[maemo-community] Command line apps & Extras

[From: Graham Cobb]

On Thursday 26 November 2009 12:45:58 Lucas Maneos wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 10:24:02PM +0000, Valerio Valerio wrote:
> > - We want CLI apps to be available via H-A-M, so that the user sees
> > updates, can restore them after reflash and so on.
> > - Suppose tomorrow a security hole is found in openssh, if it's not
> > visible in h-a-m how will users know about it?
>
> This is the biggest issue IMHO.  In plain words: the platform package
> management is a Good Thing(TM), and packages shouldn't fall
> outside it, especially not for arbitrary reasons like they don't have a
> GUI.

I agree with everything Lucas says -- the best argued email I have seen on 
this topic as far as I am concerned.  In particular, this point trumps the 
other concerns for me: if people install CLI apps they need to be kept 
informed of updates (using the yellow square and HAM).

> > - As long as the description makes clear that this
> > runs-in-background/in-X-Terminal/...
>
> That's fine, and could even be added to the QA checklist.  We could even
> have a special icon indicating non-GUI status in h-a-m.

The best suggestion: every app which does not install an icon in the App 
Manager should use a specific package icon which indicates this.  That 
includes CLI apps and no-interface-at-all apps.  Users will soon become 
familiar with the idea that this means no icon will be installed.

> > - Yes, if there's a appropriate category for these apps.
> > - New user/cli (or, with a subsection-aware HAM, user/network/cli and
> > user/desktop/cli) for them.
>
> +1 for the subsection version.  I'm also fine with an application
> manager option to hide them from the available list (but not from
> updates!), even if it defaults to on.

For Maemo 5 we have what we have in terms of sections.  While new features in 
H-A-M would be useful they aren't going to happen, as far as I can see.

So, let's put in place a mechnaism for other selection interfaces (Daniel's 
app, the Downloads page, etc.) but recognise that we are stuck with the H-A-M 
user experience we have today.  That means CLI apps go in the relevant 
section.

I do believe the Description should make clear that this app has to be invoked 
from the command line and that should be a QA requirement.

Graham