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dev:system-wide-settings [2009/11/11 18:19] – Added Items 24.176.17.195dev:system-wide-settings [2010/10/02 17:26] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 =====Introduction===== =====Introduction=====
  
-As the title implies, this category is an attempt to bring together all various system settings into one simple interface.  It will seek to suggest that each component programmer be allowed to continue to focus upon their own individual modular component of the whole, while at the same time, bringing together some sort of standardized method for reaching out to each module and interfacing with the settings of said module as appropriate for centralizing control.+As the title implies, this category is an attempt to bring together all the various system settings into one simple interface. Its goal is that each component programmer be allowed to continue to focus upon their own individual modular component of the whole, while at the same time, bringing together some sort of standardized method for reaching out to each module and interfacing with its settings for the purpose of centralizing control.
  
-Further, this roadmap will be useful in eliminating those desparate mechanisms of settings control that lead to odd behavior, overlapping subjects and loss of user control.  Important as simplicity of user interface (intuitiveness) may be, eliminating unnecessary buggy behavior across the whole desktop environment is of paramount import, and hopefully will be largely addressed by this effort.  It is possible to eliminate a large portion of bugs by just simplifying and standardizing.  That can be win/win all the way down the road.+Further, this roadmap will be useful in eliminating those disparate mechanisms of settings control that lead to odd behavior, overlapping subjects and loss of user control. Important as simplicity of user interface (intuitiveness) may be, eliminating unnecessary buggy behavior across the whole desktop environment is of paramount import, and hopefully will be largely addressed by this effort. It is possible to eliminate a large portion of bugs by just simplifying and standardizing. That can be win/win all the way down the road.
  
-We will here attempt to bring together first an overview of the issue from the standpoint of the user, followed by a suggested description of a possible solution, and a concise discussion with a focus upon creating a concensus and roadmap.+We will here attempt to first bring together an overview of the issue from the standpoint of the user, followed by a suggested description of a possible solution, and a concise discussion with a focus upon creating a consensus and roadmap.
  
-Note: It is not necessary to discuss the issue of whether or not some problem exists, but rather note the user'experiences, and address it with a desire to improve that experience and make it ever more "goof-proof" The old adadage that states, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" has always been misleading and is no friend to programmers.  The proper way to view it is to recognize that nothing is perfect and that everything can be improved.  That should be our goal here, so that when nothing else is being accomplished, polishing of the product will always take place.+Note: It is not necessary to discuss the issue of whether or not some problem exists, but rather to note the users' experiences, and address them with a desire to improve that experience and make it ever more "goof-proof". The old adage that states, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" has always been misleading and is no friend to programmers. The proper way to view it is to recognize that nothing is perfect and that everything can be improved. That should be our goal here, so that polishing of the product will always be taking place. Programmers can know they're on the right track when they cease hearing a user state something like "Where is the #@!$&%ing location to set my preferred PDF viewer? I'm tired of seeing GIMP start up instead!".
  
-All are welcome to submit here.  Programmers and users alike.  Please take your discussion to the links indicate so that we can keep this neat.  Thank you all.+All are welcome to submit hereProgrammers and users alike. Please take your discussion to the links indicate so that we can keep this neat. Thank you all.
  
 =====Overview===== =====Overview=====
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 The various settings include (in no particular order): The various settings include (in no particular order):
  
