The 'About Lazarus' Form

[Curt Carpenter]

It's probably only me, but does Aruna seem a little bot-like?

[Aruna]

From the first image in Lazarus like bluish colors I like only the head, but I do not like demonic look that gives an eye without a pupil:
https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,68189.msg526406.html#msg526406

I also like the jumping cheetah from:
https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,68189.msg526505.html#msg526505

The rest I do not like at all, but that is subjective.

Thank you @avra for your thoughts. It is difficult to create something that 'everyone' is going to like, actually not difficult but probably impossible. This is why I thought of giving the end-user an option to choose. If you are happy with the official brand logo well and good. If you want a change then go plug in whatever makes you happy. That way it is possible to make everyone happy? 

[Aruna]

I am frankly at a loss. All I did was request feedback about a simple logo I created from scratch. This has now evolved and manifested into diverse forms of opinions both good and not so good. I wonder if I should close the thread or leave it open for more community engagement and discussion. 

[Martin_fr]

It's probably only me, but does Aruna seem a little bot-like?

I wouldn't think so. This particular thread has wandered off a bit into AI, but that was gradually by various contributors.

Also - by random chance - had an earlier PM exchange, unrelated to the matter, but if there was a matter it would now help me to put it to rest.

[dbannon]

..
This is Davo's code right? He wrote the app and now he wishes to give some credit to the tools that allowed him to build the app in the first place which is free pascal and Lazarus right? Soo, since this is his personal repo and has nothing to do with fpc or lazarus and he wishes to have a logo that is AI generated and is happy and comfortable with it,.....

Sorry Aruna, my ignorance of such matters is apparent here. I should have known that your (excellent) work here is AI based or, at least, I should have asked.  No, sorry, I would not be happy incorporating AI contributions into my project unless there was the necessary attribution that, so far, seems impossible with AI.

Sorry to have lead you off on such a wild goose chase.

It's probably only me, but does Aruna seem a little bot-like?

Absolutly not. Aruna has been here with us for some time. There is a completely unrelated reference to a discussion we had some time ago and I am quite sure he/she is the real thing. And is doing good work, work I respect. Its just that its based around AI and many of us are uncomfortable about that. Its a fight we are going to loose but I'm used to that !

Davo

[Aruna]

Sorry Aruna, my ignorance of such matters is apparent here. I should have known that your (excellent) work here is AI based or, at least, I should have asked.  No, sorry, I would not be happy incorporating AI contributions into my project unless there was the necessary attribution that, so far, seems impossible with AI.

Hey absolutely no worries. Your code, your call! The first image I posted was no AI generated image that was done from scratch by me.

Sorry to have lead you off on such a wild goose chase.

I like chasing geese 

It's probably only me, but does Aruna seem a little bot-like?

Absolutly not. Aruna has been here with us for some time. There is a completely unrelated reference to a discussion we had some time ago and I am quite sure he/she is the real thing. And is doing good work, work I respect. Its just that its based around AI and many of us are uncomfortable about that. Its a fight we are going to loose but I'm used to that !

Let it go Davo. I am a bit disappointed by the way people tend to 'judge' or jump to conclusions without doing some decent background checks on an individual before making such sarcastic 'bot-like' remarks. That being said THIS is something the bot did way back in 2014 and that particular kernel most of you will recognize. And that is not just any sub-system that is your network stack 

[Curt Carpenter]

No offense intended.  English (fluent) as a second language perhaps?

[dbannon]

That being said THIS is something the bot did way back in 2014 and that particular kernel most of you will recognize. And that is not just any sub-system that is your network stack 

Point very well made.    In 35 years of opensource contributions, I have nothing in the kernel !

Davo

[Aruna]

No offense intended.  English (fluent) as a second language perhaps?

I was not offended (way too old for that nonsense) just disappointed.

[Curt Carpenter]

I understand and apologize.  There was something about your syntax and formality that struck me, and I suppose I'm overly preoccupied with the potential of LLMs to engage in a conversation about something like aesthetics.  Out of curiosity, is English a second language for you?

[Aruna]

I understand and apologize.

No need to apologize, I am here to learn from each other ( and help when I am able to do so ). 

There was something about your syntax and formality that struck me, and I suppose I'm overly preoccupied with the potential of LLMs to engage in a conversation about something like aesthetics. 

Sorry about that (I know normal people do not speak like that). I was taught at a very young age that formality can help convey professionalism and respect, especially in contexts where expertise and credibility are valued.

You see that formality and syntax are my built-in defense mechanisms (used only when needed, and usually kick in automatically)  When folks give me a hard time ( as I perceive, could be just their sincere and honest opinions)  or I have to respond to someone highly experienced and knowledgeable it would seem they only take you seriously if you're formal and to the point.

So I adapt my communication style based on the situation and audience. It is the approach I take when I feel overwhelmed ( Yes I am human, not a bot. I get stressed out and depressed like everyone else. It happens!  ) Speaking of aesthetics do have a look at the attached screenshot.

Out of curiosity, is English a second language for you?

