Loading Screen for Inkscape

[Christopher M. Rogers]

This is a duplicate of wishlist item/bug #322113

https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/322113

As part of the Inkscape Hackfest, we've made a loading/splash screen as a temporary solution until we can get icons to cache faster.

This was agreed upon on condition that:
-The splash screen automatically vanishes once Inkscape UI has loaded.
-The splash screen only appears once while caching/loading icons
-The splash screen will only show if the load time is more than a few seconds.

I have attached an svg splash screen to this bug.
Hidden layers contain a status bar (in orange to match the orange in the bird graphic for visual aesthetic, and text-objects of the outlined text for easy alterations.

Thanks to everyone for the help in getting a plan together for this solution.

-C

[Hachmann (marenhachmann)]

Is there an opt-out option planned for the settings?

[ScislaC (scislac)]

How is it determined if it will take more than a few seconds to launch?

[Jabiertxof (jabiertxof)]

Maybe is posibol a link to last crashed backup? I think we save the time wirth the file so we sow it if is 1 minute or lees old

[Christopher M. Rogers (cajhne)]

Re: Will there be an opt-out option:

Short answer: No.

The reasoning behind not having a startup screen is that Inkscape should load very fast (or instantly).
We've decided to apply this logic in reverse, and say that if Inkscape loads instantly you should not see the loading screen at all, therefore there is no need to opt out.

As an aside, you should only see this screen once when Inkscape caches the icons, and only if it's taking longer than expected.

If Inkscape is loading instantly or very fast for you, you will notice no change at all.

Another note: this screen is non-interactive, and contains no widgets or buttons at all, and it will vanish immediately when the Inkscape UI loads, so it will never be in the way.

-C

[Hachmann (marenhachmann)]

I don't agree with you here, C. For me, any splash screen that steals space in the foreground is in the way, as I tend to continue working on what I've been doing before until a program is fully loaded - using the time for something useful instead of waiting and looking at an image.

Unless the splash screen for Inkscape doesn't overlay over the desktop foreground, hiding open windows behind it?
What's the reasoning behind not offering an option to turn it off?

[Hachmann (marenhachmann)]

The splash itself is nice - but you may want to fix the typo at the top (softwate -> software).

[Christopher M. Rogers (cajhne)]

Re: "I don't agree with you here, C. For me, any splash screen that steals space in the foreground is in the way, as I tend to continue working on what I've been doing before until a program is fully loaded - using the time for something useful instead of waiting and looking at an image."

Firstly, thanks for your input.

The Inkscape splash screen does not force it's self over other programs, it just loads as a place holder to tell the user that something is happening, which is why nearly every major graphics program opts to have one. Some are more intrusive than others, ours is one of the least, which is why it's been agreed upon. Some window managers will push loading screens to the back and notify you when the program is ready rather than show it. With this, you can be sure that Inkscape is loading. If by chance your window manager shows you the Inkscape loading screen over what you are working on, it can be defocused just like any other program.

If you've asked for Inkscape to load, Inkscape assumes you want to use it... right away, or at least do something to let you know why you are waiting, and progress on loading.

As far as not offering an opt-out option, we can't really see any reason to add one more hidden option to an ever growing list of obscure settings options when the screen is auto-hiding anyway. The convention of using a loading screen is common enough that users are used to them anyway, so we aren't really doing anything out of the ordinary.

If you are waiting long enough for the loading screen to be a problem, it's better to file a bug report for the loading time being so long (for some reason) rather than disable the loading screen.

Thanks for the spelling correction.
-C

[Olof Bjarnason (objarni)]

I like the graphics and what seems to be a non intrusive ux.

Feedback:

"Did you Know" with small 'k', please.

Also, I guess it's for 0.92?

[Brynn (brynn4inks-deactivatedaccount)]

Nice work guys!

I agree about the lower case 'k'. Also, the vertical line between "Did you Know?" and "You can access tutorials...." doesn't seem to work. At first I thought "Did I know what???" Then I realized it's supposed to refer to the comment about accessing tutorials. But the line between indicates that each sentence or comment should stand alone.

Actually, I think it might work better without "Did you know?". Just leave "Tutorials can be accessed, etc." by itself and centered.

[Christopher M. Rogers (cajhne)]

The idea there was to put useful tips there, so "Did you know?" becomes something like: "Quick Tip:"
I think we're just going with one tip, which is about the tutorials, though so yea, I'll change it.

[Christopher M. Rogers (cajhne)]

Revised copy attached with text changed to "Learn Inkscape fast!" Instead of "Did you know?" Since "Did you know" isn't going to be a thing at the moment. :)

-C