From owner-freebsd-newbies Tue Apr 14 18:57:20 1998 Return-Path: Received: (from majordom@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) id SAA15767 for freebsd-newbies-outgoing; Tue, 14 Apr 1998 18:57:20 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG) Received: from kalypso.cybercom.net (kalypso.cybercom.net [209.21.136.5]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id BAA15679 for ; Wed, 15 Apr 1998 01:56:54 GMT (envelope-from ksmm@cybercom.net) Received: from atlanta (mfd-dial3-11.cybercom.net [209.21.137.75]) by kalypso.cybercom.net (8.8.7/8.8.7) with SMTP id VAA19157 for ; Tue, 14 Apr 1998 21:56:48 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199804150156.VAA19157@kalypso.cybercom.net> X-Sender: ksmm@cybercom.net X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0 Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 21:33:02 -0400 To: From: The Classiest Man Alive Subject: Re: What do newbies want? In-Reply-To: <006001bd67fb$ba361280$0300a8c0@admin.cian.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sender: owner-freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.org At 07:19 PM 4/14/98 , Christopher Raven wrote: > >Some sort of built in configuration tool that lets you build a >'complete' desktop enviroment immediately - and without hastles (an >included .xintrc default script would be a bonus?). Without a shadow >of a doubt, to most non-CLI people a GUI enviroment is a top priority >from the word go. > >Chris R. > I agree with this and I would even take the idea even a bit further. * A GUI or CHUI interface for installing _and_ post-installation configuration. The existing sysinstall has come a long way, but it's got stretch marks from age and expansion. The library that it uses is dated, and it could really stand to be rewritten. * More sensible defaults. Not just the .xinitrc but many of the /etc files need modification or editing after installation to get the expected results. For instance, many users are not connected to a network, but may want to set up PPP networking. If that's the case, the network initialization should just be omitted or commented out upon installation, and PPP setup should be run. * Internet readiness. A system should be ready to network rather quickly after installation is complete. This would mean having the required networking set up as well as a readily available web browser, e-mail client, and whatever other goodies a person might need. We're aware that FreeBSD has The Power to Serve, but we've also got to make it friendly to use on the client side to attract the newbie crowd. * More packages, fewer ports. Though most of the ports are already in package form, the list isn't complete. Ports (or any other component that needs to be built rather than extracted) are daunting to a new user. There should be as little of that for the novice user as possible. All this nit-picking makes me feel like I'm complaining when really I'm not. The quality of the installer and the config utilities have improved dramatically since I was first introduced to them, and they're very good now, enough that I prefer a FreeBSD installation to a Slackware or Red Hat Linux installation. But if you're speaking strictly in the interest of newbies, these are areas that I would improve. There's an tremendous irony in the UNIX world that applies here: the people who need these simplifying tools don't have the skill to create them, and those with the skill don't need them and often can't see the need for them. Hence, they often never get created. K.S. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-newbies" in the body of the message