Stephen Blackheath <stephen@blacksapphire.com>


This package contains a basic combined GUI client and configuration tool.

It is a client that will ultimately allow basic navigation and inserting of
files onto Freenet.  It will render a few of the most popular document types.
It will be extensible, in that you will be able to add document renderers
and spawn external viewers.  These may be implemented as downloadable
'plug-ins'.

This client is NOT intended to become a big bloaty replacement for Internet
Explorer.  Modularity is a good thing.  Complex clients belong outside the
core Freenet distribution.

It's under development and does not do anything useful yet.


TO DO:

(Anyone that wants to help do these things, let me know.  You are most welcome.)

* A whole lot of stuff that isn't finished yet.
* Make it so we can edit connection parameters.
* Make it so we can configure .freenetrc.
* Make it so we can stop and start a node like one of them fancy application server
  console thingies.
* Use a ResourceBundle to internationalize strings.
* Make it so user can switch between a TabbedPane and a multi-document-style
  interface.
* Put a very basic HTML renderer together from spare parts (as long as they have the
  right licence).  I have an HTML parser that I wrote if needed, and Swing provides
  some support (not sure exactly what) for this.  Full HTML is WAY beyond the scope
  of this application.  All I want is the bare basics so people can read the text and
  follow the links.  Looking at JoZilla (NOT to be confused with JaZilla which has the
  wrong licence).
* Look into interoperability with Java Activation Framework and such like without
  compromising the GPL licensing.  Use OJE (Open Java Extensions) at
  http://oje.sourceforge.net/
* Make it so it can be built with both JDK1.2 and JDK1.1 + Swing.  Currently only
  works with JDK1.2.
* Shortcut letters on menu options.  I don't know HOW to do this in Swing, but it
  must be possible, because jEdit does it.
* Help text.  This would be rendered in HTML, with a new DocumentLoader to load URLs
  starting with 'help:'.
* Add magic file type recognition (does JAF provide this?)
* Animated rabbit that runs when fetching something from the network.
* Skins.


BUGS TO FIX:

* Closing the application should gracefully terminate any file saves or inserts
  that are currently in progress.
  This means the user should be asked if they're sure they want to exit.
  If yes, then they should all be cancelled.  This will cause half-downloaded files
  to be deleted, and be otherwise much more tidy.

