Re: finding and using applications
On Tue, 4 May 1999, Tommy Malloy wrote:
I agree with this one. Now and then I will install a package in which none
of the binaries have the same name as the package, and there is no manpage
available, so I have to hunt for the application's _name_. It makes one
feel very silly, and can be quite frustrating.
I think that dselect could use an additional tool to navigate through the
contents of packages. I realize that there is a "dpkg -l" option, but
there must be a better way.
- Bill
> Suppose you have a Debian Gnu/Linux system set up and fully loaded with
> applications. A new user appears who is going to use the system. The
> new user is a unix novice. He/she knows enough basic commands to get
> by.
> Is there a simple way for that user to find every available application
> on the system, what the application does, and how to use it?
> I really don't think so. Remember apropos only scans man pages.
> Looking in /usr/bin isn't much help for finding a tool to do a specific
> job unless you already know about it. I really believe that any user
> should be able to step up to the machine and quickly and easily find if
> an application to do what they want is available. Yes this is available
> for many applications, but not for all.
> I believe that this serious problem, which is an impediment to Linuxes
> mass acceptance could easily be fixed. Debian should not include
> application that are not fully documented ie have manpages, info pages
> etc
> Also some frontend appliction for finding applicatons would be helpful
> Somethnig based on he code for dselect would probably work fine.
> Please don't suggest that I write it. I can't. I am only commenting
> on a feature I would like to see. Please don't ask what type of
> applicaton I am looking for so you can help me find it. I am not
> looking for an application. But I would like to be able, and have any
> users be able, to know what applications are available on my system and
> how to use them.
> I would like to be able to get that informantion exclusivly from my
> computer and not depend on this list, irc, usenet, my big pile of tech
> books, or any external source. I am root for heavens sake.
> Strictly from a System administration perspective, There should be a
> simple way for users to know what apps are available to them. If you
> know one please let me know it
>
>
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