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Idea #14095: Allow requests for GUI for some currently "command line" action

Written by Umang the 5 Oct 08 at 14:59. Category: Usability. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
How many times have we heard, "My sister stopped using Ubuntu when she had to do something with the command-line/terminal" or "My girlfriend doesn't find Ubuntu usable because of the things you have to do using the command-line"? (Edit: No sexism intended. Please read my comment about that)

(If you haven't then read about the Great Ubuntu-Girlfriend experiment : http://contentconsumer.com/2008/04/27/is-ubuntu-useable-enough-for-my-girlfrien d/ )

So my suggestion: allow the community to compile a list of actions that can only be done on the command line and would be very useful if it had a UI.

This way, people can't make general statements like, "Ubuntu requires too much command-line use for newbies to use it, lets get back to MS Win".

LET US CHANGE THAT TO:
"Hey, it's surprising that you need the command line to do this (provide explanation) in Ubuntu! Please do implement a GUI for this! Thanks!"


Developers can set targets for each action and then we'd know that by Ubuntu XY.10 or XY.04, user's won't need the command line for these actions.

A great measure of progress would be to see the actions that still require the CLI and see how complicated and not "everyday actions" they are!

Hope you like the idea!

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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #14095
Written by Umang the 5 Oct 08 at 14:59.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #14095 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Eldmannen wrote on the 5 Oct 08 at 16:55
Okay, propose here in the comments some things that can be done in command-line but not in GUI.

Firewall?
Sysinfo from /proc?
Anything else?

borsook wrote on the 5 Oct 08 at 17:24
I would be nice (internet connection sharing!!!) but what's with all the sexism? Why only sisters have problems with CLI?

edderick wrote on the 5 Oct 08 at 20:29
I get a bit annoyed when I have to use the terminal to copy one file from my home area to root.

I'm not just being stupid in thinking that you cant log into gnome as root like you can in some other distro's...

cheesehead (Brainstorm moderator) wrote on the 6 Oct 08 at 01:01
Aren't several thousand ideas in Brainstorm about adding GUI features to CLI-commands?

Why a big list? Why not a few thousand more ideas?

Tree MendUs wrote on the 6 Oct 08 at 04:25
Good idea ! +1
The following are some ideas that might help accomplish this objective.

Please view, comment and vote on some ideas realted to the suggestion
"allow the community to compile a list of actions that can only be done on the command line and would be very useful if it had a UI." ;

1) For all command line type programs - 'how' to progressively add commands to a GUI panel/menu system.

Idea #9988: GUI for CLI.
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/9988/

2) For all commands - how to use a graphical system to string commands together without having to know how to program computers.
Idea #10194: GUI for CLI (command line) with Piping features like the GUIs for audio piping.
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/10194/


3) For all new users
Idea #10115: Suggest a category or note for - New Ubuntu user experience.
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/10115/

4) For new users coming from windows
Idea #10128: New Category specially for Windows Migrants and Converts.
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/10128/



joerlend wrote on the 6 Oct 08 at 13:18
Eldmannen; all of those things are easily done using the GUI tools. Firestarter for Firewall, for instance. Sysinfo, Device Manager or Store Device Manager? I really don't see the problem.


Tree MendUs wrote on the 8 Oct 08 at 04:20
joerland.

Those programs may exist, but Eldmannen has probably not seen them (after a search/look/hunt).

The problem is not whether something exists, the problem is can it be found.

Access is an issue.

You might be able to help Eldmannen with a list of Guis to achieve his needs.

Idea
===

Maybe a category in synaptic specifically for GUI type front ends for programs, and/or system programs and utilities. Maybe even a metapackage, to make it really easy for people who want Gui front ends.


Umang wrote on the 8 Oct 08 at 13:14
borsook: I'm sorry I realized that I may be giving that impression the day after I posted this idea, but I've only got a chance to look at it today.
Sexism wasn't intended. I just looked at the two examples I remembered. One was a recent idea at Brainstorm where the person said his sister stopped using Ubuntu because of the CLI and another was the "Great Ubuntu-Girlfriend Experiment".
Had I heard about a male one recently I wouldn't have hesitated, I assure you that I had no such sexist intention.



Tree MendUs: Some of those ideas aren't very connected, but some are interesting.

All:
Another example would be fixing fstab after resizing many partitions. It's mad if you refuse to touch the command line. But the confusing part is that the resizing doesn't look hard since it has a UI, but nobody thinks that these problems will happen since it looks very easy to begin with.

I'm sure there are many that will come when we have a list.


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