No image open specification

intro

This is the specification for the state of GIMP when no image is open. It is still based on a multiple document interface model.

the OS-X exception

On OS-X, with its fixed menubar at the top of the screen, there is no need to have windows open to keep the application instance alive. Therefore the OS-X version of GIMP shall not perform all the stunts spec'ed below and run happily with no window open.

overall goals

1. get the menubar out of the toolbox;
2. keep the application instance alive by always having a window with menubar open, even when no image is open;
3. this 'no image' window shall be the digital equivalent of a no-nonsense clean tabletop in the atelier: ready to accept the next canvas for further graphics creation.

no gimmicks

The following gimmicks shall explicitly not be part of the 'no image' window:

• a 'welcome to GIMP' text, in any font size;
• any splash-screen-like graphics, or GIMP contributor credits;
• any 'what would you like to do today' type of interaction, including 'recently open images'
• anything distracting.