synaptic with dpkg progressbar in hoary

[Michael Vogt]

On Thu, Feb 03, 2005 at 06:09:51PM +0100, Jean Privat wrote:
> I try the new update management system. I think it is very good but I
> think more consistence may improve it.

Thanks for testing and thanks for your feedback.
 
> Here is the usual upgrade scenario:
> 
> 1) the update manager shows a list of available update
> 2) the user clicks on "Install"
> 3) the update manager manager window disappears

This has changed now. It's grayed out (insensetive).

> 4) nothing, the user have to wait
> 5) the download windows appears (in the centre of the screen on my
> test)

It should now be centered on the parent window (the update-manager
window).

> 6) the download starts then reaches 100%
> 7) the download windows disappears
> 8) nothing, the user have to wait a little
> 9) the installing windows appears (in the top left corner of the screen
> on my test)

The window should now be in the same location as it was before.

> 10) nothing append... ooops, it's my fault, I installed
> apt-listchanges

We may fix that before hoary (and add a gtk mode to apt-listchanges),
but we are pretty late in the release cycle. Until then it's probably
best to set the output of apt-listchanges to xterm.

> 11) the install process starts then reaches 100%
> 12) the install windows disappears

It will now not disappear by default but tell the user what happend. 

> What are the problems:
> a) the user have to wait without any feedback (part 4 and 8)

Hopefull fixed :)

> b) the download ans install window are a little different: not the same
> position, not the same layout (the install windows shows the package
> currently installed but the download don't), no cancel button while
> installing

Not quite easy to solve with the current code and we are late in the
release cycle. I think we will get a better integrated dialog in
hoary+1. 

> c) when the process finish, not even a congratulation :)

Fixed now :) (also a nice icon is still missing).

> How to improve ?
> Use the same window for download and install
> * use the same progress bar
> * shows the packages currently installed (as now) but also downloaded
> * if details are enabled during download (independent progress), let the
> details for installation (terminal)
> * when the install process is finished, display a congratulation message
> and transform the "cancel" button into an "ok" button.
> * add a state control on the left of the screen which summarise the
> process: put 3 icons, "download", "install", "finish" and highlight the
> current one (or grey the two others)
> 
> I hope these ideas may be used to improve usability.

This sounds like a very good idea. We won't be able to get it done
exactly that way for hoary I think, but it will not forgotten!

thanks,
 Michael
-- 
Linux is not The Answer. Yes is the answer. Linux is The Question. - Neo