On Fri, 17 Nov 2006, Luigi Rizzo wrote:
unfortunately, the way the code is now, it is non
trivial to implement tab completion at the middle of the string.
So don't expect this feature any time soon (at least not from me!)
If you are entertaining CLI ideas, how about a more "natural language"
interface?
Changes have been implemented in 1.4, but they appear to be oriented more
towards a developer than a user. The commands have been organized into
categories that probably make sense to someone inside looking out while
most users (and most CLI's) work from the outside looking in.
I agree that the 1.2 interface needed "improvement," but I think the 1.4
changes are in the wrong direction.
A command that follows:
verb [adjective] noun
makes more sense to most users (my assumption) than:
[category] object action
For example:
show channels
seems more obvious and natural than:
channel list
The 1.4 interface becomes more inconsistent when you add optional
components. For example:
show iax2 channels
versus
iax2 list channel
Why does the addition of the category cause the action and object to
switch places?
Another example. Only someone with a somewhat intimate knowledge of the
code would know that "show translation" is a "core category" command and
needs to be prefixed with the "core" keyword while "show parkedcalls" is
not considered to be "core functionality" and cannot have the "core"
prefix.
Not to belabor the 1.4 inconsistencies, but shouldn't the above 2 commands
be "core translation show" and "parkedcalls show?"
From a usability standpoint, if I want asterisk to show me something, it
seems obvious to type "show" and press <TAB> to be presented with a list
of my options. If I don't know how the option has been categorized, where
do I start? Always with the "help" command? Or will the "help" command be
categorized as "core" and follow the 1.4 interface ("core help core
translation show") so we will have to know the answer before we can ask
the question? :)
Many (most?) application CLI's follow "verb [adjective] noun". Why does
Asterisk need to be different?
Thanks in advance,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Edwards [EMAIL PROTECTED] Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST
Newline Fax: +1-760-731-3000
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