Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 21:40:31 +0200 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Robert Bonomi <bonomi@mail.r-bonomi.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: user friendliest gui Message-ID: <20100511214031.ea800432.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <201005111907.o4BJ7A2M007162@mail.r-bonomi.com> References: <201005111907.o4BJ7A2M007162@mail.r-bonomi.com>
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On Tue, 11 May 2010 14:07:10 -0500 (CDT), Robert Bonomi <bonomi@mail.r-bonomi.com> wrote: > Why?? Because, In this case, the GUI is entirely -un-necessary-. The user > doesn't have to do anything other than stick the flash drive in the USB port. > > The machine does everything else. *WITHOUT* any further user intervention > required. > > Why bother with the GUI, when there is no inter-actiona required? Valid point. No interaction -> no need for GUI, because you can display needed information in a colorful text screen, too. In this case, I'd suggest to use CDK (Curses development kit) and an automated script. If you're keen on setting up a graphical environment, do it right: No window manager, no way to start programs. In your ~/.xinitrc nothing than the program to be run should be executed. For "enriching" a shell script with GUI controls, I would say that using Tcl/Tk is a good way. Finally, I imagine that you want something like this: +----------------------------------+ | VIRUS & MALWARE SCANNING STATION | | ================================ | | Insert your USB stick or thumb | | drive into the USB port and then | | press <ENTER> to start the scan. | | (OK) | +----------------------------------+ Of course, users who want the complicated GUI way will now grab the mouse and click the OK button. +----------------------------------+ | SCANNING IN PROGRESS | | ==================== | | The system is now scanning your | | files. DO NOT REMOVE the stick | | without being told so! | +----------------------------------+ Additionally, files may be shown in a scrolling window as they are processed. From a quick df / du measurement, the percentage of the progress can be estimated. +----------------------------------+ | NOTHING FOUND | | ============= | | You may now remove your stick. | | (OK) | +----------------------------------+ or maybe +----------------------------------+ | ALERT! MALWARE HAS BEEN FOUND! | | ============================== | | Take your USB stick and do not | | insert it anywhere else. Your | | system administrator has been | | informed that your stick contai- | | ned a dangerous virus. Report to | | Mister Dillinger immedieately. | | (OK) | +----------------------------------+ You can do this both in text mode and in X. If you really, REALLY want to use X for the sake of overcomplexity, you can do that, but be prepared: The more unneeded stuff you introduce, the more complicated the whole procedure gets, and the more security risks may occur. You have hereby been warned. :-) As I mentioned before: MY suggestion would be to try to avoid as many interaction as possible. "Windows" users usually aren't good at understanding interaction concepts, even if it comes in blue and red and shiny, or any other old-fashioned candy-like color theme they are told to be comfortable with. The most responsibility off them. Make a machine that exactly and purely does the job, and does it well. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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