PPlay the Mete-Project.

[Adrian Ratnapala <s369625@student.uq.edu.au>]

Hmm, my opinoin of the meta-project idea.   I won't actually say yea or
nay, only put my thoughts
up for discussion.


In many ways the goals of such a meta project are very similar to the
goals of PPlay.  PPlay wants to
have lots of independnet components which can be left unused or replaced
by 3rd party API's.
The meta project is all about such interoperability.  And while PPlay
designers might get lazy and
break the rules, the meta project can't since it does not control any
single project.


I have two problems with the proposal:
    *    Such a project might be overkill.  Debian for example is a meta
project for a very big thing,
           (linux).   Our, smaller domain, might not warrant a meta
project.

    *    If such a project is to exist, PPlay should not be it.

The reasons for my second comment are based on the assumption that the
current PPlay component
projects will continue.  If the meta-project is to not give
preferentioal treatment to PPlay components,
it should for a start not be called PPlay.

Also I beleive the goal PPlay to be valid.  A comprehensive, cross
platform games API with a uniform interface,
and integration (withing the bounds set by the interoperability
requirements discussed above).    Therefore
I beleive PPlay should continue, without retargetting its objectives.


What do I see as PPlay's role in the meta-project?

*    PPlay should be _one_ of the founding members.

*    PPlay should play by its rules.  Metaproject will eventually have
some sort of compliance test,  PPlay should
       be compliant.

*    PPlay could be  _one_ source of the "glue".

This will benefit PPlay in terms of interoperabality.  I mentioned a
fear that we might get lazy and break
the rules, thus preventing people from using PPlay component A without
using component B.  A nice 3rd
party set of rules to follow would help us discipline ourselves.



How should this effect the proposed mergers?

It shouldn't.  I would like to see PPlay merge with some other projects,
I think this will give PPlay a shot in
the arm, as well as avoid duplication of work.  I _don't_ wan't PPlay to
merge with _every_ project in this
domain, this would be impossible to do even if it was a good idea (which
it isn't).   Nor do I wan't to see
PPlay "take over" other projects.  The whole point is to create a strong
system by getting outside code
and developers, if such a merger goes through the projects should merge
on an equal footing.   A name
change would probably be required.



How should the meta-project be implemented?

Well if PPlay won't be the starting point for the project, then I see
Ian Crawfords GameDev as being the
ideal canditate.  It already has similar goals, and some web resources.



Hmm, well that's my $0.02.