MyDSL dockable extensions
Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: MyDSL dockable extensions
started by: pdurys
Posted by pdurys on Sep. 21 2004,09:59
Hi All,I just want to suggest to create a submenu for all dockable applications under MyDSL menu.
Why?
Simply to start making order in the mass of add-in application.
My first approach is to the simpliest one category, which already have some standarisation.
Names, which have been assigned are wuite OK, except fewlike wmacpi or wmfrog.
I would like to have them under eg. submenu DockApps or enything.
This is just the begining. Why not to start combine together other types of applications? Lets start thinking about games, multimedia and so on.
As for today we have nearly 200 MyDSLs (wow!)
If someone want to test many of them, there will be a mess in the menu.
Just start making order.
What do you think? Plase share your opinion.
Regards
Pawel Durys
Posted by henk1955 on Sep. 21 2004,10:32
do you mean order on the repositry webpagesor order in the mydsl-menu of fluxbox?
Posted by l0st on Sep. 21 2004,11:38
I think both would be a good idea.
Posted by henk1955 on Sep. 21 2004,12:16
the first i can not solvethe second i solved with a myDSL extension patch
which i made in request for ypx in discussion < multiple storage folders >.
you can find the patch on my www. this page will shortly be updated to explain what the extension does and how to use it
Posted by pdurys on Sep. 21 2004,15:02
Well, I have looked at this disscusion, you mentioned, but I can't find anything about specification what goes where.I am thinking about systematical division into groups like Tools, Utils, Games DockApps etc.
I know that I can modify menu manually, but what it is? Disgusting.
I am thiniking about making decision: Let us create following submenus - bla, bla, bla, and ask anyone who is submiting his dsl to locate it in any of them or it will go automatically into eg. Others
This is just like categorisation made by developer based on the DSL menu structure. 'OK my program is for multimedia. I will put it into Media submenu'
Simple? I think it is!
Regards
Pawel Durys
Posted by ypx on Sep. 21 2004,15:54
well, being part of the quoted discussion, it's right that choices where to be made by the user, not by extensions designer...but the main idea : "to be able to sort extensions" was there, along with the required menu entries.
perhaps an integration of the extensions to the existing menu entries, once loaded, would be better. But as henk said in our precedent discussion, such a thing should be part of a future version design...
Posted by pdurys on Sep. 21 2004,17:05
| Quote (ypx @ Sep. 21 2004,11:54) |
| But as henk said in our precedent discussion, such a thing should be part of a future version design... |
Agree!
Let's discuss!
Regards
Pawel Durys
Posted by Aiku on Sep. 21 2004,18:18
From this thread and the desktop thread, it appears to make DSL be built up to Knoppix. Why? kde.dsl? xfree.dsl?I have seen gripes about myDSL as being why needed in the first place? Just get Knoppix.
Now, it appears more people want DSL built up like Knoppix. Why?
Do you just "collect" every extension? If so just get Knoppix.
I think DSL design is fine. Just use what you need. No need to change.
Posted by henk1955 on Sep. 21 2004,19:17
this distribution is called damnSMALLlinux it contains within its 50Mbyte allot of programs i will never use.i dont like fluxbox. dillo and gLinks have not enough featurs, Ted and Scite are no real wordprocessors.
But i can download and "install" Icewm, Firefox, Jre2, Flashplugin, OpenOffice.
I can make it MYdsl.
So how many menuitems do i need? 10 .. 20? i dont even use the menu. all the programs i use (emelfm, aterm, sylpheed, firefox, OpenOffice) fit in the toolbar
if you have that much (all) extensions in your menu then you must be ke4nt (chief tester of new extensions) or you have the wrong liveCD distribution.
Go for knoppix.
Posted by pdurys on Sep. 21 2004,20:26
I can't use KnoppixJust for me DSL is much better.
I have a CD- and FDD- less Laptop, which can boot USB Memory stick. I do not need much more programs like Knoppix, just want to be up to date.
Yes I am MS contaminated since ever, but I am trying to change it.
I know that for personal use I can do whatever I want, but I am thinking at this moment about newbis like I am too.
If someone, is going to test or start playing with Linux, DSL is a very good choice. I will work even on toaster ;-) But, every new person coming from MS world, wants a bit of organisation at starting point.
Why if I am going to test something interesting to me I need to look for it in the long list of MyDSL programs?
Why similar programs has a different names?
If ke4nt is the person who is making final touch to every MyDSL file, this should be a question to him.
Is it very problematic to organise programs into groups?
Is it very illogical to have them in separate drawers?
Regards
Pawel Durys
PS. Currently I am playing arcanoid clone from something called LGames. This is what I am talking at this moment...
