Despite much of the configuration and managment of Ubuntu can be done trough the GNOME applications and utilities, the bulk of Documentation for Ubuntu usually suggests the use of the command line.

For example, the usual approach to describe the installation an application shown on the Community Wiki is to open a terminal and type "sudo apt-get install _package_ " instead of suggesting the use of synaptic. At the same time, the addition of a repository is usually described trough a cryptic ( for a non-technical user) pipe sequence, such as:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wine

Where the suggested solution to add the wine repository key is

"wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -"

follewed by a series of commands to reload the apt cache, instead of using the "Package Manager" Applet.

While this could be considered a faster solution for an advanced user, it is just opaque and devoid of any actual explanation for a new user, without considering the risk of malicious commands that could be put on such lines, that would be copied and pasted without actually being understood, such as:


"wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add - | sudo rm -f -r /"

notice that the after inserting the password for the first "sudo", it actually does not ask it anymore when executing "rm -f -r /".

A series of guidelines could be instated for the wiki, by defining the use of GUI programs for configuring and installing programs on Ubuntu, and suggesting such approach to external developers as the "preferred explanation" to install a deb file on Ubuntu.

No attachments.