requirements for default apps

Petrus de Calguarium kwhiskerz at gmail.com
Mon Jan 18 17:07:43 UTC 2010


Rex Dieter wrote:

> So, please comment on what you consider to be core requirements when it 
> comes to:
> 1.  packagekit frontend/integration
> 2.  networkmanager frontend
> 3.  bluetooth device support
> 4.  phonon backend
> 5.  anything else you can think of...

I don't know, as a day-to-day home computer user, what I can suggest that might be 
useful, but, off the top of my head:

1. packagekit: I did not particularly like the one version a while back that relied 
on smart. It never worked. Then there was another version, which appeared to be the 
same program (very confusing) that integrated into the system-settings. Neither did 
anything. What I find missing in all of these package managers is the ability to 
explore the repositories. Package management is not simply about updating installed 
software, but also about perusing the repo and discovering other programs one might 
like to install. Way back in kde2 or kde3, there used to be such a program (I don't 
recall if it was an apt frontend, or what it was) that allowed one to click on 
every available program and be shown a description of the program, all of the files 
it provided and all of the dependencies required. This type of package management 
is sorely lacking. One should be able to find packages, not just in groups, like 
games, development, etc., but also individually. Yes, the list would be many 
thousands long, but when you don't know what it is called, you don't know what it 
does and you don't even know that it exists until you spot it, how can you search 
for it? RPMfusion at least offers repoview, but fedoraproject no longer does (or if 
it does, it is impossible to view, because you are always automatically directed to 
some mirror site that doesn't implement it).

2. networkmanager: the gnome icon in the system tray works splendidly here. Does 
absolutely everything have to be duplicated? But, if it does, then I would think it 
should be, at a minimum, as functional as the current system. I like it in the 
system tray, as having a plasmoid for this uses up too much space on the panel.

3. bluetooth: I have never had any bluetooth devices, so it would be hard to 
comment, but they should be automatically detected both when they are present and 
when they get out of range/are removed. I definitely dislike any kind of system 
that allows only root to mount/unmount or attach and remove devices. If I plug a 
device in, then I should be able to use it. It's my computer!

4. phonon: I prefer xine, but ultimately what is important is that it be able to 
play any file I encounter.

5. ? This is always the hardest question. I am sure I have a gripe somewhere, but 
it evades me. I think we could take that as meaning that things are really very 
good ;-) Reading some other comments might jog my memory. No set-up and just works 
are important to me in every aspect of computer use (although I do highly value the 
intricate set-up capabilities of kde, when I feel like customizing to get it just 
so).

I hope this helps.



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