[rfc][icedtea-web] policytool in itweb-settings

[Jacob Wisor]

On 01/21/2014 16:09, Andrew Azores wrote:
> On 01/20/2014 06:19 PM, Jacob Wisor wrote:
>> On 01/20/2014 01:27 PM, Jiri Vanek wrote:
>>> On 01/17/2014 10:08 PM, Andrew Azores wrote:
>>>> On 01/17/2014 11:52 AM, Jiri Vanek wrote:
>>>>>  [...]
>>>>> Not sure if we will backport this, but probably yes.. Depends on final
>>>>> compelxiity.
>>>> [...]
>>>>> ok. Ok to head, and please elaborate on backport to 1.4 it is worthy.
>>>>> Also please fix the closing of window asap (as new chngeset)
>>>>
>>>> 1.4 doesn't have DirectoryValidator... what should we do here then? Also
>>>> backport
>>>> DirectoryValidator? Or just let the 1.4 backport have less of a guarantee that
>>>> the policy tool will
>>>> be able to successfully launch, and try to provide useful errors if not?
>>>
>>> Dependes on you. I'm for *not* backporting the directory validator, and live
>>> with "maybe not readable file". But also I would just ensure the parent dir
>>> creation.
>>
>> :-o Nooooo, please do not backport this! It is actually a new feature, so it
>> should rather go into the next minor version release.
>>
>> Jacob
>>
>
> I'd agree with you if there was actually any work done to support custom
> policies in the classloader or security manager or anything like that,

Right, there is none, so introducing that kind of or similar support is a topic 
of its own. From the user's (and design) perspective , it does not matter 
whether this additional "security feature" is implemented internally in the one 
way or the other. The effect is important.

> but this
> is really just a minor cosmetic addition to the control panel. I think that's
> acceptable to backport (assuming no work to add support is required).

It is beyond cosmetics. The gravity of added functionality in software 
engineering is not measured by the amount of buttons or what ever UI controls 
newly introduced to an existing UI. It is rather measured in the amount of 
*functionality* and the *consequences* there of, hence the effects.

Jacob