Installation shortcuts in Trisquel 8 instead of pre-installed apps?
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It just occurs to me that there might be a way to completely sidestep the debates about the default application set in Trisquel 8. What if we don't install any apps by default that aren't essential to the running of the base OS and the desktop environment? Instead, we fill the application menu with installation shortcuts to all the mature GNU/Linux apps we think people might want to use. This might require a second layer of categories. For example, when I mouse-over 'internet' it brings up a list of application *types*, eg browser, email, download manager. When I mouse-over 'browser', it brings up a list of browsers, eg ABrowser, IceCat etc
When a user clicks on the shortcut, the app installs from the repos. Once it's installed, it either replaces the secondary category altogether (eg when I install IceCat it replaces 'web browser' in the 'Internet' menu), or there is a visual change in it's menu item to indicate that it's installed and ready to use. The second option might be better, as it allows people to test multiple apps in the same subcategory to see which they prefer.
Pros:
* the default installation is super-minimal
* we don't have to haggle over mutually exclusive options
* we can offer users trivially easy access to a wide range of user apps without having to install them all by default
* users aren't installing a set of apps they may never use with their OS, just because there are other users that do use them
* users migrating from Windows or MacOSX are likely to see cross-platform apps they are familar with, and can choose to use those without having to learn how to install non-default apps from repos using existing methods (Synaptic, Apt-get etc). This will help them feel more at home on Trisquel.
Cons:
* good chance of confusing people who are used to the traditional approach of a default app set
* there are probably others but I can't think of them right now
What you suggest basically is to make a menu from the current "Add/Remove Applications" (or whatever it is called), where a choice already exists (only graphical applications) and where applications already are categorized.
In my opinion, showing all possible options in the main menu would be overwhelming. Some users would immediately give up on Trisquel (many users barely install anything by fear of wrong doing). Other users would start installing many applications (newbies have neither heard of Abrowser nor of IceCat, etc.), some of the randomly installed applications would not be user-friendly at all, many dependencies would get installed (e.g., GNOME libraries + KDE libraries + Mono + ...) and the system will end up being quite a mess: no integration between the different applications as in Trisquel 7 (between the different system tools, between the file manager and the archive manager and the backup system and ...), graphically different interfaces (Frankenstein monster's syndrome) and, of course, the system would not be minimal at all (including heavier on Trisquel's server: more updates to download).
I've written before on this forum about how confusing the Add/Remove Applications user experience is. It is *not* limited only to user-friendly, mature apps. It's not even limited to only graphical applications. It's just a GUI for every piece of randomware that happens to be under a license that makes it suitable for inclusion in the repos. Many of the apps that can be installed from Add/ Remove programs are not endorsed by *anyone*, many are not even usable, and many are not even in active development.
You significantly misunderstand my proposal if you think that...
>> What you suggest basically is to make a menu from the current "Add/Remove Applications" (or whatever it is called), where a choice already exists (only graphical applications) and where applications already are categorized. <<
Or
>> showing all possible options in the main menu <<
Reading the OP again more carefully, you will see that what I'm proposing is menus for installing a smaller set of mature apps that are endorsed by existing Trisquel users, through a similar process to that which is currently going on to choose a default app set.
The horror story you describe is another good argument against the existing Add/Remove Programs, which no doubt creates exactly these Frankenstein monster scenarios, as new users try out abandonware they presume to be endorsed by more experienced users, but does not address my proposal at all.
Hey I remember Crunchbang had in the openbox menu entries for, say Libo, and it could be installed from there.
I thought this was rather nice. It was easily installable, but not installed yet.
The Openbox menu (I gotta find a way to integrate it to i3wm, I like it this much) isn't updated on the fly if I remember correctly, it must be edited by hand. It's easier to setup, but maybe not so good for beginners.
"The Openbox menu (I gotta find a way to integrate it to i3wm, I like it this much) isn't updated on the fly if I remember correctly, it must be edited by hand. It's easier to setup, but maybe not so good for beginners."
And not easily multilingual. I think it's easier to install our favourite applications via synaptic than trying to achieve the perfect default installation for everyone, which is impossible.
For example, debian and fedora basically ship the default GNOME applications, and they're pretty usable.
In my opinion, apart from default mate applications only some others are needed.
As examples
https://ubuntu-mate.org/what-is-ubuntu-mate/
https://spins.fedoraproject.org/en/mate-compiz/
You played right into one of the features of a fork I'm planning!
It won't show all the applications possible in a category menu, but it will when you're doing a search. In the main launcher, you can simply type what you want to find, and if some program is the first result, you can hit enter to launch it. Pressing the down arrow to move down the instant results, or continuing to type the keyword until it is the sole result, are both quick options to open anything possible, even if it is not installed.
The results include installed and "available" apps, and a non-installed app will be installed and run right away when selected, for a seamless experience. Installed apps are given highest priority on the list.
They are searchable by tag, so category search ("browser", "game"), goal-phrase search ("browse the web", "convert mpg", "download online videos"), and specific title search will all work, instantly.
I truly believe is the best of all worlds when it comes to launching applications: speed, intuitiveness, power, familiarity and efficiency.
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