On Jun 6, 2012, at 7:43 PM, Warren Block wrote: > On Wed, 6 Jun 2012, Vincent Hoffman wrote: > >> On 06/06/2012 22:23, Glen Barber wrote: >>> On Wed, Jun 06, 2012 at 02:14:46PM -0700, Doug Barton wrote: >>>> On 06/06/2012 11:59, Dave Hayes wrote: >>>>> I'm describing more of a use case here, not attempting to specify an >>>>> implementation. If a user invokes 'make', a window is presented to them >>>>> with various options. It's probably very common that this is met with an >>>>> initial reaction of "what the hell do these do?", even from the most >>>>> seasoned of admins (presuming they are unfamiliar with the software they >>>>> have been asked to install). I claim it would be an improvement to have >>>>> that information at the fingertips of the make invoker. >>>> What manner of providing this information would meet your needs? >>>> >>> IMHO, something informing what "THAT" is in devel/subversion option >>> MOD_DONTDOTHAT would be nice. :) >>> >> Not something I had bothered looking up till now as I hadnt wanted to >> use it but the 2nd hit on google, >> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-ports-bugs/2009-April/161673.html >> describes it quite well. >> I tend to go with, If i dont know what it is, and its not default, I >> probably dont need it. >> Unless it looks interesting, then I google it ;) >> >> Maybe an (optional) new file with a longer descriptions of the make >> options so as not to crowd the make config dialog? >> I dont mind looking up compile time options for software I am installing >> but I can see how having a precis available locally might be handy. > > Here's an idea: if the description is too long to show in the very limited > space, cut it off, show a "...", and show the entire description in a two- or > three-line text box below the main one. The >< indicate a highlight here: > > ----------------------------------------------- > >[ ] GOOFY Build with support for the... < > [ ] EXAMPLES Install the examples > > ----------------------------------------------- > < OK > <Cancel> > > --------------------------------------------- > Build with support for the GOOFY framework > that provides concurrent whoopsies integrated > with a Perubython interpreter, and stuff. > ----------------------------------------------- > > The description at the bottom is from whatever option is currently > highlighted, and changes as the user scrolls through the options. It would > be blank if the entire description could be displayed in the space available > above. > > The advantage of this is that it would work with existing ports, and give the > ability to use longer descriptions. The disadvantage is that dialog(1) would > probably need modifications.
If we're talking about changing dialog(1), let's make sure there's also an "uncheck all"/"check all" option. I'm looking at you, ghostscript: wc -l /var/db/ports/ghostscript9/options 315 /var/db/ports/ghostscript9/options Charles > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscr...@freebsd.org" -- Charles Sprickman NetEng/SysAdmin Bway.net - New York's Best Internet www.bway.net sp...@bway.net - 212.655.9344 _______________________________________________ freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscr...@freebsd.org"