Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

Nick · 2011-02-16 20:23:33

Hey everyone,

Last Sunday the planning phase for Xfce 4.10 was closed and we've now entered the development phase. So this is a good moment to inform you about how the cycle will look like and what we're planning to achieve for 4.10.

The final 4.10 release is scheduled for January 15th 2012. For the second time we try to follow the the release policy, so like in 4.8 you will see frequent development releases of individual components and, most importantly, a time-based release cycle which looks a lot more realistic the the one we had in 4.8.

I'm confident that we can meet the schedule you can see below, mostly because there are no large ports planed (GIO,Gtk3 etc) and we can finally work on the desktop again (the fun part!). So I'd like to encourage everyone to participate in the development; be it as a developer, a tester, a translator or a generally active member of the Xfce community.

Below you find detailed information about the 4.10 schedule, the release team, dependencies and planned features. This information is also available (and up2date!!!) on http://wiki.xfce.org/releng/4.10/roadmap.

Schedule

2011-02-13 - 2011-11-05: Development Phase

2011-11-06 - 2012-01-15: Release Phase
2011-11-06: Xfce 4.10pre1 release / Feature freeze
2011-12-04: Xfce 4.10pre2 release / String freeze
2012-01-08: Xfce 4.10pre3 release / Code freeze

2012-01-15: Xfce 4.10 final release

Release Team

Release Manager: Nick Schermer
QA Official: Jannis Pohlmann
Release Assistants: Jérôme Guelfucci, Yves-Alexis Perez, Jannis Pohlmann

You can read up on the roles of these people on http://www.xfce.org/about/releasemodel if you feel like you need to contact one of them because there's something going wrong with the development or release process.

Dependencies

Xfce 4.10 will depend on the following libraries and applications:

gtk+-2.0 >= 2.20
Same version for gdk-pixbuf-2.0 and gdk-2.0.
glib-2.0 >= 2.24
Same version for gmodule-2.0, gobject-2.0, gthread-2.0 and gio-2.0
cairo >= 1.6
dbus-glib-1 >= 0.84
dbus-1 >= 1.1
libwnck-1.0 >= 2.30

The following dependencies are still left open:

libx11

The following new modules will be part of core for 4.10:

garcon
thunar-volman
tumbler
xfce4-power-manager

Planned Features

In the following, we give you an overview of the features we are planning to implement for 4.10. Please note that due to the voluntary nature of the Xfce development, none of features are guaranteed to make it into the final release. This feature list may also not be complete as we might be able to implement even more during the cycle.
This list is meant to give you an insight in what we're up to and what you might be able to expect in 10 months.

We try to keep the roadmap pages up to date, so the individual module page give you an idea about the status in master and who are responsible to work on them. We welcome people to help in achieving these goals, so don't hesitate to contact us (preferably on the xfce-dev mailing list) if you think you have a good idea or want to contribute code.

Below I've only listed the important changes for users, the individual module pages have more information about internal changes.

exo:

Mime-type editor in the preferred applications dialog.

thunar:

Provide thunarx interface for desktop extensions (see thunar-desktop below!).
Improve user directories experience.
Integrate remote locations into the side- and tree-pane.
Improve tumbler integration (already available in the Thunar-1.3.0 release!).
Port more thumbnailers to tumbler.
Sort by extension.
Improve responsiveness of file operations.

thunar-desktop:

New plugin for thunar to provide the functionality of xfdesktop. This way thunar does not depend on libwnck but we benefit from the code in thunar for icon desktops and more direct file operations.

xfce4-appfinder:

Merge the functionality of xfrun4 and xfce4-appfinder in a single application.
Allow users to add custom actions.

xfce4-panel:

Add a container plugin to placing items on the panel is more flexible.
There are a lot of feature request left over after 4.8, see link on roadmap or bugzilla.

xfce4-session:

Clean session button.
Use Xfpm for power actions.

xfce4-settings:

Improve effort to make all dialogs compact and fit on small screens.
"Solidify" the Keyboard Shortcuts.
Improve multi-head configuration.
Easy themes installation.
Improve the pointer settings.
Merge xfsettingsd and xfce4-settings-helper.

xfwm4:

Allow the Alt-Tab window to be themed.

xfce-utils:

Will be removed in 4.10. Xfrun4 will be replaced by the new xfce4-appfinder and a lot of the scripts can either be removed or moved to for example xfce4-session.

xfdesktop:

Will be removed in 4.10, replaced by the thunar-desktop plugin.

In Xfce 4.10 we will also work on the accessibility of the Xfce desktop. Not all parts of the desktop work properly with screen readers like Orca or are accessible with the keyboard. We already have good contact with the a11y community of Gnome and they really want us to help with improving Xfce in this area, so expect a lot of good things in this area!

We will of course also continue to make stable releases in the 4.8 branch and try to back port as much bug fixes as possible.

So I think that's it. I hope you enjoy Xfce and are looking forward to the 4.10 release together with us!

