I understand this is a codename/prototype, but this has gotten out to the blogosphere. Can you imagine Apple or Microsoft calling their features "Code Name Poopy Diaper"?
Besides, `task pooper' is whimsical, not offensive.
The English language is not short of words, so I'm sure they could have found a better name. Like, idunno, Task Wilted Lettuce, or Task Slightly Dirty Underwear, or Task Dull And Boring.
Nope, but I can't imagine them writing software worth using, either. Maybe I am just unimaginative though.
Everything is a process or a file, and most "new" ideas, for which is needed a lot of work (or afternoon for some kid), could be implemented on top of equality of this concepts.
It might be impossible, but there is abstraction SCREAMING to be explored.
Plan 9 ideas might live again! :)
Anyway, good work!
Occasionally, I notice I have a lot of occupied desktops, and then "garbage collect" the tasks.
I think this is a lot like what the article describes -- tasks for later go in a special area.
(1) If you have a laptop running Linux, can you use suspend/hibernate/etc., with the same confidence that Win & Mac users do?
(2) Can you quickly, reliably set your laptop to display on a projector?
(3) Can you reliably connect any old device (think: iPod), and expect it to Just Work?
In my experience, the answers are (1) depends on the laptop [and maybe the phase of the moon], (2) no, unless you know about, install, and set up disper, which, for some reason, is not a standard part of any major distro [that I know of], and (3) be real.
And then I have to ask:
(4) Why is so much effort going into new desktop UI directions, when the basic stuff still desperately needs work?
So, yes, UI innovation is cool. But other things would be cooler.
