Installing cinnamon

[Phil Dobbin]

On 12/10/2012 10:35 AM, Patrick Asselman wrote:
> On 2012-12-10 10:54, Phil Dobbin wrote:
>> On 12/10/2012 09:12 AM, Patrick Asselman wrote:
>>> On 2012-12-08 10:25, Colin Law wrote:
>>>> On 8 December 2012 02:38, JD <jd1008 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> On 12/07/2012 07:21 PM, Steve Pearce wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 08/12/12 02:08, JD wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The cinnamon web page
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://launchpad.net/~gwendal-lebihan-dev/+archive/cinnamon-stable?field.series_filter=quantal
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> asks the user to:
>>>>>>> add-apt-repository ppa:gwendal-lebihan-dev/cinnamon-stable
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Which I did.So I thought that's all I need in order to proceed
>>>>>>> and issue
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> apt-get -y install cinnamon
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Well, it could not find it, and the web page does not elucidate
>>>>>>> any further.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> JD
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You added the cinnamon PPA, but forgot to update your package lists.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Try:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>    sudo apt-get update
>>>>>>    sudo apt-get install cinnamon
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't know much about Cinnamon, but I suspect it'll be available to
>>>>>> select at the login screen as an alternative to Unity.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> stevepdp
>>>>>>
>>>>> I see. Should not the web page have explained that instead
>>>>> of assuming every noob knows this?
>>>>
>>>> Most noobs would click on the link on that page "Read about
>>>> installing" where the instructions appear clear and include
>>>> instructions to run apt-get update.
>>>>
>>>> Colin
>>>
>>> It's not just noobs who run into this. I've seen a lot of messages to
>>> this mailing list where the problem was fixed by updating the package
>>> list first. In my opinion the apt-get should get a bit more intelligent,
>>> and ask the user if maybe it should update its list before installing.
>>> And maybe add an extra switch to skip that step, for the experienced
>>> users.
>>>
>>> It should also be more intelligent about alerting the user that maybe
>>> there is some maintenance going on on the other end, and please try
>>> again in a few minutes. That's another source of trouble I've seen a
>>> lot.
>>>
>>> But that's just my opinion of course
>>
>> I guess though if they figure you're adding ppa's or indeed using apt at
>> all instead of Synaptic or Software Centre, that you've at least taken
>> the time to read the docs regarding apt. It's generally not a
>> pointy-clicky interface after all.
> 
> You think too highly of most people, imho. People want some software, so
> they search in Google how they can get it. The most simple Google answer
> wins. No time is wasted reading docs, unless it is absolutely needed.

In which case, they find out the hard way. Some people already hold a
cast iron view that computers should be able to read their mind & act
accordingly but as the old adage says, garbage in, garbage out.

>> Also, I suspect that they've got more pressing matters to hand than
>> re-writing something that works perfectly well. I suppose you could
>> volunteer to help out in this matter. I'm sure they wouldn't mind ;-)
> 
> Please explain what can be more important that getting things to work
> well, because I would rank that number 1 on my list?
> I already helped as much as I can by pointing out how they can improve
> their product. (I'm not a programmer, in case you are wondering.)

It does work well. Not wishing to be a straw man about this but if you
used a car in the same fashion, you'd end up in the ditch.

Cheers,

  Phil...

-- 
currently (ab)using
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