Mark7 · 2011-10-25 18:19:45

Q1: Why 4.10 and not 4.9?
Q2: Is there anywhere one can follow the progress of 4.10?

ToZ · 2011-10-26 02:33:01

Thanks for the update Nick. Looking forward to the new release.

jannis · 2011-10-27 07:58:08

Mark7 wrote:

Q1: Why 4.10 and not 4.9?
Q2: Is there anywhere one can follow the progress of 4.10?

A1: We use odd minor numbers for unstable versions of core components. All individual 4.9.x releases of core components lead up to stable 4.10.0 releases that will together form Xfce 4.10.

A2: There are completion percentage values on individual sub-pages of http://wiki.xfce.org/releng/4.10/roadmap but those are not always up to date. Other than that, the development progress only really becomes visible if you follow development releases (which you can do by subscribing to the xfce-announce@xfce.org mailing list or by following identi.ca/xfce) and discussions on IRC. I guess we can still improve the situation by posting weekly or monthly updates.

Jristz · 2012-01-09 23:54:08

Ok....
this tread say the xfce4 4.10pre3 is out this day
the webpage (the wikia) say xfce4 4.10pre1 is out...yesterday

I ask a simple question ...what happend??

chipong · 2012-01-13 12:14:52

the roadmap said xfce-utils and xfdesktop will be removed, really? They are all in master.

Nick · 2012-01-13 12:30:17

xfce-utils is not required anymore. I'm not sure we drop xfdesktop in this release, we're not completely sure it is a good idea.

4.10pre1 is ready when we're done, I think march is more likely.

chipong · 2012-01-13 13:08:13

thank you nick.

chipong · 2012-01-13 13:19:15

Nick wrote:

I think march is more likely.

Well done, nick!

I think quanlity is most important, we should not be in a hurry.

xfce2012 · 2012-01-14 09:37:26

Just want to say, that I am a recent refugee from Unity, and Gnome 3.x. As a programmer I found them both unusable. Perhaps they are useful to tablet users, gamers, or person who uses computer to read email. As a programmer both Unity and Gnome 3.x were forcing me to adopt work processes dreamed up by team of Unity and team of Gnome 3.x. I think they forgot that people run away from Windoz to Linux because they wanted to be free to choose work process. I tried several DE and then I tested Xfce. I consider Gnome 2.3 the best standard for programmers. With the death of Gnome 2.3, right now Xfce is the best DE for programmers. I just hope (unlike the team Gnome 3.x) that Xfce team is listening to their "customers". Please keep up the current paradigm. If you ever decide to serve tablets and cell phones and gamers, pls make a fork, and keep this paradigm for programmers. -thanks

Last edited by xfce2012 (2012-01-14 09:38:40)

LeonBr · 2012-01-16 10:21:24

This is for sure, i do know that this is not the best place to make a comment or a suggestion, but im also have this think about Xfce, and please DO NOT make such mistake as canonical ou gnome foundation.

I don't start using xfce on linux, but now, even if gnome 2 back with mate, i won't change.

I LOVE XFCE, for me,this is the BEST GUI that i ever user, in the both; Linux e windows world, for me XFCE4 is the best, and i countting days to the release fo 4.10.

I use more de than one monitor and xfce give me the FULL POWER on them.

Please, keep the good job, don't try any revolution because the xfce4 is ALMOST PERFECT HIGH NOW, just need a few teaks and after this you can froze him in time as much as you can.

Guys, again, thanks, you are the linux salvation for me.
The best for you team and user os Xfce.

PLEASE get in touch with me if need any kind of help.

Last edited by LeonBr (2012-02-06 00:48:28)

Nick · 2012-01-16 10:24:39

LeonBr wrote:

PLEASE get in touch with me if need any kind of help.

Any why don't you get in touch with us if you want to contribute wink .

jere2001 · 2012-01-20 03:37:29

I particularly liked the Unity and Gnome Shell, but not abandoned XFCE for nothing.

I think XFCE but must evolve! But I am hopeful that when this happens the modularity of Xfce and good taste are maintained. Maybe change the Applications menu with something like the Mint Menu mixed with Appfinder would be interesting ... This is my suggestion considering netbook users like me.

big_smile

Last edited by jere2001 (2012-01-20 04:37:57)

