Re: GNOME user survey 2011

[Felipe Contreras <felipe contreras gmail com>]

On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 12:49 AM, Olav Vitters <olav vitters nl> wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 01, 2011 at 12:16:54AM +0300, Felipe Contreras wrote:
>> On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 11:14 PM, Olav Vitters <olav vitters nl> wrote:
>> > On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 07:11:34PM +0300, Felipe Contreras wrote:
>> >> Many of these are borrowed from the Git user survey. The results as
>> >> you can see, can be quite interesting:
>> >> https://git.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/GitSurvey2010
>> >>
>> >> It would be great if some sort of notification would popup directly on
>> >> user's desktops, this way it can ensured that the maximum amount of
>> >> people are notified. Otherwise, I think planet GNOME, reddit, twitter,
>> >
>> > That's impossible.
>>
>> Everything is possible.
>>
>> >> Google+ and so on should give plenty of feedback. Maybe also contact
>> >> Ars Technica, LWN, Phornix, and so on would help.
>> >
>> > Those are only technical sites. I think the results are going to be
>> > biased whatever you do.
>>
>> How do you suggest to reach the end users if you already dismissed a
>> pop up directly from the desktop? If there isn't any way, at least
>> it's better than nothing.
>
> I didn't dismiss. I said it was impossible to popup a notification.

I already explained how it would be possible; you create a new package
that checks for notifications on a server. And this new packages is
added as a dependency on distro packages. Perfectly possible.

>> >> === 03. How do you describe the amount of configurations available? ===
>> >
>> > I don't see the relevance of asking this. Furthermore the question is
>> > suggestive. Seems more to prove a point than anything else.
>>
>> I do see the relevance, as I think it has been a big point of
>> contention raised by many users.
>
> Something should be done with a survey. No matter the outcome of this
> question, you won't be able to take these results and change things.
>
> Asking if people want more configuration options goes against why
> options are removed. Ideally everything should happen automatically.
>
> I'm only interested in the cases where it doesn't work.

I other words, you are saying that it doesn't matter if 100% of the
responders of this survey say GNOME has too few options, nothing would
be done? Is there *any* kind of evidence that would convince GNOME ppl
that users want more options? Or is it what the wishes of users are
completely irrelevant?

>> If you don't think it's very important, it could go to the end.
>> Besides, if the results are overwhelmingly pointing to "Too few"?
>> Don't you think it would be worth investigating? If the results end up
>> being "Just enough", then no harm done.
>
> The question is suggestive so the results will be biased. It is better
> to ask something like "does GNOME do what you want?" and then have a
> text field where they can specify what GNOME lacks.

Something like:

=== . In your opinion, which areas in GNOME need improvement? ===
(matrix)

  Columns: don't need / a little / some / much
 + applications
 + usability
 + documentation
 + configuration
 + localization (translation)

>> >> === 06. What channel(s) do you use to request help about GNOME (if any)? ===
>> >
>> > With what purpose is this asked? No support is given on GNOME Bugzilla.
>> > Only minimal on gnome-list.
>>
>> It's important to have a two-way communication with the users, don't
>> you think? So it's important to figure out what channels they actually
>> use. In fact, I was thinking to add another question asking if they
>> feel there's lack of communication with the team.
>
> I don't see giving support as:
>  * something which shouldn't be done
>  * two-way communication
>  * a way that contributors communicate amongst each other
>
> However, we don't really give support. It would be nice to do more,
> but.. it is not done that much (bit on IRC, mailing lists, some forums).
> Though I'll say beforehand that I see support as separate from a
> developer task.

I still don't see any suggestions.

>> Resolving bugs is also support. But feel free to rephrase the question
>> to find out how users provide any kind feedback; questions, bug
>> reports, issues, etc.
>
> I again disagree. A support issue can be caused by a bug. Such a bug can
> be a requirement to solve the support issue. But this doesn't mean
> fixing bugs is support.

It definitely is. When a product ends its support, it means bugs are
not going to be fixed any more.

It is important to know how many people actually use bugzilla, and how
many people ask questions in IRC channels, mailing lists, etc.

Maybe:
What channel(s) do you use to communicate with the GNOME team (if any)?

>> > Things I'd like to know:
>> >  - Multiple choice options to understand the responders technical
>> >   skills. So if they've submitted a patch, contributed code somewhere,
>> >   paid to write software, maintain some open source code, etc.
>> >   That is IMO a nicer way to understand their skills can someone to
>> >   rate themselves.
>>
>> How about Zeeshan's suggestion of asking how often they use the terminal?
>>
>> >  - If they use KDE/XFCE/something
>>
>> That's confusing. You mean if they switch between GNOME and those? Or
>> that they used to use GNOME, and now they use that one?
>
> My thought was if they use multiple at the same time.
>
>> How about:
>> Which other desktop environments have you used?
>
> I like that. Maybe add a timeframe? E.g. "used in the last three years"?

Ok.

-- 
Felipe Contreras