I usually use portmaster to install ports. The options dialogs that pop
up are often for dependencies. The options dialog gives the name of the
port for which the options are being selected, but no description or
indication as to why this is being installed (this could be a dependency
of a dependency of some dependency of the port I am installing). It's
probably too much for this dialog to show why this port is being
installed (what other port required this port that is being installed),
but a description of what this current port is would be helpful.
But, if possible, some breadcrumb across the top showing the
dependencies which prompted this install would be great:
Port A --> Port B --> Port C --> Current Port for which options are
being chosen
On 06/06/2012 21:47, Charles Sprickman wrote:
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
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--
Charles Sprickman
NetEng/SysAdmin
Bway.net - New York's Best Internet www.bway.net
sp...@bway.net - 212.655.9344
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