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== Summary ==
== Summary ==
[[I18N/IBus|iBus]] is a new input method framework under active development which is designed to overcome the limitations of SCIM.
[[I18N/IBus|iBus]] is a new input method framework under active development which is designed to overcome the limitations of SCIM. It will be the default in Fedora 11.


iBus uses dbus protocol for communication between the ibus-daemon and clients (engines, panel, config tools). Since the components run in separate processes there is enhanced modularity and stability.  Client processes can be loaded, started and stopped independently. iBus supports Gtk2, Qt4, and XIM, and has input method engines for anthy, chewing, hangul, m17n, pinyin, and large tables.  Engines and clients can be written in any language with a dbus binding.
iBus uses dbus protocol for communication between the ibus-daemon and clients (engines, panel, config tools). Since the components run in separate processes there is enhanced modularity and stability.  Client processes can be loaded, started and stopped independently. iBus supports Gtk2 and XIM, and has input method engines for anthy, chewing, hangul, m17n, pinyin, rawcode, and large tables.  Engines and clients can be written in any language with a dbus binding.


== Owner ==
== Owner ==
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== Current status ==
== Current status ==
* Targeted release: [[Releases/11|  Fedora 11]]  
* Targeted release: [[Releases/11|  Fedora 11]]  
* Last updated: 2008-01-14
* Last updated: 2008-04-15
* Percentage of completion: 60%
* Percentage of completion: 100%


== Detailed Description ==
== Detailed Description ==
ibus was introduced in Fedora 10 as a new dynamic input method framework and also made available for Fedora 9 Updates.
iBus was introduced in Fedora 10 as a new dynamic input method framework and also made available for Fedora 9 Updates.


Most of the work on ibus is being done upstream by Huang Peng. This feature proposal covers moving from scim to ibus as the default input method framework for Fedora 11, testing, and additional usability feature requirements for ibus.
Most of the work on iBus is being done upstream by Huang Peng. This feature proposal covers moving from scim to ibus as the default input method framework for Fedora 11, testing, and additional improvement requirements for Fedora 11.


('''FIXME''': describe differences to SCIM here)
iBus is designed to improve a number of deficiencies of scim:
 
* The initial implementation is written in Python and the next version nearing completion currently is written in C.  Scim written in C++ using STL has problems with weak symbol conflicts without the added complexity and lower stability of the scim-bridge layer to workaround that.
* It is possible to write client and engines for ibus in any language that supports dbus bindings.
* ibus loads engines on demand rather than all installed engines as scim does, which improves the startup time and memory footprint.
* scim loads engines as dl-modules so a problem in any engine can take down scim, whereas in ibus because the processes are separated only a faulty process will die leaving rest of the system working normally.
* The architecture of ibus is bus-centric and so much closer to the CJK OSS Forum Workgroup 3 draft "Specification of IM engine Service Provider Interface" architecture, which might be supportable in the future.


== Benefit to Fedora ==
== Benefit to Fedora ==
It will provide a more stable viable input method framework which will be easier to maintain and  
It will provide a stabler viable input method framework with a simpler clean architecture which will be easier to maintain, improve, and develop for.


== Scope ==
== Scope ==
Core:
# Make ibus default for F11 Alpha (changes to comps). [done]
# Push rewrite in C to rawhide.
# Complete C implementation and updating of clients and engines for API changes for F11 Beta. [done]
# Update comps to install ibus by default in place of scim.
# Test thoroughly and fix any remaining issues for F11 Final. [ongoing]
# Update ibus packages to obsolete older scim packages (users will still have the option to use scim in F11 if they install themselves).
 
Engines:
# Change engine loading logic to avoid using many xxx.engine files to describe all keymaps in m17n engine
# Improvements:
#* Make ibus-pinyin better
#* Add hotkey configure for ibus-anthy
#* Separate tables from ibus-table engine


== Test Plan ==
== Test Plan ==
# Test updating F10 to F11 and check that scim packages replaced by ibus packages.
# Test installs of F11 and check ibus packages installed
# Organize testing of ibus by native users for feedback and filing bugs and RFE's.
# Test functioning on GNOME, KDE, XIM, and other desktops.
# Work with Fedora QA to ensure that we have no regressions.
# Actively fix any bugs reported and issues that arise.
# Work with Fedora QA to ensure that we have no major regressions:  [[Test_Days:IBus]] scheduled.


[https://bugzilla.redhat.com/buglist.cgi?component=ibus,ibus-anthy,ibus-chewing,ibus-hangul,ibus-m17n,ibus-pinyin,ibus-table&bug_status=NEW,ASSIGNED,NEEDINFO,MODIFIED| open ibus bugs]
[https://bugzilla.redhat.com/buglist.cgi?field0-0-0=component&type0-0-0=regexp&value0-0-0=^ibus.*&bug_status=NEW,ASSIGNED,NEEDINFO,MODIFIED Open ibus bugs], [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/showdependencytree.cgi?id=481098 ibus tracker]


== User Experience ==
== User Experience ==
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== Contingency Plan ==
== Contingency Plan ==
* revert to SCIM as default input method system.
* Revert comps to SCIM as default input method system.