Posted by ke4nt1 on Sep. 21 2004,22:28
| Quote |
| Why if I am going to test something interesting to me I need to look for it in the long list of MyDSL programs? Why similar programs has a different names? If ke4nt is the person who is making final touch to every MyDSL file, this should be a question to him. Is it very problematic to organise programs into groups? Is it very illogical to have them in separate drawers? Regards Pawel Durys |
I usually don't even use the menu unless it is something I recently downloaded and want to use/explore ..
The long lists you see in my screenshots are for eye-candy, and not my usual workspace..
Your downloaded extensions can always be accessed thru the emelfm file manager or MC from shell via "mydsl-load" .
Whether in a partition or on the CD, you can make folders to divide your saved extensions into groups, and store them there.
While the myDSL menu is handy to have if you just "loaded up" an extension, truly you folks are "pushing the limit"
on what it was designed to do by roberts, that is, simply give you one-click access to your favorite extensions..
I usually load toram from liveCD, which does not give you the l o n g list of extensions in your menu anyway ..
Habits from testing numerous pre-releases, I guess ..
I see them whenever I use my USBkey, and request the second partition be my "mydsl" in my bootup string ,
or whenever I assign another area to be my "mydsl" partition ..
Plans are already in the works for some "organizing" of the extensions into sub-groups..
It will need to tie into the myDSLgui, as well as the repository pages..
Then the sub-groups in webspace will filter down to sub-groups in your storage areas..
The reality of things now is that so many different threads, ideas, and concepts filter down to us at DSL ..
It's amazing what some people are doing, enhancing the base distro to meet their individual needs with myDSL and other customizations..
While your here discussing drawers and groups, several others are investigating how to r e m o v e them from the distro to make it fit their needs..
Remember, 90 days ago, this subject was moot, as there were not enough contribs to even be concerned with ..
And the team at DSL is steadily making changes and improvements to the NEXT version ,
which is where their time and effort is truly needed ..
There has already been some progress made in extending the existing menu code here in the forums..
Perhaps that can be worked into a .dsl or .tar.gz for use in creating accessable sub-groups..
Then you get the o p t i o n of having it, rather than altering the base .iso ..
73
ke4nt
Posted by roberts on Sep. 22 2004,02:06
By definition "extension code" would not be an acceptable dsl extension. The definition of an extension is a subset of an existing software package, be a deb or tar.gz. Custom code, or more appropriately "patches" cannot be accepted into the repository, as it would be most complex in trying to move forward and would most definitately hinder the future development of DSL, as well as the support issues it would intoduce. That is not to say that a some time, the developers of DSL could possible issue a patch. But to accept patches from the user community is not something we wish to entertain.
Posted by ke4nt1 on Sep. 22 2004,03:18
Very true, I should clarify my position on that ..Sri if my lengthy post left out DSL policy on accepting custom extensions..
I have many different "extensions" I use for making DSL "My Way" ..
e.g. Myfonts.dsl , All_themes.tar.gz, Flash.tar.gz, Myprinter.dsl ..
These allow me to quickly upgrade my installs, USBkeys, and transfer my
favorite workstation setups from home to work, etc...
Making your own extension to allow you to use groups or drawers to manage
your growing personal repository is a fun challenge and worthy of your time..
But customizations are for personal use, and many "contribs" I've received have
been " parked " due to custom designed apps or scripts that manipulate the base .iso
Like my examples listed above, I have many, many extensions that will never
be distributed by DSL thru it's repositories... But that doesn't mean that they
are not useful or beneficial to me...
I highly suggest that everyone should use the myDSL "style" to create
your own custom distro for your personal computing style and your unique hardware..
There are many times where the 50MB distro is exactly what I need to get a
job completed.. Other times, it's nice to be able to reach ito my personal
bag of tricks, and pull out a rabbit ! c:\
73
Ke4nt
Posted by roberts on Sep. 22 2004,05:23
myDSL system provides much flexibilty. I have always promoted "factoring out" certain portions of the filetool.lst to make your own customizations as ke4nt has done. The system allows the user to create a custom cd or a custom combo system using part hard drive, part liveCD, or other compressed installs. We provide many tools in the base system for such creation. The creativity in deployment is part of the fun of using the myDSL system.
Posted by ypx on Sep. 22 2004,08:42
Well, perhaps our requests did seem a little to much...That was not what i intended, and i apologize if it was a source of trouble.
I really enjoy DSL, and the myDSL system is imho a great thing, which is confirmed by the number of extension released, and the fact that DSL popularity increased with it's apparition.
You made a great work, but the drawback is that now you attract some perfectionists users, and some of them just don't have the skills needed to fit their needs (like me, but i try to improve)
I'm really impressed with your work, and really would like to be able to contribute, as i'm conscious of the amount of effort involved in such a realisation. That's why i express my ideas... while i try to acquire the needed skills to contribute myself.
Keep up the good work
Posted by ico2 on Sep. 22 2004,18:10
i have an hdinstall and most of the extensions installed, it has not caused me any probs.