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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:50:11 -0400
Message-Id: <201210291750.q9THoB8i013249@envy.delorie.com>
From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <508EBF40.8040703@unige.ch> (message from Juergen Harms on Mon,
	29 Oct 2012 18:39:12 +0100)
Subject: Re: [geda-user] The state of gEDA/gaf (Was gEDA/PCBs diversity,
 Was: Pin hole size)
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 <54CAA7EE-7638-4B89-8197-111D0493F859 AT noqsi DOT com>
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 <20121028164801 DOT GA4859 AT alpha2>
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 <20121028185659 DOT GA16006 AT alpha2>
 <04438B14-A0ED-4F92-A101-5824420C24C1 AT noqsi DOT com> <20121029063943 DOT GA8685 AT fly>
 <A861F180-C969-4FA3-A1ED-9F24AE2615E5 AT noqsi DOT com>
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> This discussion is excellent, necessary - but most of what is being
> said is disquieting for the ordinary user who just wants to put
> these tools.

Agreed, and we've driven off a fair bit of our user and developer
population with heated arguments that serve neither group.  We have a
strong vocal minority that tries to steer the project's direction for
their personal gain, and that's not always what's best for the
"ordinary user".

> Does all this mean that this kind of user is getting more and more out 
> of the focus of what is being developed? What should my reaction as a 
> maintainer for these tools on one of the Linux distributions be?

I hope not.  *My* focus is not on the niche users, but on the
"ordinary user" - as I'm an "ordinary user" myself.  I use gschem and
pcb to make circuit boards.  I have the same wants and needs as most
geda users.

I think, as an "ordinary user", the best thing you can do at this
point is make your opinion known, and keep the focus driven towards
your needs.  Also, posting about success stories, helping other users
get started, and perhaps writing documentation, blogs, or wiki pages
about anything you learn along the way.