[maemo-developers] Application Manager, debtags and Tracker

[From: Ryan Abel]

One of the potential solutions discussed during the package categories  
task was using debtags. The benefit of using debtags is clear, much  
better meta-data for each package without having to rely on a  
potentially incomplete and imperfect list of categories. The problem,  
of course, is what sort of interface do you put in front of them?

Tag clouds are the obvious option, but they have their own set of  
issues, some of which are particularly pronounced on a touchscreen  
device. Some implementations leave a lot to be desired.[1] So, what if  
instead of using debtags as a replacement for sections, we use them as  
a supplement to them--but not necessarily for browsing (though I would  
like to see some sort of cloud view coded up).

With Tracker in Fremantle and debtags, we have an interesting set of  
metadata we can search to find applications. For instance, say I  
wanted to see all of the solitaire games available on the platform. I  
can either tap on "Browse installable applications", then "Games" and  
see the solitaire stuff mixed in with the other games.[2] _Or_ I can  
type "solitaire" into a search box, and bring up all of the matching  
packages.[3]

This gives you an interesting (and potentially more convenient) way to  
find the applications you want (assuming the meta-data is usefully  
complete, of course). Without having to dig around looking (though  
browsing by categories should still be an option).


[1]http://debtags.alioth.debian.org/cloud/
[2]https://wiki.maemo.org/Image:Main-view-mockup.png
[3]https://wiki.maemo.org/Image:Tag-search-mockup.png

--
Ryan Abel
Maemo Community Council chair