Re: [Gnoppix-devel] Several things about Gnoppix

[Samuel]

Hello,

> Who is we and wich Installer?

We = Florian (godsmacker) Ragwitz and me.
I have posted a message to this list last week, explaining how the
installer is supposed to be imlemented. (including some screenshots)
Also, the installer is already checked into CVS (there's a new module
called "perl-installer") and we have put a lot of effort in it lately.

> Planning on spring to get a new corporate 
> identity. Any new suggestions are always welcome.

Ok, about the GUI suggestions, here we go, but please consider them as
my personal opinion ;).

* First things first ;): Pleeease don't use the XP-ish Metacity theme.
That's embarrasing! ;-)

* I'd prefer to use another Gnome theme also, and since the harddisk
installer uses the blueish Gnoppix banner I'd prefer a matching theme.
Playing around with it a bit, I guess the best-matching would be the
Gnome theme "Smokey Blue", Metacity theme "Aging Gorilla" and Icon theme
also "Smokey Blue".
But if there's a Gnoppix logo, we should make sure that the theme goes
well with it.

* The icons on the Gnoppix desktop are not really of the same style. I
guess they have been taken from different icon themes, that could
definitely be improved somehow.

* The Desktop background image is nice, but IMHO too dark.

* Most of the application default settings could be improved.

* Nautilus should display things as a list by default, except maybe in
the preferences directory. Also, "Hidden" files should be hidden by
default - I believe it's only interesting to see them for advanced
users, who already know how to see them anyway.

* I believe that most of the GTK1 applications should simply be dropped
from the Gnoppix distribution, at least from the menu. Gnome 2 is really
good-looking, but seeing GTK1 applications is surely no good publicity
;). For example, the Gnome 1 Calendar is obsolete. Instead, I'd suggest
to make sure that the "Evolution" icon makes clear that Evolution is not
only a mail client, but has also a calendar in it.

...well, I have a whole lot of more ideas, but I guess that's enough for
now. :-) That's actually the reason why I would prefer CVS access to the
config files, which would make things really easier for me ;). (In fact,
I have CVS access already, but the files are not there.) Of course, that
doesn't mean that I will change CVS without discussing it with you
before ;).

> Yes, this is implemented as using the "saveconfig" option on terminal.
> Grafical Buttons to that will come.

Ok, that's fine, maybe there should even be a "Gnoppix" icon in the
preferences, with a small GUI (GTK2, of course) to change such Gnoppix
options.

> Yes, there has been one internal. I want to roll out the map next two weeks 
> to 
> be discussed officially on the mailing-list.

That's good. In two weeks we may also already know when the GTK2
installer will be finished.

> > And is there a way to find the Gnoppix version out? I believe there
> > should be an about box somewhere, but I haven't found one.
> 
> We use internal parameters, but good idea. will be implemented.

I'd implement one using perl/libglade, for me it's a matter of 30
minutes or so - should I? The content can of course be configured in a
config file then.

> We are giving a new structure to the CVS, but the Savannah-Hack took about 
> two 
> weeks and I wasn't there too until now, but we are going on working 
> publically from this week-end further on.

Fine. I guess you'll let the list know as soon as this has been finished
- that's when I can get myself into it and maybe help to apply some of
the GUI changes.

Thanks!
-Samuel