On Jun 6, 2012, at 7:43 PM, Warren Block wrote:
> On Wed, 6 Jun 2012, Vincent Hoffman wrote:
>
>> On 06/06/2012 22:23, Glen Barber wrote:
>>> On Wed, Jun 06, 2012 at 02:14:46PM -0700, Doug Barton wrote:
>>>> On 06/06/2012 11:59, Dave Hayes wrote:
>>>>> I'm describing more of a use case here, not attempting to specify an
>>>>> implementation. If a user invokes 'make', a window is presented to them
>>>>> with various options. It's probably very common that this is met with an
>>>>> initial reaction of "what the hell do these do?", even from the most
>>>>> seasoned of admins (presuming they are unfamiliar with the software they
>>>>> have been asked to install). I claim it would be an improvement to have
>>>>> that information at the fingertips of the make invoker.
>>>> What manner of providing this information would meet your needs?
>>>>
>>> IMHO, something informing what "THAT" is in devel/subversion option
>>> MOD_DONTDOTHAT would be nice. :)
>>>
>> Not something I had bothered looking up till now as I hadnt wanted to
>> use it but the 2nd hit on google,
>> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-ports-bugs/2009-April/161673.html
>> describes it quite well.
>> I tend to go with, If i dont know what it is, and its not default, I
>> probably dont need it.
>> Unless it looks interesting, then I google it ;)
>>
>> Maybe an (optional) new file with a longer descriptions of the make
>> options so as not to crowd the make config dialog?
>> I dont mind looking up compile time options for software I am installing
>> but I can see how having a precis available locally might be handy.
>
> Here's an idea: if the description is too long to show in the very limited
> space, cut it off, show a "...", and show the entire description in a two- or
> three-line text box below the main one. The >< indicate a highlight here:
>
> -----------------------------------------------
> >[ ] GOOFY Build with support for the... <
> [ ] EXAMPLES Install the examples
>
> -----------------------------------------------
> < OK > <Cancel>
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Build with support for the GOOFY framework
> that provides concurrent whoopsies integrated
> with a Perubython interpreter, and stuff.
> -----------------------------------------------
>
> The description at the bottom is from whatever option is currently
> highlighted, and changes as the user scrolls through the options. It would
> be blank if the entire description could be displayed in the space available
> above.
>
> The advantage of this is that it would work with existing ports, and give the
> ability to use longer descriptions. The disadvantage is that dialog(1) would
> probably need modifications.
If we're talking about changing dialog(1), let's make sure there's also an
"uncheck all"/"check all" option.
I'm looking at you, ghostscript:
wc -l /var/db/ports/ghostscript9/options
315 /var/db/ports/ghostscript9/options
Charles
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--
Charles Sprickman
NetEng/SysAdmin
Bway.net - New York's Best Internet www.bway.net
[email protected] - 212.655.9344
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