Re: Some things GNOME really needs

[Nathan Clemons <nathan windsofstorm net>]

GnoRPM will tell you in a GUI format what is needed. A flying mascot
around the screen??!? I think a lot of us would be sick to see something
like this. We (in my opinion) are trying to make UNIX easier, not bloody
dumb! .tar.gz files which have to be compiled by hand-- all of these
usually have configure options which vary widely as to effect. Writing a
GUI to interface with the configure script (also which some people don't
use, believe it or not) would be a nightmare. If they want to hand install
something, let them read "Porting GNU Software" (I think) which covers the
idea of configure ; make ; make install ; make clean. And then let them
hack on it themselves. RPMS are for the people who can't handle
hand-compiling things, or for those of us who've compiled enough things to
get tired of it and just want the software installed _now_.

Having programs specifically designed for GNOME is shooting yourself in
the foot. Taking extended advantage of GNOME features is a better idea
that making it only work with GNOME.

DirectX is not something that happened fast, and a lot of that was done by
Microsoft with hardware vendors, as I understand it. That would not be a
"GNOME" project, but perhaps a "Linux" or "UNIX" project.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nathan P. Clemons                       "Peace favor your code."
nathan@windsofstorm.net                 ICQ: 2810688
IN CONSTRUCTION:                        http://gnome.windsofstorm.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wed, 23 Jun 1999, Robert Roeser wrote:

> I have some ideas I that make GNOME alot easier to use for newbies
> 
> 1. INSTALL WIZARD
> I know alot of you think that rpm are great but for most the people that
> use windows rpm -ivh --force --nodeps *.rpm, or whatever would scare the
> hell out of them. Great you say, just use GnoRPM or a tool like that. Two
> problems:
> A. What about programs you have to compile, or aren't RPMs
> B. Its too prowerful for end users
> A gnifty GNOME INSTALL wizard would be great. User downloads a package
> called foobar.tar.gz, opens the GNOME INSTALL wizard, finds foobar.tar.gz,
> and it walks him through the rest of the install. Or if said person gets
> an rpm foo.rpm, the install wiz could do that for him as well. However, it
> it needs bar.rpm, it would tell him in a nice GUI setting instead of the
> cold CLI, or you even make it so the install wizard trys and helps the
> person find bar.rpm
> 
> 2. Cool GNOME Mascot/Helper
> I don't think GNOME has a mascot. I would be cool if you could make a
> little GNOME Mascot that could fly around and give new users a tour of
> GNOME
> 
> 3. GNOME certified programs
> Make a certain standard which programs should strive to comply for interms
> of interface, and help, etc. Give the programmers a little banner to put
> on there page if there program is certified. 
> 
> 4. something like directX for gnome
> I believe Elliot has made a white paper about GMF, but correct me if i am
> wrong this is just for sound. Games are cool, and games will attract
> people to linux. I would never have to use windows again if my favorite
> games weren't only on windows. Something like this should be made for
> GNOME, it might even be a good idea to contact Loki and see if they would
> be willing to help? Such a subsystem would benefit them as well (easier to
> make games, and they would have a cool GUI to go along with it). Plus,
> other programs could use it like TV viewers, and 3D accelator cards.
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
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