John on S8

[Fabio Massimo Di Nitto]

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, John wrote:

> Fabio Massimo Di Nitto wrote:
>
> >>We also add http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ (i.e. the regular archive,
> >>not security) at the moment. In that case, I strongly believe that we
> >>need to ask for a mirror.
> >>
> >>We can probably get away without the mirror question in the case of
> >>security.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >I was discussing this issue with Colin on irc and he suggested correctly
> >to move it here.
> >
> >Colin was suggesting to ask something like: "Do you want to download
> >updates from the network?"
> >
> >
> Now? (Update source.list. Do so)
> Later? (Update source.list.)
> regularly? (Update source.list,  set up a cronjob to download them. Make
> it clear that they are not being installed. Email someone when updates
> are ready to be installed).

Well clearly we are talking about adding lines to apt/sources.list.

>
> >We might want to ask if they want to enable security, but i don't think we
> >need to ask for anything more for the following reasons:
> >
> >
> What do you mean, "enable security?" You need to explain this one,
> Firewall? AV software? (Windows users may think that). Browser settings
> (IE users may think that)? selinux (I might think that).

same as above..

>
> >1 once we go final there will be no updates other than security (or
> >  almost) so i don't think that kind of question will make sence in a
> >  short time (plus it's not translated).
> >
> >2 Asking for a mirror means adding at least 2 to 4 questions:  hostname /
> >  directory and possibily proxy (and in case of failure repeat all the
> >  above with a nice prompt telling the user: "hey the mirror isn't
> >  working!").  And as it is now, if the default can be reached we write
> >  the lines and that's it, otherwise we write them commented out.
> >  users can always run apt-setup and add more lines without losing what
> >  they have and getting the full set of questions.
> >
> >
>
> If you can do this in _one_ form usability will be much improved. I find
> that if I have a form in front of me I can see where we're going. I find
> programs that ask one question at a time vastly annoying. Especially
> when they erase the screen so I can't see what went before.

It's not possible with debconf.

> Yes, I do use Squid and I do know about transparent proxy. However,
> Apache allows me to remap the world: I can put the updates at /updates/,
> local packages at /local/ etc.

As it was mentioned in the mail, these are expert setups from expert users
that will know how to handle sources.list

Fabio

-- 
<user> fajita: step one
<fajita> Whatever the problem, step one is always to look in the error log.
<user> fajita: step two
<fajita> When in danger or in doubt, step two is to scream and shout.