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VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras

 

 

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peltsip at gmail

Nov 26, 2009, 4:02 AM

Post #1 of 8 (700 views)
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VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras

----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
> Hi,
>
> On Nov 25, 2009, at 11:24 PM, Valerio Valerio wrote:
> > Please share your opinion, we need to decide about this asap.
>
> Maemo's biggest competitive edge (compared to for example the iPhone) 
> is the freedom it offers to its users. From that point of view the CLI 
> apps should definitely be available.
>
> Cheers, Roald
>
>

This depends fully about the area where we draw the line. IMO xterm should be kept away from the users in general. And if you really need it, it is still there. But when using it you cross the line and become power user and should have deep enough knowledge to know where to search for command line apps.

I, as a maemo greeter, have no motivation reading and replying to threads about "went to xterm and fcked ewerything totally up by copypasting commands I didn't uderstand. Lets go and burn Nokia headquarters!!!!" or similar. So called noise that hides 10 excellent threads from peoples eyes (as can be seen in t.m.o when looking shipping -threads for example)

Hope you understand what I mean...

What about creating a new category to extras - testing for stable command line apps? Or if somebody comes up with better idea, please share!

Ossipena/Timo


peltsip at gmail

Nov 26, 2009, 7:16 AM

Post #2 of 8 (634 views)
Permalink
VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
> On Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:15:18 +0000
> David Greaves <david [at] dgreaves> wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 2009-11-26 at 12:33 +0100, Jeremiah Foster wrote:
> > > On Nov 26, 2009, at 12:03, Roald de Vries wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > On Nov 25, 2009, at 11:24 PM, Valerio Valerio wrote:
> > > > > Please share your opinion, we need to decide about this asap.
> > > >
> > > > Maemo's biggest competitive edge (compared to for example the
> > > > iPhone) is the freedom it offers to its users. From that point of
> > > > view the CLI apps should definitely be available.
> > >
> > > It's not that the CLI apps will be available - of course they will
> > > - it is user experience, or as the meme calls it: UX.
> > >
> > > From a user perspective, CLI tools break the UX. I say keep them
> > > only available through apt-get.
> >
> > And what would you use for an app 'browser'?
> >
> > In general I want to keep them away from 'end users' and keep them
> > trivially accessible by power users. I (almost) like HAM.
>
> "Power users" always can use the red pill mode in the application
> manager to install/browse CLI applications, upgrade libraries, and even
> get that feature called "reboot loop" ;-)
>
> I think that the red pill mode is really easy (and sufficient) for those
> power users, and without have to get root and go to the terminal to use
> apt-get.
>
> I think that there will be a new section in the application manager
> (user/hidden) that it just shows updates but it doesn't show anything
> in the install list. I'm not sure if it is the real function of this
> section, I have only seen the git changelog, and I haven't looked more
> in depth. Perhaps, it can be useful for the "update problem".
>
> In my opinion If we allow CLI applications in Extras, end-users will be
> dissappointed, they will install CLI applications with this reason:
>
> This application is called socat: so-cat (a cat!, surely it's like a
> tamagotchi!).
> End-users (and start-users too) generally don't read descriptions, they
> first shoot and then ask ;-)
> When they see that the application that they installed isn't
> anywhere in a graphical form, they will be dissappointed and will say
> "Maemo apps sucks", "Maemo is only for developers". Well, they won't if
> it happens only one time, but if it happens with let's say 10-15
> applications, they will do.
>
> I know that if we take this decision, it's going to be difficult for
> us. In the end, we are the kind of people using these CLI utilities, but
> what would happen if the end-users were the people deciding about this?
> Would they be happy to have "sqlite" between "recorder" and "theremin"
> in the all-list?
>
> Can we to do a survey to the normal people (not techies) around us? Just
> ask them: "What would you think if you install an application in your
> phone (ehh, mobile computer) and it doesn't appear anywhere?"
> Of course, in a better English than mine.
>
> If we want to help Maemo to go mainstream (whatever it means), we
> will must take difficult decisions with some old GNU/Linux traditions,
> and this is the first decision of this kind, surely we will see more.
> --
> Daniel Martin Yerga
> http://yerga.net

who will be the first to create poll to talk.maemo.org?

One possibility would be an "apt-get ui", an app that can be used for CLI software installation. There is (solvable) problems how to poll for updates etc....

But the poll to t.m.o. Is fairly quick to create and only problem is how to get only non-techies to reply.

But the minute CLIs can be found in extras straight, it is a huge step from user friendly to geek friendly imo. K.I.S.S. Is always a good rule of thumb to begin with as long as power users have their freedom to do what they want.

Ossipena / Timo


peltsip at gmail

Nov 28, 2009, 7:48 AM

Post #3 of 8 (624 views)
Permalink
VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
> On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 23:24, Valerio Valerio <vdv100 [at] gmail> wrote:
>
> > one of the topics of the last community meeting about Extras QA was if
> > command line applications should be available for regular users through the
> > application manager or not. We can't reach a consensus, and it seems to
> > generate very contradictory opinions inside our community.
>
>  ...
> > Please share your opinion, we need to decide about this asap.
> >
>
>  I think that apps without GUI should definitely be available the same way
> as GUI apps.
>
> However, there is no problem, to keep them somehow separated, e.g. with
> special switch in appmanager, in separate repository, or with special name
> (prefix), so average user understands, they are different from common (GUI)
> apps.
>
> hyartep

great writing!

