Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 13:38:27 -0700 From: Chris <bsd-lists@BSDforge.com> To: Kyle Evans <kevans@freebsd.org> Cc: FreeBSD Hackers <freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Ars Technica article on FreeBSD new user experience Message-ID: <e45c5e81db483be33193465e7d89505b@udns.ultimatedns.net> In-Reply-To: <CACNAnaF000ywitUn-HfqpFKZVXBtU78m=OXQXego9_0SxrT-jQ@mail.gmail.com>
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On Thu, 9 Apr 2020 14:34:20 -0500 Kyle Evans kevans@freebsd=2Eorg said > On Thu, Apr 9, 2020 at 2:05 PM Ed Maste <emaste@freebsd=2Eorg> wrote: > > > > Jim Salter has an article in Ars Technica discussing his experience > > with FreeBSD 12=2E1 as a desktop: > > > > https://arstechnica=2Ecom/gadgets/2020/04/not-actually-linux-distro-revie= w-freebsd-12-1-release/ > > > > There are some points in there that might involve misunderstanding, > > but there are also a number of real issues raised about the experience > > a new (or newish) desktop FreeBSD user will have=2E It will be a good > > idea for us to examine these, and offer advice or corrections if > > appropriate, and otherwise look how we can improve the FreeBSD > > experience for new users=2E >=20 > Random small collection of thoughts I had after reading this: >=20 > 1=2E re: LiveCD/Amnesiac prompt, we really should indicate the expected > credentials=2E=2E=2E we already do special stuff in release/ for install > media, my initial impression is that this shouldn't be all too hard=2E >=20 > 2=2E re: default shell and niceties: complete agreement, IMO we should > at least have basically usable history at a minimum >=20 > 3=2E re: `pkg search xorg` -- that makes sense, given "pkg search xorg > returns too many hits to fit on a single page of a text-mode console"=2E > Looking at sample output for that specific inquiry: >=20 > linux-c7-xorg-libs-7=2E7_8 Xorg libraries (Linux CentOS 7=2E7=2E1908) > xorg-7=2E7_3 X=2EOrg complete distribution metaport > xorg-apps-7=2E7_4 X=2Eorg apps meta-port > xorg-cf-files-1=2E0=2E6 X=2Eorg cf files for use with imake builds > xorg-dmx-1=2E20=2E8,1 Distributed Multihead X from X=2EOrg > xorg-docs-1=2E7=2E1,1 X=2Eorg documentation files >=20 > I wonder if we shouldn't push the version numbers into a second column > so it's easier to glean=2E IMHO that's a really good idea=2E On a similar note; may I humbly suggest that the current motd(5), while informative, is a bit overwhelming to new users=2E Perhaps replace some of it's current contents with a: To bootstrap a desktop on your new install enter "pkg install xorg"=2E=2E=2E or something along those lines=2E Maybe just a reference to a text document in examples that provides some suggestions/ solutions=2E > The initial column with full pkgname is a bit > too noisy for my eyes=2E Further, and this only really applies probably > in conjunction with other potential problems and may be completely > incorrect, but I think we should be giving our users something that > they can just quickly slap onto a `pkg install ` line and have the > greatest chance of doing the right thing=2E AFAICT pkg-search won't > trigger a `pkg update` before the search, so by the time you actually > pkg update+install the remote repo may not have that specific package > (w/ version) anymore: >=20 > 4=2E re: /proc, we should hold a separate discussion on this list about > whether we can mount /proc by default with debugging facilities > eradicated=2E >=20 > Thanks, >=20 > Kyle Evans --Chris
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