Evaluate GAI vs Synaptic for Dapper

[Robert Stoffers]

On Tue, 2005-11-01 at 16:28 -0800, Matt Kirchhoff wrote:
> Quoth Matthew East on 11/1/2005 3:44 PM:
> > I propose an alternative to this:
> > 
> > Describe ALL the methods of installing software. So far most of the
> > complaints I've seen about our guide is the lack of alternative
> > (especially CLI) solutions. I think this is eminently possible without
> > sacrificing simplicity. In the case of installing software, it would
> > work like this:
> > 
> 
> I like this approach. It essentially changes the question from "how do
> install" to "what do I install." Of course, GAI tends to simply things
> to such an extent that some apps may need to use either Synaptic or CLI.
> For example, GAI only offers "gDesklets" without the gdesklets-data
> package, which the guide says to install.
> 
> Also, saw your comment on the repetitive "How do I ..." component of the
> Installation section, and added some suggestions to the meeting agenda
> wiki in response.
> 
> --
> Matt Kirchhoff
> 

I've been playing around with a few ways to do this, even just having
one chapter to cover all three installation methods is going to be
messy. For example with gDesklets, if someone reading the guide up to
then has been using GAI to install packages they will get annoyed when
they can't also install gdesklets-data with GAI. I think it will lead to
further confusion, three different ways to install packages with one way
incapable of installing everything is really pointless.

IMO we need to stick with just using Synaptic and mention GAI and
apt-get in the "how to install packages" chapter. Synaptic does
everything, is a lot more mature and is graphical in nature. Until GAI
implements a way to install packages other then just the ones it lists
the app is rather redundant and useless compared to Synaptic.

Also, the complaints I have seen regarding apt-get/aptitude/fast way of
installing things so far have been ridiculous. All the package names are
listed in the guide, if you choose to use apt-get or whatever you can do
so fairly easily (I should slap the person who submitted a bug on this).
It looks something like this, everything after the ">" is the package
name (which is explained in the Installing Applications chapter:

Libraries (multiverse) > gstreamer0.8-plugins-multiverse 
Libraries (universe) > gstreamer0.8-plugins 
Libraries (universe) > gstreamer0.8-ffmpeg 

The category is listed for the benefit of those using Synaptic, they
relate to the category on the left hand side. Like I said, if you want
to use apt-get, its not hard to work out. As for "how do I" "what to
install" etc etc.. see the above paragraph. Yes we can change the
wording, it still won't make it any easier to install packages (its
about as simple as needed). The decision not to use the command line was
made on purpose, it is a desktop guide after all.

Regards,

-- 
Robert Stoffers
Author/Maintainer - Ubuntu Starter Guide
Ubuntu Documentation Team

Email - rstoffers at g mail dot com