I fully agree.

Ossipena\timo


peltsip at gmail

Nov 29, 2009, 3:33 AM

Post #4 of 8 (621 views)
Permalink
VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
> Can we not have an extras-CLI repository that a power user would have
> to manually install in app manager like extras-testing?
>

How hard would this be to accomplish? And if it could be added just as extras out of the box (needs to be enabled by user before use)

Ossipena/timo


andrew at bleb

Nov 29, 2009, 4:01 AM

Post #5 of 8 (628 views)
Permalink
Re: VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

On Sun, Nov 29, 2009 at 11:33, Timo Pelkonen <peltsip [at] gmail> wrote:
>
> ----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
>> Can we not have an extras-CLI repository that a power user would have
>> to manually install in app manager like extras-testing?
>
> How hard would this be to accomplish? And if it could be added just as
> extras out of the box (needs to be enabled by user before use)

My guess is it's a lot of infrastructure, changes to
maemo.org/packages/ and an effort to persuade Nokia to ship it in a
disabled state (and update cycles are slow).

It also doesn't help users browsing at http://maemo.org/downloads/ either.

I think the best plan is that which has already been outlined: common
icons, descriptions etc.

Cheers,

Andrew

--
Andrew Flegg -- mailto:andrew [at] bleb | http://www.bleb.org/
_______________________________________________
maemo-community mailing list
maemo-community [at] maemo
https://lists.maemo.org/mailman/listinfo/maemo-community


g+770 at cobb

Nov 29, 2009, 2:53 PM

Post #6 of 8 (620 views)
Permalink
Re: VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

On Sunday 29 November 2009 11:33:50 Timo Pelkonen wrote:
> ----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
>
> > Can we not have an extras-CLI repository that a power user would have
> > to manually install in app manager like extras-testing?
>
> How hard would this be to accomplish? And if it could be added just as
> extras out of the box (needs to be enabled by user before use)

I am opposed to this. All applications should be available in Extras: good
bad, easy to use, hard to use. The UI style doesn't define how good, useful
or even usable an application is: there are plenty of bad GUI applications in
the world.

If people want to create Fart applications and people want to download them
then fine! They should be allowed into Extras. Similarly, if people want to
create CLI applications and people want to download them, that is also fine.

Leave Ovi to impose rules and subjective judgements. In the community
repository we should allow all applications and rely on users to rate and
review them. Let the users decide!

Graham
_______________________________________________
maemo-community mailing list
maemo-community [at] maemo
https://lists.maemo.org/mailman/listinfo/maemo-community


peltsip at gmail

Nov 29, 2009, 8:54 PM

Post #7 of 8 (618 views)
Permalink
Re: VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

2009/11/30 Graham Cobb <g+770 [at] cobb <g%2B770 [at] cobb>>

> On Sunday 29 November 2009 11:33:50 Timo Pelkonen wrote:
> > ----- Alkuperäinen viesti -----
> >
> > > Can we not have an extras-CLI repository that a power user would have
> > > to manually install in app manager like extras-testing?
> >
> > How hard would this be to accomplish? And if it could be added just as
> > extras out of the box (needs to be enabled by user before use)
>
> I am opposed to this. All applications should be available in Extras: good
> bad, easy to use, hard to use. The UI style doesn't define how good,
> useful
> or even usable an application is: there are plenty of bad GUI applications
> in
> the world.
>
> If people want to create Fart applications and people want to download them
> then fine! They should be allowed into Extras. Similarly, if people want
> to
> create CLI applications and people want to download them, that is also
> fine.
>
> Leave Ovi to impose rules and subjective judgements. In the community
> repository we should allow all applications and rely on users to rate and
> review them. Let the users decide!
>
> Graham
>
>
Yes, it would be the best for your use cases, but you all have to remember
what step 5 means... and easier the platform is to approach, more we have
userbase etc in the long run.

If you want to keep Maemo as a geek OS, it will die away. if Maemo succeeds,
soon it is not so geek friendly anymore. so: keep the backdoor open and give
official documentation how to gain root, red pill mode etc...if you want to
start adapting slowly. If you want to do it painfully, I am 110% sure Nokia
will do it sooner or later...

Because Nokia will be responsible for customers in the end, not the
community. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.


Ossipena/Timo


samoff at gmail

Nov 30, 2009, 4:38 AM

Post #8 of 8 (620 views)
Permalink
Re: VS: Re: Command line apps & Extras [In reply to]

Hi,

----- Original message -----
> Yes, it would be the best for your use cases, but you all have to remember
> what step 5 means... and easier the platform is to approach, more we have
> userbase etc in the long run.
>
> If you want to keep Maemo as a geek OS, it will die away. if Maemo succeeds,
> soon it is not so geek friendly anymore. so: keep the backdoor open and give
> official documentation how to gain root, red pill mode etc...if you want to
> start adapting slowly. If you want to do it painfully, I am 110% sure Nokia
> will do it sooner or later...
>
> Because Nokia will be responsible for customers in the end, not the
> community. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
>

Agreed. (Mostly, but not so differently as to add anything more.)

Tim

--

http://samoff.com

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