Features/GObject Introspection

Summary

Use GObject-based libraries via introspection, instead of build-time bindings.

Owner

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Current status

• Targeted release: 0.92
• Last updated: Oct 12th 2010
• Percentage of completion: 0%

Detailed Description

Several of the Python modules we are using right now will become deprecated in the next GNOME release. PyGObject has gained support for GObject Introspection, which will allow us to keep using the GNOME platform without needing static bindings.

Benefit to Sugar

Sugar will continue to be packaged by distributions. Additionally, the move to dynamic bindings will reduce overall memory usage and startup time of the shell and activities. Also will make easier use libraries written in languages other than Python.

Scope

Will need changes in about every sugar module, including activities, but we'll have a script that will make it easier. Not all activities may need to switch at the same time.

How To Test

Run Sugar and activities as usual, notice startup is faster and check with 'free' the amount of free memory.

User Experience

The shell and activities should start much faster and you can launch more activities before systems with low memory and no swap (like the XO) become unresponsive and crash.

Dependencies

All our dependencies that are part of the GNOME platform will need to be updated to GNOME 3.0.

Contingency Plan

None necessary, revert to previous release behaviour. We may need to fork and maintain static bindings.

Documentation

http://live.gnome.org/GObjectIntrospection

http://live.gnome.org/PyGObject/IntrospectionPorting

Release Notes

TBW

Comments and Discussion

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