Mail Archives: djgpp/1997/01/29/09:25:52
On Tue, 28 Jan 1997, Paul W Brannan wrote:
> > I think it would be much easier for someone to start a "Lets make
> > Linux easier for the end user to use" project.
> Yes! Someone that agrees with me that it would not hurt Linux to make it
> easier to use!
That means both easier to use AND easier to install. Not just for
tekkie's and hackers like us either.
> > This would probably mean a NEW special distribution with X, a few
> No I think it would mean just making X easier to set up.
The new X has a cool setup but I mean a LINUX setup program ala DOS
setup or Windows setup (BUT MUCH MUCH BETTER!!!!!!). Also, a more
custom install of optional packages. For example: There are over
1000 executable files on my system. WHAT ARE THEY?????? man xxxx
doesn't always have the answer either. I've got at least 50 stock
programs on my system that have NO DOCUMENTATION. Most of them I have
no idea what they do. I don't want to delete them because groff or
some other "cryptic UNIX program from hell" might need them. If the
install program had an IN DEPTH explanation of EVERY SINGLE package,
and EVERY SINGLE binary from every package, then less disk wastage
would result. Also, being able to rerun the install program and
select packages to install that you didn't install the first time
and/or remove packages that you no longer want.
Granted, a lot of distributions have SOME of this flexibility now, but
they are missing a LOT compared to installing other OS's. I mean I
had to make a LOG ON PAPER!! to be able to remember what I installed
and what I didn't! (Sure, slackware keeps a log too, but it's kind of
hard to re-install an OS and look at the old installation's mucked up
install log)
> > window managers, an X control panel (BETTER than the dotfile
> Red Hat has one of those.
So I hear. Haven't seen it though, but I'd like to. Written in C or
C++? Hope so. Average joe user doesn't want
PERL,TCL/TK,AWK,SED,etc.. wasting space on their machine. Hell, *I*
don't even want some of those (except good ol cryptic awk & sed :o)
> > generator), a text based console control panel, common configurations
> YES! Another thing I've been saying for a while! You don't need graphics
> to have ease of use!
I think that a text based one (written in a HLL such as C or C++, and
ncurses) is an ABSOLUTE MUST! Slackware's is about 4 on a scale of 1
to 10 for me. Unfortunately it isn't very friendly if you make a
mistake or a typo. (1 on the friendliness scale).
> > for setting up the MODEM, NULL modem, sound card, email, a dynamic PPP
> > link (an EASY setup like in Windblows), and other things like a
> > default sendmail.cf file that is set up for the most common end user
> > configuration (perhaps also with a control panel entry), I can think
>
> Don't forget printer configuration and filesystem configuration. And it
> would be nice to have an "automount" feature on removeable file systems
> (or does Linux alread have that?).
YES!! After 7 months, yes, "SEVEN", I *STILL* can't get my cheapo
printer to work in Linux. I've gotten it to print out a manpage
really slow once (and almost burned out the print head) but I gave up
after 4 days of reading HOWTO's, FAQ's and manpages for; man, groff,
troff, nroff, eql, eqn, eq***, tr*.*, *.* /usr/***********,
AHHHHHH!!!!
Don't get me wrong. Linux is cool. But don't expect to print
anything unless you are a harvard graduate. (Or have bothered to
listen to everyone and get magicfilter :o)
> > of MANY other programs that would be cool to have also. Anyone have
> > any ideas on this? I think it would be much better than persuing a
> > NEW GUI in DOS.
>
> I do too, but I don't see the Linux thing happening. There are too many
> idiots out there who think "I'm cool, cause I know how to use vi." Who
> cares? I could spend my time doing other things. Like having fun.
vi? If someone uses vi, good for them, I don't care. Linux *IS*
happening, and the more friendly to set up and install it is, the more
people will use it. On-line help like Windows (read that: 'in the
style of', but MUCH more informative) would be a definite asset.
> > Also, if such a project is begun for Linux, I feel that ALL programs
> > that are part of the project MUST be written in C period with the
> > possible exception of some small bash scripts. I say this because I
> > think that TCL/TK programs and other shell languages are SLOW!!!!! for
> > this kind of thing.
>
> Or C++.
C++ is ok too. I just mean NO TCL/TK, or other script languages!
(Except simple little scripts to automate things that work good in the
shells ie BASH!!!! or CSH!!!!! NO PERL, TCL/TK!!!!!!)
Hmmm. This discussion is in the DJGPP group. This discussion doesn't
have anything to do with DJGPP at all. Hmmm. Maybe we should
continue it elsewhere before we get FRIED!!!!!!
:o)
Mike A. Harris | http://blackwidow.saultc.on.ca/~mharris
Computer Consultant | My webpage has moved and my address has changed.
My dynamic address: http://blackwidow.saultc.on.ca/~mharris/ip-address.html
mailto:mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on DOT ca
I'm a CRAZY LINUX NUT. AAHHAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
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