On Monday 28 of April 2014 10:37:44 Anton Aylward wrote: ...
All this is just an example of how determining options at run time rather than compile time gives more flexibility. Indeed. And also creates a maintenance nightmare.
You are so missing the point. In fact you are missing very many points.
There are dozens of editors I can select as my editor of choice using systemsettings. Similarly there are many other external program options I can select there since they are not hard coded into KDE.
But when it comes to indexing you are telling me I can either use baloo or nothing. Superficially baloo is an external program (otherwise one couldn't remove it) but the reality is the interface to it is hard coded into KDE applications. Since you're already pulling the GNOME comparison, situation is not different there. You'll either use Tracker, or nothing. And is not different how it was <= 4.12 and Nepomuk.
This is not consistent with the way other parts of KDE work. You'll find also that for dealing with SVG plasma theme's, you can't escape QtSvg. For using KMail, you cannot not use akonadi. With using KWin, you'll need to have libGL library installed. etc. So, i do not see a difference, except that ranting is pointed towards baloo, which as mentioned, you can just remove, and be done with it.
Cheers, Hrvoje