-^Item      ^Name of Module Where Found       ^ Interface For ^+^Item      ^Name of Module(s) (if known)       ^ User'Interface For ^
 |Settings, general|Settings Manager, Appearance-Settings, Settings Editor|  | |Settings, general|Settings Manager, Appearance-Settings, Settings Editor|  |
 | | | | | | | |
 |**Hardware**| | | |**Hardware**| | |
-|Keyboard and/or mouse|Accessability, Keyboard, Mouse, Removable Drives and Media| |+|Keyboard and/or mouse|Accessability, Keyboard, Mouse, Removable Drives and Media-Input Devices| |
 |Monitor|Desktop, Xorg|xorg.conf(?)| |Monitor|Desktop, Xorg|xorg.conf(?)|
 |Sound and/or Speakers| | | |Sound and/or Speakers| | |
-|Printer|Removable Drives and Media| |+|Printer|Removable Drives and Media-Printers| |
 | | | | | | | |
 |**Desktop**| | | |**Desktop**| | |
 |General Look & Feel|Appearance-Style, QT Config, (May have to include File Manager here too, since it may affect desktop folders and icons.) | | |General Look & Feel|Appearance-Style, QT Config, (May have to include File Manager here too, since it may affect desktop folders and icons.) | |
 |Wallpaper|Desktop-Background| | |Wallpaper|Desktop-Background| |
-|Menus|Desktop-Menus, Main Menus| |+|Menus|Desktop-Menus, Main Menu| |
 |Windows|File Manager-Display| | |Windows|File Manager-Display| |
 |Main Navigation Bar|Panel|xfce4-panel| |Main Navigation Bar|Panel|xfce4-panel|
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 |File Manager (If Thunar?)|File Manager-SidePane, File Manager-Display, File Manager-Behavior, File Manager-Advanced| | |File Manager (If Thunar?)|File Manager-SidePane, File Manager-Display, File Manager-Behavior, File Manager-Advanced| |
  
-As we can see from this there can be a lot of confusion generated by the current layout and organization.+As we can see from this there can be a lot of confusion generated by the current layout and organization.  Two factors stand out; first is that the user can't find them all in one place, and second is that their existing organization makes no intuitive sense.  Even more experienced users will have a problem with knowing what some mysteriously-named item is actually supposed to accomplish.
  \\   \\ 
 ===The Controlled Components=== ===The Controlled Components===
-The user may assume that the settings employed above are to take control of certain components or modules of the DE or other layers of the OS.  They may have learned of these by being involved in their computer's OS and DE installation themselves, or they may have seen the names as they used their package manager interface of choice and looked thru the database of packages.+The user may assume that the settings employed above are to take control of certain components or modules of the DE or other layers of the OS.  They may have learned of these by being involved in their computer's OS and DE installation themselves, or they may have seen the names as they used their package manager interface of choice and looked thru the database of packages.  It becomes immediately apparent that the ability to utilize many of these is based upon trial and error.
  
 For instance, the item "xfce4-panel" may be recognized as the part that has to do with creating desktop menu and tool navigation bars.  But that is one of the more obvious.  The user may never run up against any of the others.  So here we list the items that are actually involved with user-controlled settings. For instance, the item "xfce4-panel" may be recognized as the part that has to do with creating desktop menu and tool navigation bars.  But that is one of the more obvious.  The user may never run up against any of the others.  So here we list the items that are actually involved with user-controlled settings.
  
-This may be old hat to many, but it seems important to point out the level where the item resides so as to make sure everyone is on the same page with regard to which belongs to Xfce and which to some other part of the system.  Keep in mind that while the OS components are built from the bottom up, they are controlled from the top down from our viewpoint.+This may be old hat to many, but it seems important to point out the level where the item resides so as to make sure everyone is on the same page with regard to which belongs to Xfce and which to some other part of the system.  Keep in mind thatwhile the OS components are built from the bottom up, they are controlled from the top down from our viewpoint and that of the end user.
  
-Where appropriate, we can note if they appear on the menus.  We will attempt to list by actual module name, if known, in parenthesis.  Corrections are welcome.+Where appropriate, we can note if these tools of adjustment appear on the main menu system of the DE.  We will attempt to list by actual module name, if known, in parenthesis, with menu names in bold.  Corrections are welcome.
  
 ^System Level ^Belongs To ^Interfaced By ^ ^System Level ^Belongs To ^Interfaced By ^
-|Desktop Environment|Xfce|Xfce4 Settings Manager, Time and Date| +|Desktop Environment|Xfce|**Xfce4 Settings Manager****Time and Date**| 
-|X Graphical Interface|X Window System|xorg.conf, Screensaver (XScreenSaver)| +|Widget Toolkit subsystem|GUI|GTK+2| 
-|Network System|OS|file manager, browser, email client|+|Window Manager subsystem|GUI|Xfwm| 
 +|Windowing System subsystem|GUI| | 
 +|Graphics Server subsystem|GUI| 
 +|X Graphical Interface or GUI (if used)|X Window System|xorg.conf, **Screensaver** (XScreenSaver)
 +|Framebuffer (if used)|OS video|CLI
 +|Network System|OS|file manager, browser, email client, Samba|
 |The Storage and File Management System|OS|file manager| |The Storage and File Management System|OS|file manager|
 +|Operating System(OS)|self|CLI|
  
 ===The Schema=== ===The Schema===
 The use of icons or tabs or individual applets supplies the majority of methods employed to organize things like settings.  For instance, within the category of icons, they may be in a folder view or they may be displayed to the left in a column within the settings application. The use of icons or tabs or individual applets supplies the majority of methods employed to organize things like settings.  For instance, within the category of icons, they may be in a folder view or they may be displayed to the left in a column within the settings application.
  
