PackagingToolsUsability

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⇤ ← Revision 1 as of 2007-10-31 20:57:09 →
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Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
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 * '''Launchpad Entry''': UbuntuSpec:foo
 * '''Packages affected''': 		 * '''Launchpad Entry''': UbuntuSpec:packaging-tools-usability
 * '''Packages affected''': update-manager, gnome-app-install
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This should provide an overview of the issue/functionality/change proposed here. Focus here on what will actually be DONE, summarising that so that other people don't have to read the whole spec. The packaging tools we ship are highly visible and are a important
part of the ubuntu desktop experience. This spec reivews them to make
sure we do a good job here.
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== Release Note ==

This section should include a paragraph describing the end-user impact of this change. It is meant to be included in the release notes of the first release in which it is implemented. (Not all of these will actually be included in the release notes, at the release manager's discretion; but writing them is a useful exercise.)

It is mandatory.

== Rationale ==

This should cover the _why_: why is this change being proposed, what justifies it, where we see this justified.

== Use Cases ==

== Assumptions ==

== Design ==

You can have subsections that better describe specific parts of the issue.

== Implementation ==

This section should describe a plan of action (the "how") to implement the changes discussed. Could include subsections like:

=== UI Changes ===

Should cover changes required to the UI, or specific UI that is required to implement this

=== Code Changes ===

Code changes should include an overview of what needs to change, and in some cases even the specific details.

=== Migration ===

Include:
 * data migration, if any
 * redirects from old URLs to new ones, if any
 * how users will be pointed to the new way of doing things, if necessary.

== Test/Demo Plan ==

It's important that we are able to test new features, and demonstrate them to users. Use this section to describe a short plan that anybody can follow that demonstrates the feature is working. This can then be used during CD testing, and to show off after release.

This need not be added or completed until the specification is nearing beta.

== Outstanding Issues ==

This should highlight any issues that should be addressed in further specifications, and not problems with the specification itself; since any specification with problems cannot be approved.

== BoF agenda and discussion ==

Use this section to take notes during the BoF; if you keep it in the approved spec, use it for summarising what was discussed and note any options that were rejected.

== Gobby document from UDS ==

Review GUI packaging tools for usability:
 The usability review covers the GUI packaging tools for:
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== Cross-application ideas == == Release Note ==
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* Would be nice to have a way to update only .deb repositories (we waste like 30 seconds of user interaction refreshing source packages in update manager, gnome-app-install, and synaptic) TBD
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* Don't want to disable source repos by default. Since only way to install a source package is apt-get source, can rely on user to run apt-get update on same terminal. == Rationale ==
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 * Consistent icon for "supported by Canonical" A review of UI experts is important for the hardy LTS release.
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== update-manager == == Design ==
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 * Show applications as applications, like gnome-app-install does. Sebastien Heinlein will work on this so it can be considered for 8.04 vs. 8.10. === Cross-application ideas ===
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 * Show non-application packages as categories? It would be nice to have a way to update only .deb repositories (we
waste like 30 seconds of user interaction refreshing source packages
in update manager, gnome-app-install, and synaptic). We do not want to
disable source repos by default because the default way to install a
source package in Ubuntu is apt-get source. We could rely on user to run
apt-get update on a terminal if he wants updated source information.
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 * Changes shows some cryptic text for security updates
  * Add a style guide to StableReleaseUpdates about writing user-facing changelogs. [mpt]
   * Could have a subset of the changelog entry guided to users, and then update manager would only show that, using some special syntax		 A consistent icon for "supported by Canonical" should be used for
synaptic and gnome-app-install. Preferable part of a icon theme.

