Re: Diety UI draft

[Bill Mitchell <mitchell@mozcom.com>]

On Mon, 28 Jul 1997, Behan Webster wrote:

[...]
> implementation should surely try to minimize downloaded remote deb
> files filling up a local filesystem.
> 
> I can see several solutions to this implementation problem:
> 
> 1) Include the size of all downloaded deb files in the "needed space"
>      count on the status bar.
>   PRO: It means downloading remote files will not fill you local
>         filesystem.
>   CON: It means that you're needed space is artificially high.
>        It is a hack.
> 
> 2) Intelligently install packages to the system as you download them
>      (i.e. download deb, install it, then delete it.)
>   PRO: It means downloading remote files will not fill you local
>         filesystem.
>   CON: You still need space enough for one package.
> 
> The thing is that every UNIX system needs a certain amount of
> operating disk space.  You can not expect to run a UNIX system
> with little to no avaiable disk space.  There should almost always
> be enough avaliable disk space to do at lease option #2 above (unless
> perhaps you're installing something like xbooks! 8) )

But the point would be to warn when there's not going to be enough
space.  It seems insufficient for the feature which does this warning
to work only almost always, and/or except in the case of really big
packages.  (that is, it sometimes doesn't work, especially when a
space problem with downloaded packages is especially likely)

    Option#2Con#2:  Some users might want to retain downloaded packages.
            (e.g., users with very slow downloading capabilities
            and sufficient local space (online or offline) may want
            to keep downloaded packages around against possible future
            needs once they've been downloaded very slowly).  This
            option doesn't seem to address those users' needs.

> I repeat though, the UI has nothing to do with this implementation
> detail.
> 
> I will pass this problem on to the appropriate person in the deity
> team.

Yep.  As far as UI issues go, the UI needs to be able of telling
users how much space is needed -- partition-by-partition if that
info is available.  If there's not going to be enough space, the
UI needs to either warn the user of that or refuse to attempt
an install which is clearly destined to fail.



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