Permanent Requests Only Board

[ziggy]

Hi everyone,
Is this a good idea? I know that the User forum is for this purpose, but threads often get long enough to lose the thread. I know that one can do a search, but to me, it seems that new visitors often don't do this and just look at what's on the top pages, and therefore reiterate questions and ideas long answered or abandoned. (come to think of it I might be doing that now....) To assist users of this forum, and to help avoid re -inventions of the wheel, I suggest a (sticky) list of as yet unfulfilled feature requests, to be added to, preferably in a concise and specific way, and subtracted from if they are fulfilled.Some requests may appear practicable, but are not, the reasons why could then stated, even if it's because no-one has time etc. Some may appear impracticable, but may well be possible, perhaps no-one else has thought of them yet, or even that no-one has visited the forum that could do it.
Apparently, the desire to see the stars twinkle in Celestia, is a wish that is approximately 500 in the queue of other requests.

(quote Don. Edwards-
"It is because Celestia was originaly a Space simulater not a planet simulater.
Now it is somewhere in between. There are many other more important features we need in Celestia. Twinkling stars is somewhere around #500")

What are all the others? I have one or two, (apart from the twinkling), such as support for gif, which I understand may enable some animation effects; perhaps a more easily customisable tour and opening sequence; I'd quite like a dashboard and windscreen, if it could be toggled; a neat solution of the 1752 problem, and so on. Fripperies maybe, but for me it's mostly visual enjoyment and entertainment.
I understand the views of some members who would prefer the priority of the program to be a sober and scientific development, as befits a space simulator, rather than making it like a planet simulator, or even a game. What is apparent from a study of the posts to the forum, is that there is a diversity of views, but that the members seem predominately male, and of the collecting and improving (ie fiddling about with) type of outlook. Just look at the interest and uptake of innovations to Celestia such as the virtual tiling ; we like new stuff, it's like a train-set, about 5 minutes after you've watched the train go round, you think a tunnel would be nice, and so on.
Anyway, what do you think? Some sort of consolidation of requests into a wish list or what? I think that seeing a list may inspire some people to have a go, who knows what could come out of it, what harm could it do any way, no-one has to install anything they don't like,
regards Ziggy

[Paolo]

Hi Ziggy
I consider that a consolidated wish list should be extremely useful to drive correctly the future Celestia development and avoid periodical reiteration of feature requests that not concern properly with the original design of Celestia.
I've requested it many and many times. See this thread and the other related one.
I still belive that this is a task of the development team that should be a section of the official Celestia website.

I've published my personal web site to collect feature requests (mine and of other forum people). It should be a trace.

Bye - Paolo

[ziggy]

Hi Paolo,
Thanks for your reply. I have had a (quick) look at your feature request page and its just the sort of thing I had in mind and is now bookmarked. My point about wheel re-invention also proved.
I'm of the opinion that such a feature would be useful as part of the forum, or your link given a prominent position, and (so far) have a landslide majority to back that.
regards Ziggy.