LeonBr · 2012-01-20 09:39:56

Team o XFCE, there is one problem when people talk about XFCE, is the fact that XFCE replace gnome2 in his life, but this is a wrong way to see the thing, When a moved from Windows to Linux world, first off all, i think "how that i can let his most like windows!" after a time, a get it, i get the point, Linux is not a REPLACER of Windows, and then i stop to complain about "why that i can do that in windows and here i can't?!"
Ubuntu, Sabayon, Fedora, Mandriva, CentOs, ARCH... THEY ALL ARE NOT MAKE TO REPLACE WINDOWS, they are OS, as the windows, BUT, you must keep in mind one thing they are make for people and not for windows user that left the windows.
Well, that is a point, that i want to use in here, the people, must understand, that, the guys of XFCE, when they give his tears and time to do the XFCE they don't do to the XFCE can be a replacer of gnome or whatever else, i guess, they do for this will be a another alternative in the Linux world.
So... what that im saying is, don't think gnome, think XFCE, don't look at the gnome thinking "how can we do this to XFCE!"
One think that XFCE must give the attention is the is not just the OS or just the GUI how must evolve, but the user to, at the beginning of my XFCE using, i don't get how easy is to do the things, even more if i take a look at here, in the forum.
FOR ME, XFCE still the same, they JUST give a cut in the corners, to make more soft, more ... a sample about what that i am talking is...
DELETE in NTFS partition,
The Thunar cant drag and drop things at desktop wit, dragging with right button
Select and move few items at same time in the desktop
Fix that problem that panels gone.
Shows thumb in more files type, as in rmvb (here, in Brasil, rmvb is largely used)
Thunar bars must be more customizable

I make a way to "solved" all this problems, even with the XFCE FORUM helping in his post, but im saying that some fix must be there from the start, and in my mind thats what i expect from you guys

AND PLEASE try to don't take nothing from what we can use, because, is there that the problem is, when they took the things off, this is the problems.

Well, again, i hope you understand that interested in help with my basic knows about Linux and XFCE as a user, i hope this help in something.

But,above everything, really thank you guys for XFCE.

Last edited by LeonBr (2012-02-06 00:47:12)

LeonBr · 2012-01-20 09:47:12

Thumbs in the Desktop also.

I have another question, why XFCE don't sell t-shirts and sticker.
Because, i want to donate, but searching in the forum i found that in the moment this options don't exist.

Lightning_John · 2012-01-31 22:15:02

Agree with him in the above post ^ T-shirts is a pretty good idea. Maybe more work than it's worth though. It's up to the developers to decide.

Samarium · 2012-02-01 17:44:26

I too would gladly buy an Xfce T-Shirt. Though as Lightning_John said, it's more likely to be a hassle.
I simply interpret the lack of donation requests as a good sign.
And by the looks of it, if something needs financing, there will be plenty of happy donators.

Last edited by Samarium (2012-02-01 17:45:04)

chipong · 2012-02-10 11:35:51

Jannis Pohlmann said "...a lack of completed features in Thunar..." in his blog...

What feature?

Jristz · 2012-02-19 00:15:31

chipong wrote:

Jannis Pohlmann said "...a lack of completed features in Thunar..." in his blog...
What feature?

maybe...thunar-desktop???is the only thjat become into my mind for now

chipong · 2012-02-19 03:59:10

I think so.

Nick · 2012-02-19 14:42:20

Not we're going to skip thunar-desktop for this release, too much complications we want to agree on first.

Jannis wants to complete the new side-pane for thunar.

lifeinthegrey · 2012-03-20 07:16:00

hey nick, love xfce, ridiculously excited for 4.10. was curious though ... is that delay-on-first-open bug when gvfs-backends is installed going to be fixed? im setting automount to false to circumvent the issue now, but network browsing without the (admittedly minor) inconvenience and sshfs via GUI are really the only two features I've even come close to missing.

l1nuxfre4k · 2012-03-21 22:24:55

How is it going with 4.10?
How far have you come? U sad might be released in March?
Is the roadmap accurate that it will be released late April?

btw, love XFCE, it was my escape from Unity and gnome 3 tongue
Perfect smile

linux.alucard · 2012-03-26 16:46:43

l1nuxfre4k wrote:

btw, love XFCE, it was my escape from Unity and gnome 3
Perfect

Xfce = Perfect DE smile

Nick · 2012-03-27 07:02:59

2012-04-01 Xfce 4.10pre1 (Feature Freeze)
2012-04-14 Xfce 4.10pre2 (String Freeze)
2012-04-28 Xfce 4.10(pre3) or final release

So expect 4.10 on April 28.

Xfce Forum

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#1 2011-02-16 20:23:33

Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#2 2011-10-25 18:19:45

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#3 2011-10-26 02:33:01

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#4 2011-10-27 07:58:08

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#5 2012-01-09 23:54:08

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#6 2012-01-13 12:14:52

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#7 2012-01-13 12:30:17

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#8 2012-01-13 13:08:13

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#9 2012-01-13 13:19:15

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#10 2012-01-14 09:37:26

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#11 2012-01-16 10:21:24

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#12 2012-01-16 10:24:39

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#13 2012-01-20 03:37:29

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#14 2012-01-20 09:39:56

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#15 2012-01-20 09:47:12

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#16 2012-01-31 22:15:02

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#17 2012-02-01 17:44:26

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#18 2012-02-10 11:35:51

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#19 2012-02-19 00:15:31

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#20 2012-02-19 03:59:10

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#21 2012-02-19 14:42:20

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#22 2012-03-20 07:16:00

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#23 2012-03-21 22:24:55

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#24 2012-03-26 16:46:43

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

#25 2012-03-27 07:02:59

Re: Xfce 4.10 Release Cycle Information

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