##(see the SpecSpec for an explanation)

 * '''Launchpad Entry''': UbuntuSpec:dx-karmic-messaging-menu
 * '''Packages affected''': indicator-messages

== Summary ==

The MessagingMenu was added to the panel in the Jaunty release cycle.  It has gotten a whole heap of reviews and community comments which have resulted in many ideas for its evolution.  This spec is to track that evolution in Karmic.

== Release Note ==

 * Messaging menu updated with new applications and the ability to show and activate applications that are not currently running.

== Implementation ==

=== Issues in v1 ===
 * Used 'Get' to find indicators (auth.log errors)
   * Fixed in trunk to use DBus introspection -- slower, but more 'correct'
 * API too narrow -- required apps to 'lie' to MI in order to get an effect
   * See below
 * Code quality, no real test suite.
   * Partially fixed in trunk
   * dbus-test-runner
 * E-mail and instant message are treated as the same priority
 * Application support limited need:
   * Thunderbird
   * xchat-gnome
 * Evolution plug-in issues:
   * Can't go right to the messages that are interesting
   * Perhaps go to unread messages in the inbox if you select the inbox
 * No C# bindings for C# applications
 * No information on when the item appeared on the menu.  For example: I just got a notification, where is it?  Results in an increased search time.

=== v2 properties ===
 * New props:
   * '''label''' -- Text shown in the menu item.  Typically this should be the person sending the message or the mailbox.  May contain a count.
   * '''icon''' -- The icon shown in the menu item.  Typically this should be the user icon of the person sending the message.
   * '''time''' -- The time that is associated with this time.  This should be the most recent message or the time the IM was sent.  If a time is not provided, the time will be assumed to be the time the indicator was sent.
   * '''display_time''' -- Controls whether or not the time is displayed in the right hand column of the menu.
   * '''draw_attention''' -- This item should signal the user that it has been placed in the menu.  Currently this is "show the green dot."
   * '''count''' -- Number of entries of a particular topic.  Should be an integer that by default is zero and not shown.  Only non-zero counts are shown.
 * No more than 7 items should be shown for any application.
   * Should it be dynamic?  Perhaps there are differing constraints that make sense
   * Does this lead to a fuzzy spec?
 * Migration would include using the "subtype" to migrate the old properties to the new properties.

=== v2 Features ===
 * Visibility of applications not running
   * Allow applications to put desktop file in somewhere (/etc/indicators/messaging ?)
   * Desktop files would provide "On" and "Off" strings (e.g. "Start monitoring Instant Messages" to "Show Buddy List")
   * Provides a more central place for messaging
 * Clean up the APIs and make it so there are less "magic numbers" -- important for other folks looking at 

=== v2 Issues ===

 * Launching Applications:
   * Every application thinks they're important, which ones should we include?
   * Users should be able to block
   * Does this include an unwieldy preference dialog that isn't truly useful for most users?
   * How do users control the entries in the menu?
 * No other issues, everyone thinks everything is perfect.

== Test/Demo Plan ==

 * Future work

== Unresolved issues ==

 * How applications should specify they appear in the Messaging Menu
 * How this should be integrated with the packaging

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CategorySpec