Option 1:
We don't control the situation:
- People package up extensions in distributions
- There's no version mechanism or update mechanism, so when you
update the shell, your extensions get out of sync, and start
causing your shell to misbehave
I have to disagree here, because that's exactly what packaging for a
distribution is about: making sure versions match. That's a packager's
"job".
- People have no idea what extensions they have installed, and file
bugs against GNOME Shell complaining about these bugs
The first place people will file bugs at is their own distribution, not
upstream. Besides testers, most people only file bugs upstream by
referal (when the bug has been proven not to originate from distro
packaging).
- There's no review mechanism and people get into the habit of
installing code from random places that can do anything.
Each distribution has it's review mechanism. If not, the status of
packager for a distribution makes no sense.
- Extensions work their way into default install sets of distributions
This is happening currently.
Option 2:
We have an extensions website
- Extension installation is in the hands of the user
This is the wrong way to go about it. The recommended way to install
*anything* in a distro is to use its package manager, and *not go about
it on his/her own*. That's exactly what breaks packages.
- Normal users get a clean, designed experience
- If you go to the website, you get the message (through text, design,
art, etc) that you are hacking up your GNOME experience.
- We strongly discourage distribution packaging of extensions.
The website in my view could be the reference point for extension
makers, and packagers. But it *should not* be the point from where users
install their extensions. Unless we want to start handling version
management in extensions (no telling where /that/ would lead), we should
just make use of the proven way to distrubute packages in any
distribution: rely on the packagers to do their job and keep their
packages up to date with teir distro's version of gnome-shell. This is
not the time and place to start implementing a new distribution channel.
Ultimately, a "1-click-installer" link to <my-distro>-extension-x
(<rant>will packagekit ever get there?</rant>) will be a good addition,
but let's not try to reinvent the wheel here.
_______________________________________________
gnome-shell-list mailing list
[email protected]
http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/gnome-shell-list
