From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Apr 23 07:00:27 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E8B691065672 for ; Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:00:27 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from sonicy@otenet.gr) Received: from rosebud.otenet.gr (rosebud.otenet.gr [83.235.67.32]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6C3B88FC1D for ; Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:00:27 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from sonicy@otenet.gr) Received: from atlantis.dyndns.org (athedsl-4489043.home.otenet.gr [94.71.75.91]) by rosebud.otenet.gr (8.13.8/8.13.8/Debian-3) with ESMTP id n3N70O0V029204; Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:00:24 +0300 Message-ID: <49F01208.2080705@otenet.gr> Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:00:24 +0300 From: Manolis Kiagias User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.21 (X11/20090414) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Polytropon References: <714DFCFC-9547-497D-A2C7-0BA10B39B901@mac.com> <49EF82B2.2040807@gmail.com> <49EF98C6.2060902@virtualhost.nl> <49EFA169.4050903@otenet.gr> <20090423084637.eb58cbe1.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <20090423084637.eb58cbe1.freebsd@edvax.de> X-Enigmail-Version: 0.95.7 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: Wojciech Puchar , questions@freebsd.org, VirtualHost Subject: Re: Modern FreeBSD Installer? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:00:28 -0000 Polytropon wrote: > On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:59:53 +0300, Manolis Kiagias wrote: > > >> Exactly. Modern install does not necessarily mean GUI. FreeBSD *needs* a >> text installer to work on old machines, headless servers, serial >> consoles and the like. That being said, there are quite a few annoyances >> with sysinstall. And of course, having a GUI installer as an additional >> option is also very welcome. >> > > No problem, as long as (a) it isn't default (read: too complicated > to switch it off of not needed) and (b) doesn't make things more > complicated. > The text installer should always be the default, IMHO. A GUI installer should be selectable i.e. from the boot options. I hope Ivan Voras finds the time to continue with the finstall project, it looked very promising: http://ivoras.sharanet.org/blog/tree/2009-02-19.what-happened-to-finstall.html >> - No real 'back' functionality. Can't fix most mistakes, need to redo >> the install >> > > Hmmm... I think this is where the user learns "first think, then do" > on a good basis. > > > The problem here is that sysinstall *does* allow you to go back and redo some steps, but then fails miserably and mysteriously > > >> Personally, I would like a text installer using a previous/next approach >> that would give me options like: >> > > Forgive me my ignorance, but personally, I completely DISLIKE this > linear approach. Instead of > > A ---> B ---> C ---> D ---> E ---> F oops, forgot something > E <--- no, not here > D <--- not here, too > C <--- ah, here it was, okay, got it > C ---> D ---> E ---> F ---> Finish > The moving back approach as I see it is not intended as an excuse to leave your brain turned off. And it doesn't even have to move back all steps - one would be enough for the occasional wrong key-press. > A hierarchy would be better. > > Options: > A This and that > B Some other stuff > C More stuff > D Even more stuff > E Some settings > F Several other settings > Done Commit > > So one could first select > A This and that > then, knowing that C - E are not interesting for him, address > F Several other settings > directly, make some choices, and then, maybe go back to > A This and that > and do some more tasks, and finally select > Done Commit > to do the install. > > I have no problem with this strategy, but... > This is what sysinstall already provides. In a modern way, it allows > to "go back" to any setting that has already been done and change it, > and the user is not limited in doing choices in a pre-defined order. > ...it does allow you to go back in a sort of way - but then fails many times to continue normally.