Re: Debian menus policy
Craig Dickson wrote:
> I don't like changing the top-level menu names from nouns to verbs.
Fair enough. My suggestion could be written using nouns thus:
Instead of: I suggest:
Apps
Editors Editors
Text Text
Graphics Graphics
Sound Sound
Programming Programs
Viewers Viewers
Sound Sound players
Math Calculators
Emulators Interpreters
Emulators
Shells Console shells
X shells
Tools Configurators
System System
Net Network
Communicators
Games Games
XShells
The main reason I presented the titles in verb form was
to emphasize function as the basis of classification;
however using "-ors" words is equally good, and makes
fewer changes.
> It doesn't really change the meaning; that something
> is an editor means exactly the same thing as saying
> that it is used for editing, so the change is basically
> meaningless, and I find it aesthetically unpleasing.
You'd get used to it.
> I also very strongly disagree that the verb
> (editing, viewing, etc.) is more fundamental than the
> subject (text, sound, image).
I don't say more fundamental, but see below.
> I prefer to have everything related to a certain subject
> or medium presented in one place
Well, the program is that not every program has a medium,
although every program has a function. Every program does
something, but not every program really does something
_to_ something: e.g., shells, browsers, games. What is
the "medium" of a game ... the high score file? So your
list still makes for some strange bedfellows: Graphics,
Sound, Text, ... System?
However that isn't a fatal problem. We can have two trees.
Every program will appear on the function-classified tree.
Those programs which operate on data will appear on a
separate data-object-classified tree. Adapting your
suggestion:
Function/object Object/function
--------------- ---------------
Editors Graphics
Graphics Editors
Sound Viewers
Text Scanners
Programs
Viewers & Players Sound
Graphics Editors
Sound Players
Text Recorders
Scanners & Recorders Text
Graphics Editors
Sound Scanners
Displayers
Calculators Spreadsheets
Programming aids Programs
+ Compilers Editors
+ Debuggers Compilers
+ IDEs Debuggers
IDEs
Interpreters
+ Emulators
+ Console shells
+ X shells
Communicators
+ Mailers
+ Browsers
Configurators
System
Network
Diagnostics
Games
Adventure
Arcade
Board
--
Thomas
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