[sldev] Introducing the Imprudence Project

[Lawson English]

Adric R wrote:
> As some of you might have read recently on massively 
> (http://www.massively.com/2008/09/02/imprudence-for-second-life/), 
> Jacek Antonelli and myself, along with other interested members of the 
> community, have launched a new viewer project designed specifically to 
> address usability in the Second Life viewer: Imprudence.
>
> Imprudence is an opensource viewer fork for SL, and the general open 
> grid. As an independent viewer, we have more freedom to innovate than 
> LL does to make usability changes. Where they are conservative, we can 
> be bold and take chances, try new things. The hope is that good ideas 
> will flow back and forth between Imprudence and the linden viewer, 
> making the SL experience better for all.
>
> Right now, we are gathering input on our forums and mailing list as 
> well as considering patches for our first release. If you're 
> interested in contributing, or you simply want to follow along and 
> learn more about the project, I encourage you to head to 
> http://www.imprudenceviewer.org <http://www.imprudenceviewer.org/> and 
> join in the discussions currently going on. We are looking for a wide 
> range of contributors from across the spectrum of the community to 
> give their input, not just programmers. In other words:
>
> Have an issue with viewer that you absolutely long to improve? Let us 
> know.
> Have a UI idea but don't know how to present it? We'll help you.
> Have a patch that you doubt LL will take? We want it. 
> You're not a code monkey, but you're interested in usability, UI 
> design, or just making using SL a better experience? Our minds and 
> ears are open.
>
> The broader our opinion base, the better the project becomes. Our goal 
> is to make the viewer more usable for everybody (accessibility 
> features are also high on our list).
>
> I know to some, the case for usability might be seen as "quibbling 
> over details", but both Jacek and myself, as well as others, consider 
> usability an essential component to good software. (Interest in other 
> projects like Dusan Writer's UI contest shows a clear demand, for 
> example).
>
> In summary:
>
> - Imprudence is new opensource viewer for SL and the open grid, 
> focusing on usability.
> - Contributions are welcome, encouraged.
> - Imprudence is a project for programmers and non-programmers alike.
>
> I also recommend reading our Imprudence Manifesto:
> http://www.imprudenceviewer.org/manifesto/
>
> As well as our list of potential ways to contribute:
> http://www.imprudenceviewer.org/contribute/
>
> -- Adric AKA McCabe Maxsted inSL(tm)
>
Any pythonistas want to help with pyogp? ;-)

Lawson