[josm-dev] Thoughts for further step to modeless operation in JOSM

[Gervase Markham]

David Earl wrote:
> It doesn't look modeless to me (not that mine is completely modeless
> either). You seem to have to go into the way construction mode with
> ALT+CLICK instead of N, and leave it with a double click instead of S.

Well, perhaps that's sort of a mode. Although I would define modes as
different states the UI can be in with little or no user indication that
it's in those states (e.g. Caps Lock key, Ins/Del). When you are in way
construction mode, your mouse pointer is continually trailing a rubber
band line, so it's hard to get confused and try and make a selection
(for example).

> I will add my proposal to that page as well.
> 
> Is anyone implementing your proposal or intending to do so any time soon?

Sadly, I don't know of anyone implementing it. :-(

> If we were to encapsulate a set of user interactions into a common class
> or set of classes, we could substitute them on demand so people could
> try them, and then bring together the preferred aspects of each.

That would be very cool.

> I think the critical thing is how the simple click can be arranged to
> extend ways and do selection (or some other means of conveniently doing
> both of these things); in your case it is ALT+CLICK, in mine it is
> implicit, and in another one I've seen it is by dragging.

Drag-to-select or drag-to-insert?

Gerv