[Zope] Creating a New Object Type - Use ZClass or Python?

[Michael Bernstein]

Kevin Dangoor wrote:
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anthony Pfrunder <s341625@student.uq.edu.au>
> To: eric jones <ej@ee.duke.edu>
> Cc: zope@zope.org <zope@zope.org>
> Date: Friday, July 30, 1999 7:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [Zope] Creating a New Object Type - Use ZClass or Python?
> 
> >On Fri, 30 Jul 1999, eric jones wrote:
> >
> >[snip]
> >> I'd like the Add form to have places for adding all the basic properties.
> >> The paper title, journal name, and description are pretty straight
> forward I
> >> think.  The authors are a little more troubling.  I'd like to make them a
> >> list of tuples:
> >[snip, snip]
> >
> >In my opinion Zclasses are _far_ easier than Python, also, you can edit it
> >on the fly and watch the changes in real-time.  WRT your application, I
> >suggest that you create a Zclass which subclasses XML Document.  Put the
> >instance within a Zcatalog search folder. Zcatalog
> >is the bit that adds searching (see zope list for an
> >example from the kind DC souls...) and XML allows you to create a
> >structured document with your own tags.  My guess (ie haven't tried it) is
> >that Zcatalog can be made to index on the properties exposed by XML and
> >then you can index on Author and create an appropiate sequence of results
> >as required.
> 
> [more deleted]
> 
> I agree that ZClasses are much easier than Python. Of course, every solution
> can have a million possible alternates, and this one is no different.
> 
> One possibility: make a standard ZClass (ie no explicit subclassing) and add
> the necessary fields on a propertysheet. The Author could be a lines
> property so that each author's name is distinct. The Catalog should be able
> to search this.
> 
> If there was a way to "link" from one ZClass instance to another, then you
> could have an Author object for each author and just have the publication
> point to the Author object. There are certainly ways to do this
> programmatically now, it's just not automatic. This way, an Author could
> have other properties (contact info, website address, etc.) if desired, and
> those properties are only stored in one place.

I have already submitted this to the collector:
http://www.zope.org/Collector/380/view

But was informed that this was a low priority item, and that it had been
downgraded in status to 'wish'.

Since I think that this is a VERY important feature, I am willing to put my
money where my mouth is and cough up some $$$ to get this done. Consequently I
have three questions:

1) How much will it cost to get this added to Zope?
2) Does anyone else want to pledge some $$$ to make this happen?
3) Can we formalize this sort of arrangement in the future to allow individual
developers/users to pool resources to get particular features added? (sort of a
Zope-specific SourceXchange).

Sincerely,

Michael Bernstein.