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Idea #4348: Package Questionnaire
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Written by fluxy the 12 Mar 08 at 08:43.
Category: Installation.
Related project:
Nothing/Others.
Status: New
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Rationale
Ubuntu comes bundled with a variety of software, which while being a good thing, does not really satisfy the needs/wants of many users, who may have preferences for alternate solutions. An example of this is the evolution v/s thunderbird debate or even the totem v/s vlc one. Most other GNU/Linux distributions provide package selection during the installation phase which caters for this problem but this involves a certain level of ambiguity, especially for new users, which is not desirable as far as Ubuntu is concerned.
Nonetheless the initial problems persists - that of user choice. This is where my idea begins: During the pre-install period, offer, besides "Default Install", the user the option to take part in a small, simple and brief questionnaire, which will allow his/her needs/wants be taken into consideration (it is his/her OS after all!) without causing any real ambiguity. Added to that, it could allow selection of proprietary software (e.g Flash, Java & Restricted Drivers) to be installed, together with respective license agreements and regional filters (Multimedia Codecs in countries where they are not illegal). It could even allow the user choose the theme of his/her installation (for those who don't like the default one).
A sample questionnaire can be found here:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ah8dtsntxxwc_68cpqw7469
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Comments
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yztlyrn
wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 14:46
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I disagree. We should be trying everything in our power to simplify the install process. We should never complicate it.
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cheesehead
(Brainstorm admin)
wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 15:36
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DON'T put everything into the install process. The current system works great.
1) Install a known stable system.
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fluxy
wrote on the 12 Mar 08 at 19:50
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@yztlyrn:
Complicates it for whom and simplifies it for whom?
The complication would be mostly for the developers but it shouldn't be too hard to implement (other distros have more complex package selection) and it needs to be implemented only once.
It would in fact relieve the user from Post Installation Stress, i.e there would be no need to remove undesirable programs or look for desirable ones. How many users have had problems with installation of external programs, restricted formats, flash or java? They were compelled to resort to googling, terminalling...etc This simplification process is an automation of all the manual procedures "imposed" on the user and it can be reaped by all users for all versions to come (if maintained of course).
@cheesehead:
"works great" - what do you mean by "great"? and once again for whom does it work "great"?
Is it for the hapless user for whom the process of listening to an mp3 or using his/her favorite program immediately after installation does not work for a reason he/she is unable to understand??
My aim is simple: Remove post installation stress and enable choice, but not at the cost of ambiguity (to the user). Complexity to the developer is not an excuse since there exist more complex package selection processes in other distros and besides if devs were to complain about complexities, we would still be using CLI. They have already done a great job, which is why am sure this one would not be tough for them.
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spyyder
wrote on the 15 Mar 08 at 19:38
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Good idea, goes along with other idea about the installer providing users with more choice. After all that is the purpose of FOSS.
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It does in fact complicate the install by making the user more confused, and gives the user a potentially less stable system. I too like the way it is done now better, because it does give a stable system and the user can modify it after. Also, it currently isn't possible for Ubuntu to do this, since the installer just installs the image from the CD on your computer.
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fluxy
wrote on the 24 Mar 08 at 16:09
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@smartboyathome:
"making the user more confused":
That's the idea of a simple questionnaire and the option of "default install". As I mentioned earlier, the aim is to remove "post-install stress", which is worse than a simple questionnaire.
"gives the user a potentially less stable system":
Ever heard of testing? Packages in the official repository are tested AND supported, and I see no reason why these programs (working together or not) should lead to an unstable system.
"the user can modify it after":
Try removing pidgin from Add/Remove... It doesn't allow you to. Now how can a newbie be aware of the ever-daunting (at first sight) synaptic (it remains a great piece of software though)? As for experienced users, maybe the change in installation scheme MAY lead to an "Advanced Mode", allowing them to manually select their packages prior to install.
"it currently isn't possible for Ubuntu to do this"
I understand that it results from having an installation and live OS on the same disc and this should be the main hurdle for this idea, but if the installation method was to be modified into a real installation (installation of deb packages rather than image copy), it would allow more smooth updates of the OS (which has till now been done with varying levels of success).
However if "that's the way it is being done" then does it mean it is necessarily the right way? Why do we need new releases then?
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I think it's a great idea. +1 in my opinion.
But it's worth noting that in most of these cases, ubuntu will automate the install when you first try to use the restricted formats. The main exception being libdvdcss, which ubuntu can't distribute. A notification that users can get it from website x and download themselves may be ok legally, I don't know for sure.
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