that help at all?

Robby

On Jan 4, 2008 11:13 PM, Grant Rettke <grettke at acm.org> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I'm trying to get DrScheme running as a native "Sugar" app for the OLPC XO.
>
> The first step was just disabling opengl, compiling it, automating the
> build, and having a go to see how it works. From what we can see so
> far, it works great. It is really quick. Thanks for your help!
>
> The next step is to get it to run as a native "Sugar" app. Native
> Sugar expected to be written in Python, but X11 apps can be made
> compliant. More or less the only "strong suggestion" at this point
> (and I need to test this to find out what happens when you don't go
> along with it) is that it be a single window app. What happens is that
> when apps run on Sugar, they are displayed in a taskbar called the
> "Donut", and if sugar doesn't "know about them", they show up as a
> black dot.
>
> We can sugarize DrScheme, so it will have an icon and show correctly.
> Where I forsee a problem is when the user starts the help desk. The
> help desk is its own application, and shows up as a separate "black
> circle". I see three ways to address this.
>
> 1. When started from DrScheme, force helpdesk to run as a child
> (modal?) window. This way Sugar will be happy and it will look right
> to the users. (Granted, alt+tab works just fine, but the kids using
> this are not expected to try to use that). The downside is that you
> won't be able to go back and forth between DrScheme and the helpdesk.
>
> 2. Install helpdesk as its own activity. The user would switch back
> and forth between the two. If we took that path one thought is to
> disable the helpdesk from the menu along with the F1 binding. This
> really changes things a bit, but it would in a more Sugar friendly
> manner. Alternately there may be a way for one activity to start
> another activity.
>
> 3. Do nothing. This is probably the worst option.
>
> If pursued, how difficult is #1?
>
> #2 seems like the best option.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Grant Rettke
>
> --
> "Wisdom begins in wonder!"
> http://www.wisdomandwonder.com/
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