AfterStep Themes Discussion

The whole terminology of themes/skins is full of misunderstandings, so everthing needs to be clearly defined, feel free to correct anything...

Definition

• a theme is a subject of composition and/or a distinct, recurring, and unifying quality or idea
• a skin (Look in afterstep terminology) is a way to decorate elements a user has set up to be on his desktop, as such a skin is a subset of a theme

Entities involved with theming

• user (what he wants and doesnt want to be changed)
• theme (what themer wants so theme is an experience rather then simple cosmetic changes)
• theme engine (helps integrate user whishes and themer whishes)

Theme objectives

• it defines where stuff lies on the desktop (as such any personal config is initself a theme)
• how it reacts/interacts
• it defines how stuff is decorated
• other toolkits/apps to be themed

Atomic Elements that cannot be further reduced

• Background
• IconSet
• Decor
• Windows
• Window Buttons
• Menu
• Modules
• Wharf
• Pager
• Winlist
• WinTabs
• banner
• Feel (FIXME : break down more)
• Keyboard actions
• mouse actions
• Module Decor
• size and orientation of windowbox (problem here: how to make that look independant)
• Animation settings

What should be included with a theme?

This is just a topic starter, and nothing else.

Speedy's ideas:

Visual

• Window Decorations MyStyle
• Menu MyStyle (including MiniFolders)
• Wharf MyStyle
• Pager MyStyle
• WinTabs MyStyle
• WinList MyStyle
• Color Scheme
• Mouse pointer (?)
• Background

Feel - Not sure if this should be included or not. Very user-specific. What's the gain for the user?

Sounds - based-on events, could have a sci-fi theme, Halloween theme, Simpsons theme, Elmo theme, etc.

Modules - Should these be modified? These are very user-specific, and loading them can disrupt an existing setup. Should there be a warning when installing these?

• Wharf
• Pager
• WinList
• WinTabs

Leave out:

• Animations - seven types offered. Can these even be theme-specific? Can additional ones be added? If not, should be decided by user.
• Menu - switching on and off: mini-folders, recent, texture, unavailable.