On Wed, Jan 07 2009, Joerg Jaspert wrote:
>> I don't remember using sections in over 4 years of Debian usage, though
>> I had already used GNU/Linux for a few months before I switched to
>> Debian. But I doubt even a user new to GNU/Linux would use them much.
>
> Everyone that uses a tool like aptitude does use them much. I guess
> similar is true for a graphical ting like synaptic and whatnot else we
> have.
As a counterpoint, I find the sections invaluable while
reviewing new packages in aptitude. I have the following configuration
setting:
aptitude::UI::Default-Grouping
"filter(missing),task,status,priority,section(subdir,passthrough),section(topdir)";
When looking at new packages, I collase the libs and libdevel
(the former lists packages that will be pulled in as needed, the latter
I only pull in as I need them for development, and I know how to search
for the packages).
Doc packages are another area; I look at them on my devel box,
and usually collapse it on server boxes (no need to have duplicates on
machines where the fewer packages the better).
I alos pay more attention to the sections related to the
interpreters I use (perl/python, etc). I also like math packages being
off in their own area; I can then pay attention (or not) to these
packages.
So, classification of packages is important while browsing them.
I agree that sections are less than useful while looking for a
specific package; which is why we have search mechanisms. While
browsing, though, the sections are easy to set up in aptitude
configuration.
Now, I think that if debtags were integrated into aptitude UI and
configuration, where one my set up custom views while browsing, debtags
could be a replacement. It already is a better interface for selecting
or searching for packages, but these are two different activities we
are talking about.
If we are talking about changing the aptitude interface, may I
request that there should be attention paid to the different needs of
searching/selecting versus browsing? And that browsing is still a valid
activity (because of the new packages, if nothing else), even with 10l+
packages in the archive?
manoj
--
A is for Apple. Hester Pryne
Manoj Srivastava <sriva...@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/~srivasta/>
1024D/BF24424C print 4966 F272 D093 B493 410B 924B 21BA DABB BF24 424C
--
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-devel-requ...@lists.debian.org
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
