Re: [Libreoffice] Mac OS X Discussion of Using Xcode and SDK >= 10.6

Hi Christian:
On 2011-05-09, at 4:02 PM, Christian Lohmaier wrote:
> Hi Peter, *,
<snip>
> Oh, different build configurations is of course no problem, that would
> just be adding a configure switch --with-macosx-sdkversion -  but
> maintaining the actual code for two different variants is. I just
> don't see the Mac-part has enough manpower to do so.
<snip>
> Again the problem I see is:
> * Developers use newer version, they don't even notice that they
> introduce incompatible code
> * There are very few mac developers in total to begin with, those who
> then have 10.4 to actually work on a fix is even lower
> * Mac-users don't usually engage in doing QA/Testing either, Feedback
> from Mac users comes very late (if at all)
> → you'll end up with code that won't work for 10.4, but nobody
> able/willing to fix up that code/writing a backwards compatible copy
> that does the same for 10.4 using a different API
>
> And so far I didn't hear of any specific feature or similar that would
> require 10.5 or 10.6 API/libs...

> I'm aware that this will not work forever. Alone because Apple likes
> to break compatibility despite shipping the older SDKs - but I'd
> rather make it harder (i.e. not making it easier) for people to
> introduce stuff that is not supported on 10.4 (i.e. stuff that needs
> to be duplicated for 10.4 anyway) as long as the 10.4 code also works
> on 10.5 and 10.6.
>
> ciao
> Christian

I genuinely understand and truly respect your pov.

Mac's have been my sole livlihood for the past 25 years 
going back the the Mac Plus.

Out of curiosity how many Mac developers?

Are they all using command line hacking?

Now I'm 73 and there is no way I want to go back to that way of development.
For me the Xcode IDE has been very productive for the past many years.
More so than MPW - it's unixy style predecessor.

>  I'm aware that this will not work forever.

Precisely. So maybe the time is now to start up an Xcode IDE version.
If there is support for that I would consider helping.

For me using the command line is like cutting people open to do a gall bladder removal.
Whereas Xcode IDE is like laparoscopy.

Anyway I think you get where I'm coming from.

with my respects to you

Peter