Development

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Semi-Random collection of thoughts from the developers:

Contents

New Installer

Design Ideas

  • Separate logic and frontend code -- this allows us to keep a totally simple installer, to add an advanced installer for experts, and a fully automated install (akin to RH's kickstart without the design flaws)
  • Small, reusable components (libraries) -- maintain some code in libraries that are also useful outside the installer, e.g. for post-install configuration. e.g. partitioning code can be reused in QtParted
  • Make [almost] all installer components available as reconfiguration tools after installation

Installer frontends

  • Simple -- Basically what we have now
But prettier? Mockup here --Leinir 08:26, 3 August 2006 (CDT)
  • Expert -- More options, like leaving out non-vital parts, configuring users
  • Automated -- Kickstart-alike
  • Ability to save all installation settings from any installation type in a format suitable for feeding to the Automated installer, to duplicate installs

Installer bootup

  • Bootable from CD -- What we have now
  • PXE -- Fully automated deployment server -- to be used primarily with Automated frontend

New Software Manager

Must be simple enough to be used by everybody, but also powerful enough that a poweruser would be satisfied with the possibilities and speed of operation. A NeXT File Viewer pane layout would do well for this. While this layout is less powerful for file manipulation (move/copy and so on), it is very fast and easy to use for actually finding things in a structured data layout. A layout suggestion and preliminary use case study can be found here:

EPS Version of the document - 2.1 MB

Assorted ideas

Sound system

  • Add controls (similar to the arts volume adjuster) for /usr/bin/systemsound, using -af volume
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