Re: I need guidance about how to configure a newly installed Jessie ... great progress
On Tue 21 Apr 2015 at 10:38:03 -0600, Paul E Condon wrote:
> On 20150421_1248+0100, Brian wrote:
> > On Tue 21 Apr 2015 at 11:30:55 +0000, Bonno Bloksma wrote:
> >
> > > >>>>Also 'Expert' doesn't really imply that that user is an expert.
> > > >>>
> > > >>>It does to me. Strange name choice if that is not the case.
> > > >>
> > > >> Would "advanced setup" be better? Ric
> > > >
> > > > Yeah it would, it implies access to finer grained features than to the skill level of the person installing.
> > > >
> > > > Could be just me that sees it that way though. :)
> > >
> > > Nope, I think you are absolutely right. I never selected "Expert" install as
> > > I am in no way an Expert, but it seems I should have.
> > >
> > > I definitely understand pretty much all that is offered there.
> > > I might not use it all but "Advanced" covers better what the option intends
> > > to offer.
> >
> > What does it offer that is more advanced than what is offered by
> > partitioning and installing GRUB in the regular install?
>
> In my case it offered the option of manual entry of an IP address for
> the computer, as opposed to letting DHCP provide an IP address.
The majority of people wouldn't know the difference between an address
allocated by DHCP and a fixed address. Furthermore, they probably do not
care. The installer does the right thing with the regular install. It
caters for the most usual situation in which Debian is installed.
Someone who does not realise that a fixed address is important for them
can do corrections from the installer when it dawns on them. Its a
win-win for the installer.
> For experts, 'Expert install' apparently offers a check-list of things
> to decide this time, like the pre-flight check-list for airplane
> pilots. Experts in any topic tend like and use check-list, IMHO.
You are equating 'Expert install' with 'experts' rather than with 'more
control'. Maybe we should have 'Debian Simulators ' to mimic the flight
simulators for aeroplane pilots. Oh - we do?; its called 'Change debconf
priority'.
> I learned that almost no one who has deep experience and real
> expertise regularly uses the non-expert path and thus can understand
> what a newbie is talking about when the newbie is asking for help with
> the most recent implementation of netinst. Knowing the context of a
> question is important to giving focused comment and help. I see this
> as a problem worth thinking about.
I use the regular path frequently. Possibly more frequently than a
preseeded install. I'd question the first sentence; it implies that
that person has little idea about what they are doing.
> I have no idea for a realistic solution. I don't believe any newbie
> reads ALL the documentation that is available just a few mouse clicks
> away from www.debian.org. Everyone has a point where they decide they
> are ready to try it, and they stop reading and start doing. When
> should that be? Who is qualified to critisize a mistaken decision?
Everyone is qualified; it is the way we make progress in any field of
endeavour.
'ALL' documentation amounts to the manual and the Release Notes. I would
I hope a budding aeroplane pilot would familiarise herself with what the
machine can do before operating it.
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