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Home > Archive > Debian Developers > August 2004 > Debconf doesn't scale well -- suggestion
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Debconf doesn't scale well -- suggestion
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| Daniel Haude 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| Hello folks,
I've been running Debian on several machines for several years and have
been always happy with it. The only thing that I've almost always had to
struggle with is the configuration of the X windows system which I do
through debconf. What I don't like about debconf (this is always the case
but becomes very obvious with a package like xserver-xfree86 which has a
great many options that can be fiddled with) is the one-dimensional
approach to the configuration, meaning that you always have to wade
through the same collection of questions even if you only want to change
one single parameter. There isn't even a chance to go back. Shouldn't it
be possible to add an interface which implements the modern approach -- a
tabbed collection of configuation panels, one for each section (screen,
mouse, keyboard etc) of the configuration?
I actually find it hard to believe that this isn't being worked on already
-- or is it?
just my .02€
--Daniel
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| Andreas Metzler 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| On 2004-08-20 Daniel Haude <dunno@stoptrick.com> wrote:
[...]
> There isn't even a chance to go back.
[...]
Going back is possible if the respective maintainer-srcipt supports
it. In the Dialog-frontend the respective button is labeled <Cancel>
cu andreas
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| Steve Greenland 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| On 20-Aug-04, 11:17 (CDT), Andreas Metzler <ametzler@downhill.at.eu.org> wrote:
> Going back is possible if the respective maintainer-srcipt supports
> it. In the Dialog-frontend the respective button is labeled <Cancel>
Because of course "Cancel" is obviously "Back", and not "End
configuration".
That's a *really* bad design choice.
Steve
--
Steve Greenland
The irony is that Bill Gates claims to be making a stable operating
system and Linus Torvalds claims to be trying to take over the
world. -- seen on the net
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| Kevin Mark 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
On Fri, Aug 20, 2004 at 03:06:05PM +0200, Daniel Haude wrote:
> Hello folks,
>
> I've been running Debian on several machines for several years and have
> been always happy with it. The only thing that I've almost always had to
> struggle with is the configuration of the X windows system which I do
> through debconf. What I don't like about debconf (this is always the case
> but becomes very obvious with a package like xserver-xfree86 which has a
> great many options that can be fiddled with) is the one-dimensional
> approach to the configuration, meaning that you always have to wade
> through the same collection of questions even if you only want to change
> one single parameter. There isn't even a chance to go back. Shouldn't it
> be possible to add an interface which implements the modern approach -- a
> tabbed collection of configuation panels, one for each section (screen,
> mouse, keyboard etc) of the configuration?
>
> I actually find it hard to believe that this isn't being worked on already
> -- or is it?
>
> just my .02€
>
> --Daniel
Hi Daniel,
on the debian-user list (I think) I saw mention of debconf-set-selections
and debconf-get-selections mentioned. Someone was trying to figure out a
way to copy a debian setup fully. dpkg --get-selection, -set-selection
and dselect upgrade are a good start but it doesnt setup /etc or debconf.
This maybe a lead.
- -Kev
PS. IANADD.
>
>
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| Roger Leigh 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| Steve Greenland <steveg@moregruel.net> writes:
> On 20-Aug-04, 11:17 (CDT), Andreas Metzler <ametzler@downhill.at.eu.org> wrote:
>
> Because of course "Cancel" is obviously "Back", and not "End
> configuration".
>
> That's a *really* bad design choice.
dialog has a --cancel-label option. "--cancel-label Back" would fix
this.
--
Roger Leigh
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| Steve Greenland 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| On 20-Aug-04, 17:23 (CDT), Roger Leigh <rleigh@whinlatter.ukfsn.org> wrote:
> Steve Greenland <steveg@moregruel.net> writes:
>
>
> dialog has a --cancel-label option. "--cancel-label Back" would fix
> this.
The problem is that "Cancel" and "Back" are semantically different.
But if debconf only supports one possible use for "cancel", then yes,
labelling it as "Back" would be a huge improvement.
Steve
--
Steve Greenland
The irony is that Bill Gates claims to be making a stable operating
system and Linus Torvalds claims to be trying to take over the
world. -- seen on the net
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| |
| Jérôme Warnier 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| Le ven 20/08/2004 =E0 15:06, Daniel Haude a =E9crit :
> Hello folks,
>=20
> I've been running Debian on several machines for several years and have=20
> been always happy with it. The only thing that I've almost always had to=20
> struggle with is the configuration of the X windows system which I do=20
> through debconf. What I don't like about debconf (this is always the case=
=20
> but becomes very obvious with a package like xserver-xfree86 which has a=20
> great many options that can be fiddled with) is the one-dimensional=20
> approach to the configuration, meaning that you always have to wade=20
> through the same collection of questions even if you only want to change=20
> one single parameter. There isn't even a chance to go back. Shouldn't it=20
> be possible to add an interface which implements the modern approach -- a=
=20
> tabbed collection of configuation panels, one for each section (screen,=20
> mouse, keyboard etc) of the configuration?
As of d-i, it should now be easier to avoid a lot of redundant
questions, like for example xdebconfigurator could help you setting up
your X server without much effort. Similaly, localization-config could
help you setting up keyboad mapping.
Hope it helps.
> I actually find it hard to believe that this isn't being worked on alread=
y=20
> -- or is it?
--=20
J=E9r=F4me Warnier
Consultant
BeezNest
http://beeznest.net
| |
| Francesco P. Lovergine 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| On Sat, Aug 21, 2004 at 01:53:09PM +0200, Jérôme Warnier wrote:
> Le ven 20/08/2004 à 15:06, Daniel Haude a écrit :
> As of d-i, it should now be easier to avoid a lot of redundant
> questions, like for example xdebconfigurator could help you setting up
> your X server without much effort. Similaly, localization-config could
> help you setting up keyboad mapping.
>
> Hope it helps.
He probably pointed dpkg-reconfigure. Indeed, a differet tabbed interface
could also be thought in that specific case. But I suspect it's not easy
to implement and very error prone.
--
Francesco P. Lovergine
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| Per Olofsson 2004-08-22, 6:11 pm |
| Roger Leigh:
> dialog has a --cancel-label option. "--cancel-label Back" would fix
> this.
debconf doesn't use dialog by default, it uses whiptail.
I think debconf is going to be replaced by cdebconf eventually, and
cdebconf has proper back buttons.
--
Pelle
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