[Bf-interface] Workflow workshop, agenda topics and preparations

Thu Nov 17 11:57:43 CET 2016

Hi,

Disclaimer: I’m starting fresh from initial mail again, since I’ve seen 
mails going already in way to much details, imho (Sebastian… ;) ). My 
point being: topic is way to broad and complex to be discussed in a 
single thread, would make it impossible to follow. So I propose to keep 
this thread only for the topics definition, and planning/agenda (in 
other words, the schedule of the workshop). For further detailed 
discussion of a topic or another (like, keymap, various types of 
customizations, 101, etc.), please start new (or use existing) threads.

So, here is first draft of how I’d see things for the weekend:

   - Day I & II: Tackle each topic, from both sides:
     -- "Usability" side: Reconfirm existing UI/UX paradigms, check if 
we need to make some of them evolve, and define new needed ones.
     -- "Technical" side: Based on designs laid out by usability 
discussions, check what needs to be changed/extended/added to our UI/WM 
code (not thinking about tiny implementation details here of course).
  - Day III: Would keep it 'empty', can think of several ways to use it:
     -- Potentially extra time to finish discussion on some topics if we 
ran out of time in first two days.
     -- Handle unforeseen topics, questions etc. that may have arose 
during workshop.
     -- Maybe spread in smaller groups to refine work on some specific 
topics.
     -- Write/review first draft of final reports (though most of this 
work should be done in days after workshop, of course)?
     -- ...

Some more organizational notes/questions (we do not want to be too much 
formal, but think agreeing on that could be useful and save time):

   - Do we want to work in a single big group, or several smaller 
groups? (personally, I would say one single group for first two days, 
imho it’s important that everyone has minimal knowledge of all topics' 
discussion, even if not directly interested to actually work on it. Then 
more freedom for the last day… ;) )
   -- If we go for several smaller groups, we could agree on the "at 
least one artist and one dev in each group" rule?
   - Do we accept talk? If yes, how long should they be at most? 
(personally, would keep them short, maybe as introduction of some 
topics, think we mostly need lots of discussion to agree on designs)
   - ...

And now, the topics (I put them in a hierarchy tree, that’s obviously 
somewhat subjective, also probably have forgotten many points… and it 
does not mean branches are not related to each other!):

   - UI/UX
     -- Do we need new UI widgets? Extend/Rework some existing ones? 
(also thinking about proposed talk from Paweł, here)
     -- Do we need to extend or modify some interactions with operators 
(modal ones? heavy computations ones?)?
     -- Review recent new UI features (custom manipulators and pies 
mainly), how to use them in “default” Blender and not only as optional 
new things?
     -- ...
   - Customization
     -- Do we agree on the need to have a place in UI where artists can 
dump random settings and operators?
     --- If yes, how to do it (position? with tabs? with panels? 
floating or not? etc.)?
     -- Make macro operators part of customization possibilities?
     -- ...
   - Workflows
     -- What is part of/defines a workflow?
       --- keymaps?
       --- UI items (panels, menus, ...) - i.e., exposed/visible tools 
and data/settings?
       --- Custom manipulators?
       --- Screen layout?
       --- Visualization settings (like different draw modes in viewport…)?
     -- Do we replace (mostly viewport) modes (edit, sculpt, paint etc.) 
by workflows?
     -- Do we reuse/extend existing workspaces (screens) feature as 
workflows, or do we keep them separated? Or do we keep workflows inside 
single space area?
     -- ...
   - Blender 101
     -- I see it as a specific workflow, roughly, should we use it as a 
kind of guinea pig of workflow project?
     -- ...
   - Code-related questions
     -- Is custom spaces part of/needed for this project (custom spaces 
would be definable from py, similar to how panels or UIList work currently)?
     -- Do we need to rework the notifications system?
     -- ...

Again, this is own first draft (based on previous mails and own 
knowledge), most likely forgot or overseen many things… You are more 
than welcome to add, move, remove, comment, suggest, whatever (even to 
say this is complete piece of trash ;) )… But please, let’s keep this 
thread onto agreeing on organization/agenda/topics points, and *not* 
about detailed topics' content discussion/proposal/etc., really think we 
should keep this into separated threads (like the one already started by 
Mike regarding Blender 101).

Also, we may end with too much for three days, we can always trim down 
later and focus on biggest/most important topics first, leaving smaller 
ones for online discussion, if needed.

Cheers,
Bastien

Le 06/11/2016 à 18:02, Ton Roosendaal a écrit :
> Hi all,
>
> The workshop will be here in Blender Institute, 25-27 November.
> Confirmed participants are:
>
> - Jonathan Williamson
> - Pablo Vazquez
> - Julian Eisel
> - Paweł Łyczkowski
> - Daniel Lara
> - Sebastian Koenig
> - Bastien Montagne
> - Brecht van Lommel
> - Mike Pan
>
> I'm very happy to confirm that we'll get additional development support from Aleph Objects (Lulzbot 3D printer) to hire people for coding and designing work. Work would be on '2.8 workflow' in general, but result should lead to a release-compatible Blender version that's configured to be suitable for kids or occasional users to make 3d prints. That's the "101 project" Mike Pan will be working on.
>
> In the coming weeks we should check on the planning for the workshop days, the agenda, and do a lot of preparations. Hopefully we can discuss and review existing proposals as much as possible.
>
> Let's throw random ideas in this week, then I come with a more structured proposal by end of week.
> OK?
>
> Laters,
>
> -Ton-
>
> --------------------------------------------------------
> Ton Roosendaal  -  ton at blender.org   -   www.blender.org
> Chairman Blender Foundation, Director Blender Institute
> Entrepotdok 57A, 1018 AD, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
>
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