Yes, English is a second language for me. The fluency is a result of my departed mother being an English teacher. If you would like some history you will find it HERE You may want to check out the Arduino & IOT section after you have gone through the site, if you so wish. Please scroll down on the Arduino & IOT section it has some videos of me doing interesting stuff. The site is decades old btw..
 

[Curt Carpenter]

Enjoyed your website. 

The fluency is a result of my departed mother being an English teacher.

Ah -- I suspect that explains much of both style and syntax.

[VisualLab]

The graphic attachment from "Reply #4" resembles the style of an obituary, where the empty black center is a place to enter the personal data of the deceased.

Hi @VisualLabThank you for your feedback. I appreciate your perspective on the graphic attachment from "Reply #4." I understand how the design could be interpreted in that way. I intended to create a layout that is both functional and respectful, and I will certainly take your observations into account as we refine our approach. If you have any further suggestions or concerns, please feel free to share them.

( On second thoughts maybe I should advertise that graphic to all the major funeral parlors in town? Never mind, it was just a passing thought..)

It was just an association that came to my mind at first. Not that it's meant to be any criticism. After all, graphics are a kind of art, so whether you like it or not is a matter of taste.

The current Lazarus "About" dialog is OK (i.e. it doesn't need any changes, there's no need to make any changes).

With all due respect that is 'your' opinion @VisualLab.

Exactly. I only expressed my opinion, as did other forum participants.

The logo(s) aren't just something "pretty to look at to pass the time". (where highly "pretty" is subjective, and also not the point).

Those images are part of a brand. The "Lazarus brand". The have and should have a recognizable character. Once you seen it (or a few times), if you see it again even without any text, you should immediately associate it with Lazarus.
Brand logos can change over time, but usually in tiny steps over long time. And usually keeping some of the original idea.


That said, of course anybody is free to modify there personal installation, and share that as the wish.

But I don't think we will have an official "logo customization feature" or "logo customization repository".

I have the same opinion on this subject.

Personally I'd very strongly oppose the use of AI generated imagery in any final results (if anyone had that in mind). Apart from it being painfully obvious (look at the faces!) and lazy (if in the final product - prototyping might be fine), generative AI is immensely controversial among artists. The models are trained on anything they can find, all without the artist's consent. Using AI simply wouldn't look good - both literally and figuratively.

A very valid point. I share this view.


Aruna, the graphics you presented are very illustrative. They also contain a lot of small graphic details and decorations (ornaments). This is not a criticism of your abilities, desires or graphic taste. In my humble opinion, these graphics are too large, complex and decorative for the needs of a computer program intended for technical (engineering) applications. I understand that people have different graphic tastes. But when it comes to software, I'm not a fan of decorative elements. The program's GUI then becomes too baroque.

[Aruna]

It was just an association that came to my mind at first. Not that it's meant to be any criticism. After all, graphics are a kind of art, so whether you like it or not is a matter of taste.

No worries and no harm done and it is all good. 

In my humble opinion, these graphics are too large, complex and decorative for the needs of a computer program intended for technical (engineering) applications.

@VisualLab I agree with you on the graphics aspect but respectfully disagree about the program being intended for technical(engineering) applications. I believe we have the freedom to create any software we need at any time to provide the functionality that we currently lack.

Non technical programs could be:

1.  Personal Finance Manager: An application to track personal budgets, expenses, and financial goals.
2.  To-Do List Application        : A simple app to manage tasks, set deadlines, and track progress.
3.   Recipe Organizer              : A program to store and manage cooking recipes, including ingredients and instructions.
4.   Note-Taking Application    : An app for taking and organizing notes, with features like search and categorization.
5.   Contact Manager              : A tool to manage and organize personal contacts, including phone numbers, addresses, and emails.
6.   Calendar and Scheduler   : An application to manage appointments, events, and reminders.
7.   Home Inventory                : A program to keep track of household items, including details about purchase dates and locations.
8.   Simple Game                    : A casual game like tic-tac-toe or a basic puzzle game, designed for entertainment.
9.   Budget Tracker                  : A tool to help users manage and track their monthly expenses and savings.

These types of programs are designed to be intuitive and useful for everyday tasks, making them accessible to users without a technical background.

EDIT: The reason I went overboard with the graphics is that I like the Lazarus IDE and I simply wanted to let the world know we have a very different IDE from the rest out there. So the graphics were intended to impress yes. I initially saw nothing wrong with that. But after @Martin_fr pointed out the logo being a brand. The "Lazarus brand". That changed my thinking immediately so impressive or not I decided not to mess with the IDE's splash_logo. ( I am using the graphics in my personal installation simply because every time I see it, it makes me feel good! The screenshot has the latest creation:-))

I was trying to make the IDE look good, that is all really. And I am very sorry it upset so many people. My apologies to one and all.

[VisualLab]

In my humble opinion, these graphics are too large, complex and decorative for the needs of a computer program intended for technical (engineering) applications.

@VisualLab I agree with you on the graphics aspect but respectfully disagree about the program being intended for technical(engineering) applications. I believe we have the freedom to create any software we need at any time to provide the functionality that we currently lack.

We didn't understand each other

What I meant was that: Lazarus is a program for technical (engineering) applications. However, you are absolutely right when you write that you can use it to create programs for any application.