== Documentation ==
== Documentation ==
* http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/I18N/IBus
* [[I18N/IBus]]
* http://www.gnome.asia/static/upload/event_file/ibus-GNOME.pdf (presentation at GNOME.Asia Summit 2008, Beijing)
* http://2008.gnome.asia/static/upload/event_file/ibus-GNOME.pdf (presentation at GNOME.Asia Summit 2008, Beijing)
* http://code.google.com/p/ibus/
* http://code.google.com/p/ibus/
* http://github.com/phuang
* http://github.com/phuang
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== Release Notes ==
== Release Notes ==
The change to ibus should be documented carefully under [[Docs/Beats/I18n#Input_Methods|I18N Docsbeat]].
The change to ibus will be documented carefully in the [[Documentation_I18n_Beat#Input_Methods|I18N Docsbeat]].


== Comments and Discussion ==
== Comments and Discussion ==
* See [[Talk:Features/IBus]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->
* See [[Talk:Features/IBus]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->


----
[[Category:FeatureAcceptedF11]]


[[Category:FeatureReadyForWrangler]]
<!-- When your feature page is completed and ready for review -->
<!-- When your feature page is completed and ready for review -->
<!-- remove Category:FeaturePageIncomplete and change it to Category:FeatureReadyForWrangler -->
<!-- remove Category:FeaturePageIncomplete and change it to Category:FeatureReadyForWrangler -->
<!-- After review, the feature wrangler will move your page to Category:FeatureReadyForFesco... if it still needs more work it will move back to Category:FeaturePageIncomplete-->
<!-- After review, the feature wrangler will move your page to Category:FeatureReadyForFesco... if it still needs more work it will move back to Category:FeaturePageIncomplete-->
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Latest revision as of 12:23, 19 July 2012

Intelligent Input Bus

Summary

iBus is a new input method framework under active development which is designed to overcome the limitations of SCIM. It will be the default in Fedora 11.

iBus uses dbus protocol for communication between the ibus-daemon and clients (engines, panel, config tools). Since the components run in separate processes there is enhanced modularity and stability. Client processes can be loaded, started and stopped independently. iBus supports Gtk2 and XIM, and has input method engines for anthy, chewing, hangul, m17n, pinyin, rawcode, and large tables. Engines and clients can be written in any language with a dbus binding.

Owner

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora 11
  • Last updated: 2008-04-15
  • Percentage of completion: 100%

Detailed Description

iBus was introduced in Fedora 10 as a new dynamic input method framework and also made available for Fedora 9 Updates.

Most of the work on iBus is being done upstream by Huang Peng. This feature proposal covers moving from scim to ibus as the default input method framework for Fedora 11, testing, and additional improvement requirements for Fedora 11.

iBus is designed to improve a number of deficiencies of scim:

  • The initial implementation is written in Python and the next version nearing completion currently is written in C. Scim written in C++ using STL has problems with weak symbol conflicts without the added complexity and lower stability of the scim-bridge layer to workaround that.
  • It is possible to write client and engines for ibus in any language that supports dbus bindings.
  • ibus loads engines on demand rather than all installed engines as scim does, which improves the startup time and memory footprint.
  • scim loads engines as dl-modules so a problem in any engine can take down scim, whereas in ibus because the processes are separated only a faulty process will die leaving rest of the system working normally.
  • The architecture of ibus is bus-centric and so much closer to the CJK OSS Forum Workgroup 3 draft "Specification of IM engine Service Provider Interface" architecture, which might be supportable in the future.

Benefit to Fedora

It will provide a stabler viable input method framework with a simpler clean architecture which will be easier to maintain, improve, and develop for.

Scope

  1. Make ibus default for F11 Alpha (changes to comps). [done]
  2. Complete C implementation and updating of clients and engines for API changes for F11 Beta. [done]
  3. Test thoroughly and fix any remaining issues for F11 Final. [ongoing]

Test Plan

  1. Test installs of F11 and check ibus packages installed
  2. Test functioning on GNOME, KDE, XIM, and other desktops.
  3. Actively fix any bugs reported and issues that arise.
  4. Work with Fedora QA to ensure that we have no major regressions: Test_Days:IBus scheduled.

Open ibus bugs, ibus tracker

User Experience

  1. Better performance since ibus only loads the input method engines it needs at start.
  2. Stability from simpler architecture without need to avoid symbol conflicts from using C++ STL.

Dependencies

  • None

Contingency Plan

  • Revert comps to SCIM as default input method system.

Documentation

Release Notes

The change to ibus will be documented carefully in the I18N Docsbeat.

Comments and Discussion