[news.eclipse.tools] KDE and GNOME interfaces

[David Goodenough <david.goodenough@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I notice that Eclipse provides its own Java API to KDE (and I think 
GNOME).  Why?  In the kdebindings project of KDE there is a fully 
functional KDE Java Binding, shipping as a full part of the now 
current KDE 2.2.  It also BTW provides a binding to QT which would
provide a much fuller interface than the current Motif interface.

Using this API would allow integration with more than just things
like MIME types.  It would also allow integration with the KParts
and DCOP systems, which would allow the integration of things like
Konqueror as the Help browser and the use of DCOP where you use COM
on a Windows system which would achieve a similar binding to the 
platform as you have with Windows.

Now I do not know what the Java API into GNOME looks like but I did
notice just yesterday that there is a new release of the API on 
linuxapps.com.

I know that not everyone runs KDE (or GNOME for that matter), but it
would certainly be preferable to use the APIs they provide for the 
bits you need than to invent your own.