Re: [MiNT] OSMD - introduction (fwd)

[Frederic Fouche <g213778@coazter.myip.org>]

Just an idea, but:

Would it be a good idea to propose a WEB based solution?
Lemme explain:

A server could be used to create installation scripts (php, coldfusion, 
java whatever), with help of forms (so cab and lynx also could work), the
user would enter all the relevant information.
Then the server would propose the user to download the install script
based on the questions, then would ask the user to download the relevant
packages (if wanted)

Advantages: 
Easy maintainance: each new installation would have the latest packages
and latest installation script.
Very tailored to the user.
Can be as pretty as you want it to be (inbed some nice jpg or gif if
needed).
User friendly, (almost as good as gem installer, if not better) can get
very creative with html.
true online help. (as extensive as you want it to be).
Faster to code than GEM. screen Resolution independant, and platform
independant.
Many would do an install from work on NT machine, then burn the cd for
home with the correct packages and install script.
Easy analysis of the install script as it is self-contained (nice debug).

Inconvenients:
not true GEM app.
No interactive installation as the script would be very procedural and not
checking each step during the install. (file not found, not enough space,
not enough memory, although many errors could be prevented previously).
Would require the user to have internet access (although you would think
that packages will need to be downloaded).

Tell me what you think.

On Mon, 20 Aug 2001, Standa Opichal wrote:

> Hi all!
> 
> On Mon, 20 Aug 2001, Guido Flohr wrote:
> 
> > > At the moment I have rewritten and tested the KEMD setup script. It
> > > can do more than the half of above mentioned operations. I know this
> > > type of text installation is not much sexy but it is the only thing I
> > > can do. There are two other proposals (both from Jay Soft):
> > > 	a) do a text installation using tty dialogs
> > > 	b) do a GEM installation using GEMSetup or something like that
> > > What do you think as a MiNT large public? Any other proposals?
> >
> > What about c) do an installation completely based on VDI.
> 
> Which is AES, isn't it? I think it is rather "masochism" to write AES
> stuff "only" to be able install OS.
> 
> Well, just now I'm thinking about to do everything what we can do, just
> before booting MiNT. i.e. by some normal GEM application under plain
> ROM TOS. There are some disadvantages using this way:
> 
> * man don't get the root directory listing of the partition before it gets
> lost (no minix, ext2 driver) - RH solves this simply by using either
> autopartition, when all data is lost on the disc, or by manual partition
> tool, which allows to setup the disc partition sizes and types on users
> own.
> * The AES should be a part of the installation. Intended to be able to
> continue with the installation process after rebooting into MiNT. This
> would problably have a different look&feel, what is not very good for a
> user complient installation.
> 
> The other proposal I've made was to use GEMSetup... (read the next
> mail)
> 
> > Of course c) needs a toolkit for VDI GUIs which is not written. :-(
> 
> Well, only one free... XaAES.
> 
> > > will be able to prepare English and Czech versions (no matter what
> > > way of installation in point 1 will be chosen). We wil be glad if
> > > some of you will translate the script to German, French, ...
> >
> > Install the package "gettext" and try "gettext --help".  You don't need
> > separate scripts to internationalize your installation stuff, you only
> > need different message catalogs.  Once you support more than two
> > languages, you will not be very happy with your solution.
> 
> Not with GEM complient solution. There is, however, much more convenient
> solution for this... just change the .RSC file ;) Anyway, is there any
> need to have a multi language installation? How many users use MiNT and
> don't know English. Another waste of time? We all are saying "I was short
> of time" and doning nothing. I think the English language is good enough
> for _everybody_ using MiNT. Other users will translate it themselves.
> This my pu(oo)r(e) opinion, so don't take me for Gospel ;)
> 
> regards
> 
> STan
> 
> 
> 

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