-That selection may not be as important as keeping everything in one place.  As we see above, there are settings strewn about the whole system.  One of the important jobs of any DE is to bring these together for the benefit of the user in a graphical manner.  In this context, the DE developers may decide to employ or not to employ such a mechanism.  However, it is inherently misleading and always smacks of being incomplete when it is done half way.  The goal must be all or none; at least for the sake of consistency and implied design goals for the benefit of the user.+That selection may not be as important as keeping everything in one place.  As we see above, there are settings strewn about the whole system.  One of the important jobs of any DE is to bring these together for the benefit of the user in a graphical manner.  In this context, the DE developers may decide to employ or not to employ such a mechanism.  However, it is inherently misleading and always smacks of being incomplete when it is done half way.  The goal must be all or none; at least for the sake of consistency and implied design goals as understood by the user.
  
 Underlying all this is the necessity for the actual saving mechanism to keep these settings protected from change unless the user (or admin) makes a physical change to the settings.  It is unclear as to the goal of the current plan.  If it is to save all desktop components at their current positions when shutting down, that does not work.  If it is to save all running program information, that does not work.  This is one area that definitely needs a rethink and a goal that is clear to the end user. Underlying all this is the necessity for the actual saving mechanism to keep these settings protected from change unless the user (or admin) makes a physical change to the settings.  It is unclear as to the goal of the current plan.  If it is to save all desktop components at their current positions when shutting down, that does not work.  If it is to save all running program information, that does not work.  This is one area that definitely needs a rethink and a goal that is clear to the end user.
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 |Appearance-Settings Tab|Move to Desktop-Panel tab|These settings all appear to be panel-related.| |Appearance-Settings Tab|Move to Desktop-Panel tab|These settings all appear to be panel-related.|
 |Hardware|Create New|Group all hardware items here| |Hardware|Create New|Group all hardware items here|
-|Display|Move to Hardware as tab|Entitle it Xorg Display.+|Display|Move to Hardware as tab|Entitle it Xorg Display.|
 |Mouse|Move to Hardware as tab| | |Mouse|Move to Hardware as tab| |
 |Keyboard|Move to Hardware as tab| | |Keyboard|Move to Hardware as tab| |
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 |Notifications|Move to Desktop|Is a part of the desktop| |Notifications|Move to Desktop|Is a part of the desktop|
 |Panel|Move to Desktop|This is really part of the arrangement of the desktop| |Panel|Move to Desktop|This is really part of the arrangement of the desktop|
-|Power Manager|Move to Hardware(?)|Hard to say about this.  It is pretty unique.  Needs to be expanded to have better control with lower level in the OS to handle shutdowns and suspend to disk or RAM| +|Power Manager|Move to Hardware(?)|Hard to say about this.  It is pretty unique.  Needs to be expanded to have better control over the lower levels in the OS, so as to handle shutdowns and suspend to disk or RAM in a more intuitive manner.
-|Preferred Applications|Expand Options|Also pretty unique.  Needs more options.|+|Preferred Applications|Expand Options|Also pretty unique.  Needs more options.  There must be a dozen more than just the three categories listed.  ie, where is the PDF viewer?|
 |Printing|Move to Hardware| | |Printing|Move to Hardware| |
 |Removable Drives and Media|Move to Hardware| | |Removable Drives and Media|Move to Hardware| |
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 |Window Manager|Move to Desktop|As much as people like to see it as separate, to the user it will always remain as part of the DE| |Window Manager|Move to Desktop|As much as people like to see it as separate, to the user it will always remain as part of the DE|
 |Window Manager Tweaks|Move to Desktop|"| |Window Manager Tweaks|Move to Desktop|"|
-|Workspaces|Move to Desktop| |+|Workspaces|Move to Desktop|"|
  
  \\  \\