FW: Unclassified RE: Ubuntu Desktop Starter Guide Feedback

[Matthew East]

On Wed, 2005-11-30 at 12:10 +1000, Stoffers, Robert LAC wrote:
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stoffers, Robert LAC 
> Sent: Wednesday, 30 November 2005 11:57
> To: 'mdke at ubuntu.com'
> Subject: Sec: Unclassified RE: Ubuntu Desktop Starter Guide Feedback

>  "* Package Management
>   * Installing/Removing Programs
>     * Basic Program Management (Add/Remove Program Tool)
>     * Advanced Program Management (Synaptic)
>     * Alternative Program Management (apt)
>   * Keeping your system up to date
>   * Upgrading to the next version of Ubuntu (if required)"
> 
> This is already the new structure of it as of 2156, the difference being the sect2 instead of sect1 tags for the last two sections and the existence of the "Alternative Program Management (apt)" section. 
> 
> I don't think we need a section on Apt-get. Between gai and synaptic all the basic package management needs are covered, if people wish to use apt-get then all the information is already available in the apt-get man page. Within the guide apt-get is mentioned as such:
> 
> "Some applications and packages are not available to install using Add/Remove Programs. Within this guide, the additional packages will be installed using apt-get on the command line. Optionally, you can use the advanced package manager Synaptic when required (see installing applications using Synaptic below)." 
> 
> We could change this to something like:
> 
> Some applications and packages are not available to install using Add/Remove Programs. Within this guide, the additional packages will be installed using apt-get on the command line. This can be achieved by opening a terminal and typing "sudo apt-get install foo", replacing "foo" with the package name or names. Optionally, you can use the advanced package manager Synaptic when required (see installing applications using Synaptic below).

As I said before, I really think that including different methods of
installation within the body of the document itself is a bad idea: the
document (IMO) should set out how to install programs in a separate
section (as it does), and in the body of the document simply use the
name of the package required, and refer back to that section. Otherwise,
if it refers to different package managers throughout, it will be very
confusing.

As for including a section on apt in that section, if we don't provide
this, we will continue to see the criticism that the guide restricts
users choice and doesn't provide for users who like to learn/use the
command line to do so. I would really strongly push for a section on
apt, which can really be taken quite straightforwardly from the wiki,
which then refers to the man page for further information. If man pages
were good enough, there would be no guide at all ;)

But having a section on apt in the package management chapter is only
going to be useful if my first idea (cutting specific package managers
out of the body of the document) is going to be followed, so in that
sense, the above two paragraphs are related.

Matt
-- 
mdke at ubuntu.com
gnupg pub 1024D/0E6B06FF
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