Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:47:01 -0400 From: Scott Ullrich <sullrich@gmail.com> To: Dan Naumov <dan.naumov@gmail.com> Cc: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org, freebsd-current@freebsd.org, Vincent Hoffman <vince@unsane.co.uk> Subject: Re: sysinstall, GJOURNAL and ZFS Message-ID: <d5992baf0906131247s4c1d64aembf826f6d8d2161ef@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <cf9b1ee00906121507n24ec1f7dt89687ce2b85803b1@mail.gmail.com> References: <cf9b1ee00906090242h6dea1182h8e743b7ceec36c2c@mail.gmail.com> <alpine.BSF.2.00.0906091632430.6551@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <cf9b1ee00906090757v7d589dfch978076a97be724a9@mail.gmail.com> <4A2E84DC.1010900@unsane.co.uk> <d5992baf0906090958r250ae0afibd2c4320630778ba@mail.gmail.com> <cf9b1ee00906121507n24ec1f7dt89687ce2b85803b1@mail.gmail.com>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 6:07 PM, Dan Naumov<dan.naumov@gmail.com> wrote: > As promised, I took a go at this new BSDInstaller, I wrote down some > of my thoughts. Since I don't know if this is the kind of feedback you > are looking for, here is just a part of it. As you can probably guess > from it, I deal with usability issues in software applications a lot, > hence my point of view, but obviously I can find my way around a UNIX > without much issues. Thanks!! > > FreeBSD-20090608-1522-8.0-CURRENT image was used: > ============================================= > Initial BOOT: > The boot goes as planned, but the user is dropped off to a login > prompt. There is no direct indication for the user regarding how to > proceed. Adding a note just before the login prompt saying something > like "login as "root" with an empty password" would be nice. Again, as > soon the user does log on, there is no indication as to how to launch > the actual installer. This, as well as the previous problem could be > solved by presenting the user with a simple menu screen, like this: > > Welcome to FreeBSD, choose your option: > 1: Launch the FreeBSD installer > 2: Drop to an emergency rescue shell That is one part that I have not touched on as of yet. DragonFly has a "installer" account that launches the BSDI but I am not too sure if thats how we should visit this or not? > This would eleminate the actual need to log in as well, we could just > autologin as root for both options. > > Initial options in the actual installer: > <Change Video Font> option: the names in a long list don't actually > tell the user anything regarding how does any of the fonts look. Would > it be possible to have a small sample preview next to each presented > font option? > <Change Screen Map> option: again, the screen map options do not > really explain the user what he should be choosing. A short > description of every option is needed at the very least. > <Change Keymap> option: ditto, same thing. Good ideas. Any chance you can add them to the wiki? > Another approach to this altogether could be a serious of questions > like: "What country do you live in? What language is your keyboard?" > providing multiple options for an answer for each question. After a > series of questions, the installer could just automatically pick up > most sane defaults based on the answers given by the user and finally > ask "Does the fonts on the screen look alright to you? Try typing in > here, do the expect characters appear as they should?" and if the user > is unsatisfied, he can be dropped to the kinds of a big selection list > which is used by the installer right now. > > <Select Kernel Module to Load: Again, each option needs at least a > short description, a lot of the kernel module names are cryptic and a > new user cannot be reasonably expected to evaluate and make an > informed decision regarding what he does want and what he doesn't > based on a simple file list of the modules. Also a good idea and should be relatively easy if we can pull the short description dynamically somehow vs. hard coding it? > <Begin Installation> screen: The screen states that in order to do a > manual installation "<SNIP> login as root, and follow the instructions > given in the file /README". There is no indication regarding how the > user is supposed to open the README file, at least ONE sane option > should be suggested (for example: login as root and type "vi README" > at the command prompt to read the instructions regarding installing > FreeBSD manually. This is leftover and also needs to be addressed. So far I have focused on getting the BSDI ported to FreeBSD and to remove the "pfSense'sms" that where present. Really appreciate all of the advice but I am hoping that it does not get lost. Do you mind helping me update the Wiki with your suggestions? Maybe add a usability improvements section. If not I can get it updated later this weekend. Also I am working on getting 7-STABLE snapshots together and embedded images suitable for compact flash cards ala DD/physdiskwrite.exe. Scott
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?d5992baf0906131247s4c1d64aembf826f6d8d2161ef>