[wtp-dev] Why Do We Need the Preference to Enable Multiple Modules per P

[Arthur Ryman <ryman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

While using WTP to develop some Web
apps, I ran into a feature of our UI that I find problematic, and I'd like
to hear from other people about why we need this feature.

The feature is the Flexible Project
Preference. The user now has to explicity check a box to enable multiple
modules per project.

I find this problematic for several
reasons:

1. It caused a usability problem. I
created a project with a Web module in an earlier build of WTP and then
worked on it with a later build which has this preference disabled. It
caused the Web service wizard to fail [1]. This will be corrected, but
it pointed out to me that this preference is causing bimodal behavior.
Our code in now more complex than it needs to be and there is more potential
for bugs and usability problems.

2. We went to a lot a development effort
to upgrade the code base to allow multiple modules per project. This should
be the WTP norm. We should promote this feature and improve our UI to make
it very easy for users. Disabling it seems like a step backwards and an
admission of failure.

3. The initial wizards to create multiple
modules were somewhat awkward, and this may have motivated this preference.
However, the wizards are very usable now so I believe this preference has
outlived its usefulness and is now just extra baggage that should be jetisonned
asap.

I have created a bug [2] to remove this
preference. Please review it and voted for it if you agree.

Is anyone a strong advocate of this
preference? If so, please explain why you think we should keep it. I'd
like to discuss this in our telecon today.

Let's move on this quickly since time
is running out. Thx.

[1] https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=102244
[2] https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=102487

Arthur Ryman,
Rational Desktop Tools Development

phone: +1-905-413-3077, TL 969-3077
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