| 1 |
On Friday 09 November 2007, Dale wrote: |
| 2 |
> Neil Bothwick wrote: |
| 3 |
> > On Fri, 9 Nov 2007 07:21:36 -0500, David Relson wrote: |
| 4 |
> >> Some efforts were also made with the command line installer. My |
| 5 |
> >> problem there was typing and overlooking details. If I mistyped |
| 6 |
> >> something (or forgot to enter needed info) and went on to the next |
| 7 |
> >> screen, there was no way to go back and correct the mistake/oversight. |
| 8 |
> > |
| 9 |
> > There is no command line "installer" just a series of commands to be run |
| 10 |
> > in a shell. If you miss one, go and do it. Bash doesn't need a back |
| 11 |
> > button. |
| 12 |
> > |
| 13 |
> >> I've not yet updated to the AMD64 version of Gentoo because of the |
| 14 |
> >> painful memories of the initial installation. |
| 15 |
> > |
| 16 |
> > You probably learned a lot from that pain, try it again and you'll |
| 17 |
> > probably find it much easier. |
| 18 |
> |
| 19 |
> And when you are typing in a command, the tab key can be your best |
| 20 |
> friend. I have found that the tab key can cut a lot of typing and typos |
| 21 |
> out of the process. |
| 22 |
|
| 23 |
I guess the "go-back" button would be the up arrow which should show you the |
| 24 |
previous bash command in history. |
| 25 |
|
| 26 |
Anyway, my 2c's on this topic: |
| 27 |
|
| 28 |
I have used graphic installers. Two days ago I installed SUSE and three days |
| 29 |
ago I installed Ubuntu for two different users with different needs and |
| 30 |
preferences. Of course I have been through the Gentoo install handbook a few |
| 31 |
times. The first two or three installs I had to bootstrap from Stage 1 - |
| 32 |
ooohhh, I'll get all nostalgic now. :) |
| 33 |
|
| 34 |
As it happens I have not installed Gentoo from the ground up for some time |
| 35 |
now, a stage 4 and a remerge with suitable flags for the new box is all I |
| 36 |
needed to do the last few times. If the need arises (e.g. a hardened |
| 37 |
production server) I may wipe the slate clean and perhaps even try the new |
| 38 |
installer; but thoughts already expressed regarding available memory and |
| 39 |
speed of installation will probably dominate in my choice of installation |
| 40 |
method. Either way, by virtue of the fact that I have not yet tried the GUI |
| 41 |
installer I am not qualified to say much, just an opinion (and a few |
| 42 |
hypotheses): |
| 43 |
|
| 44 |
I can see both sides of the argument and I think that a super slick installer, |
| 45 |
which does not error out in 9 out of 10 install candidates, *will* attract |
| 46 |
new users. I also think that when a Gentoo-ified DE/portage pops up a |
| 47 |
message informing the new user of a number of packages that are ready to be |
| 48 |
updated (like e.g. MS Windows and Ubuntu do) the new user will probably be |
| 49 |
comfortable to press a button and launch an emerge process. What I can't see |
| 50 |
happening - other than bitching in every forum and M/L about borked systems - |
| 51 |
is the new user readily picking up the pieces when something goes wrong. An |
| 52 |
underlying basic understanding of portage and Gentoo mechanics is I suggest |
| 53 |
necessary, for our hypothetical new user. The chosen few will have the |
| 54 |
will/inclination (and time) to learn, others (the majority) will not. The |
| 55 |
net effect without some pilot study is difficult to assess, but my guess is |
| 56 |
that overall it will be negative. The few new users we might gain will be at |
| 57 |
the cost of significant bad press from the many that we lose. |
| 58 |
|
| 59 |
In conclusion, since (from what I hear) Gentoo does not have a slick installer |
| 60 |
and it definitely does not have a Ubuntu/MS Windows style zero-knowledge(TM) |
| 61 |
automated update system, I would vote to stay with the Gentoo handbook. |
| 62 |
Improve that if you wish. |
| 63 |
|
| 64 |
Thanks for listening. |
| 65 |
-- |
| 66 |
Regards, |
| 67 |
Mick |
Archives