=== update-manager ===

 * Show packages as applications, like gnome-app-install does. Sebastien Heinlein will work on this so it can be considered for 8.04 vs. 8.10. And show non-application packages under a new categories section that is collapsed by default.
 * Improve changes to not shows some cryptic text for security updates, but instead:
  * Add a style guide to StableReleaseUpdates about writing user-facing changelogs. This should go into the https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates page.
   * Have a subset of the changelog entry guided to users, and then update manager would only show that, using a special syntax
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 * Should remove the "from version to version" from update-manager since it's in the changelog entry as well (it's almost always something unusable anyway, like package0.9.2-ubuntu1 to package0.9.2-ubuntu2)
 * remove the version number from the main versionlist
 * optimize the vertical space		  * Remove the "from version to version" from update-manager since it's in the changelog entry as well (it's almost always something unusable anyway, like package0.9.2-ubuntu1 to package0.9.2-ubuntu2)
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 * change text in Show: "Installed Applications" to "Only installed applications"
 * make list sortable by checkbox install/uninstall 		  * change text in Show: "Installed Applications" to "Only installed applications"
 * make list sortable by checkbox install/uninstall (like synaptic), this makes it easy to see only applications that are not installed
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 * Impossible to list only uninstalled applications    * Use the "homepage" field if available
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Automatix displays a lot more information:
 * copyright (license)
 * link to screenshot
 * link to upstream homepage		  * "Integrates well into the Ubuntu desktop" isn't understandable (emblem), we need a better text here.
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 * "integrates well into the Ubuntu desktop" isn't understandable (emblem) == synaptic ==
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== Gdebi == "This application is supported by the distribution" isn't
understandable, we need to find a better way to explain
this. GtkTreeView now supports tooltips better, we could use that.


== Test/Demo Plan ==

TBD

== Outstanding Issues ==

=== UpdateManager ===
 * Check if we can optimize better for the vertical space

=== Gdebi ===
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== synaptic ==

"This application is supported by the distribution" isn't understandable


adept
adept_installer
adept_updater
apturl integration
 The following applications were not discussed:
 * apturl integration
 * adept
 * adept_installer
 * adept_updater

Please check the status of this specification in Launchpad before editing it. If it is Approved, contact the Assignee or another knowledgeable person before making changes.

Summary

The packaging tools we ship are highly visible and are a important part of the ubuntu desktop experience. This spec reivews them to make sure we do a good job here.

The usability review covers the GUI packaging tools for:

  • Review text to ensure grammarness
  • Cleanup
  • General review

Because Ubuntu 8.04 will be a an LTS release, we want to make small conservative changes. We will not be doing anything big like:

  • switching to PackageKit tools

  • implementing session management for the tools
  • localizing changelogs

Release Note

TBD

Rationale

A review of UI experts is important for the hardy LTS release.

Design

Cross-application ideas

It would be nice to have a way to update only .deb repositories (we waste like 30 seconds of user interaction refreshing source packages in update manager, gnome-app-install, and synaptic). We do not want to disable source repos by default because the default way to install a source package in Ubuntu is apt-get source. We could rely on user to run apt-get update on a terminal if he wants updated source information.

A consistent icon for "supported by Canonical" should be used for synaptic and gnome-app-install. Preferable part of a icon theme.

update-manager

  • Show packages as applications, like gnome-app-install does. Sebastien Heinlein will work on this so it can be considered for 8.04 vs. 8.10. And show non-application packages under a new categories section that is collapsed by default.
  • Improve changes to not shows some cryptic text for security updates, but instead:
  • SRU template in dch would be helpful, like the security update template
  • Remove the "from version to version" from update-manager since it's in the changelog entry as well (it's almost always something unusable anyway, like package0.9.2-ubuntu1 to package0.9.2-ubuntu2)

gnome-app-install

  • make uninstall easier
    • Not obvious how to get a list of installed applications.
    • change text in Show: "Installed Applications" to "Only installed applications"
  • make list sortable by checkbox install/uninstall (like synaptic), this makes it easy to see only applications that are not installed
  • Would be nice to have web links or images in the application description at the bottom.
    • Web links should go to launchpad in case they change after release
    • Use the "homepage" field if available
  • Search is currently NOT global if you have a category selected - this is not obvious at all
    • could move search bar to indicate what it is searching
    • could have extra bars appear when you do a search
  • "Integrates well into the Ubuntu desktop" isn't understandable (emblem), we need a better text here.

synaptic

"This application is supported by the distribution" isn't understandable, we need to find a better way to explain this. GtkTreeView now supports tooltips better, we could use that.

Test/Demo Plan

TBD

Outstanding Issues

UpdateManager

  • Check if we can optimize better for the vertical space

Gdebi

* Double clicking a .deb file is beyond normal use case

  • Huh? This happens quite frequently, see getdeb.net ...

The following applications were not discussed:

  • apturl integration
  • adept
  • adept_installer
  • adept_updater

CategorySpec

DesktopTeam/Specs/PackagingToolsUsability (last edited 2008-08-06 16:21:16 by localhost)