Florian Effenberger wrote:
Frank Mau compiled a list at
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Bouncer
There is a description in the wiki about how to manage a
situation of no availability.
=====
Failed requests should offer alternative downloads
Not all languages provide a complete set of platforms and os
for a version. To avoid failures in the download-request we
should allow offering alternative downloads.
E.g. customer requests OpenOffice.org Danish 2.4.1 for Windows
with JRE but we have only a version without JRE. So we should
offer Dansih for Windows without JRE or in harder cases we use
a standard default for en-US for all other languages as fallback.
=====
Indeed, that might be helpful.
I wounder if this comment would help for improvement of the Bouncer.
IMHO, the system could be divided into some layers.
- Human Interface Layer
Lists available/unavailable choices.
Allows users to choose one of the choices or cancel downloading.
- Web Service Layer
Replies a list of available choices depending given parameters.
Answers the availability of the requested choice.
- Simple HTTP Layer
Replies with a "302 Found with a Location header" or "404 Not Found."
What I want to mention is that automatic fallback could cause
a problem.
Please think of a shop. There are three people involved.
- a customer
- a clerk in the counter
- a staff in the warehouse
Scenario A:
The customer talks to the clerk to request an item A.
The clerk asks to the staff to bring the item A.
The staff looks for the item A in the warehouse. She, however,
cannot find the item A, but can find a similar item B and then
bring it to the counter.
The clerk hands the item B to the customer. There is no difference
can be found at a glance.
The customer buys the item B.
Is it okey, or not?
At least, our system in the HTTP layer should not do such a fallback.
Scenario B:
The customer talks to the clerk to request an item A.
The clerk asks to the staff to bring the item A.
The staff looks for the item A in the warehouse. She, however, cannot
find the item A. She answers with a list of alternatives for the item A.
The clerk apologizes for out of stock and shows a list of the alternatives.
The customer chooses one of them.
...
The 'Check for updates' function of OpenOffice.org will interact with
the system through the HTTP layer first. If the OOo is given "404 Not Found,"
it then will inquire about alternatives through the Web Service Layer and
prompt the user to choose one of the alternatives or cancel downloading.
The download page of OpenOffice.org web site will offer Human Interface
Layer to users.
The point is that the system should not silently replace a requested
one with its alternative, i.e. fallback. Rather than doing silent
fallback, offering alternatives to the user and giving the user a chance
to decide.
Best Regars,
Tora
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