which GUI?

[Patrick Asselman]

On 2012-11-19 10:40, Colin Law wrote:
> On 19 November 2012 08:27, Patrick Asselman <iceblink at seti.nl> wrote:
>> On 2012-11-19 10:13, Colin Law wrote:
>>>
>>> On 19 November 2012 08:00, Patrick Asselman <iceblink at seti.nl> 
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Okay I'm hoping to get some solid advice here, after I heard that 
>>>> you
>>>> even
>>>> advise on emptying anal glands...
>>>>
>>>> Ubuntu server 12.04.1 LTS
>>>> Running on a server in a rack at some hosting company
>>>> No physical access to the machine
>>>> Some people need to get access to do stuff on there, but they 
>>>> don't
>>>> really
>>>> know Linux, so I need a GUI for them
>>>> The GUI will only work via some remote desktop type system
>>>
>>>
>>> What sort of things do they need to do?
>>>
>>> Colin
>>
>>
>> Open some php files, edit them, save them. (Advice on a nice editor 
>> for this
>> is also welcome).
>
> For editting files you could edit them from the PC using an ssh
> connection to access the files.  Then the user can use his favourite
> Windows editor.

Yes but this is cumbersome, especially if you are tracking down a bug 
and need to open several php files, include files, config files. (Unless 
you are thinking of some other method than sftp download, edit, sftp 
upload, test, etc ?)

>> Maybe do some stuff in MySQL.
>
> Again, could you use remote access to the mysql server?  
> Alternatively
> web based access such as phpmyadmin (I know there are some security
> issues with this but I imagine there may be alternatives).
> Alternatively again, if they are using command line mysql then no gui
> is required.  Just ssh into the server.

"Just ssh into the server" gives a command line prompt. This is no good 
for the Windows people. They need to be able to point, select, click ;-) 
Yes phpmyadmin is an option, but again, if you are hunting down some 
error, you just want to log in and have access to various tools, not 
'poke through some ssh hole without being able to see what you are 
doing'. (I actually love to do things by command line myself, and prefer 
it over any graphical settings window... but this is not about me).

>> Install software (i.e. click "proceed" for a few dozen times).
>
> Not sure at all what you mean by this.

Some software comes with a graphical installer. You mount the cd (or 
the image), the graphical installer program starts. You agree to the 
terms and conditions, maybe do some settings, the installer does its 
thing and exits.

> Colin


I have to say, I feel we are diverging from the original question 
somewhat. ;-)

Best regards,
Patrick Asselman