Graphical Installer

Torannaga · Guest

A graphical installer with text fallback would be a nice idea. Combined with a news system with informations about broken or upcommin packages.

gschneider · Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2002 5:44 am Post subject:

it is currently worked at.
emerge kemerge
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hbbio · n00b Joined: 21 Apr 2002 Posts: 38 Location: Paris, France

Guest · Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2002 5:30 pm Post subject:

phaze3k · n00b Joined: 24 Apr 2002 Posts: 36

Actually, I have to say that for newbies I really don't think MDK can be beaten. If someone who has never used a Unix before asks me what Linux distro to use, I always recommend Mandrake.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'd run it myself..

NU-Slacker · Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2002 7:51 pm Post subject:

Personally, I reallylike the RedHat installer. It is slick, performs almost all the mundane tasks of setting up a basic linux system, and is newbie approved. I think that along with automatic/unattended installation a similar install gui should be developed to further the adoption of Gentoo.

I really liked the text installer (err... really just a shell) for Gentoo and Slackware, but the non-graphical installers always scare the noobs away. Besides, if im bootstrapping from scratch, Ive probably got some CPU cycles to spare for some sweet eye candy.

Roy · n00b Joined: 15 Apr 2002 Posts: 55 Location: Australia

javacodeslave · Posted: Fri May 10, 2002 12:18 am Post subject:

I think a graphical installer would clash with the idea of Gentoo. It was developed (correct me if I'm wrong) for system admins and experienced users... not newbies.
The console install is a great way to learn about some core commands and features of Gentoo (and linux in general).

msteller · Posted: Fri May 10, 2002 11:17 pm Post subject:

Totally agree that this current method of installation is great. It gives you the control you need to create the system you want. But maybe creating adding an xserver with window manager and netscape wouldn't be a bad thing. This would allow the installer to look up documents on the web to help build the system. Especially useful for those with only one PC and don't want to print out the install instructions.

ASCI Blue · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 07 May 2002 Posts: 132

By no means am I a guru but I found the Gentoo install to be quite painless compared to others. With a little RTFM skill and very little working knowlege of linux as a whole Gentoo was less painful to install than say Debian.

Granted it can't beat the painlessness of Mandy. A GUI installer would be nice but I have to agree with leaving a text fallback. Or start in text and have to tell Gentoo to use GUI. Reguardless of it's purpose linux distro devels should be trying to appeal to the masses. Sadly the masses are used to looking at pretty pictures, not white text on a black screen.

ElCondor · Posted: Mon May 13, 2002 6:26 am Post subject:

No graphical installer! please!!

Slim, simple, fast, portable and: NEWBIE-FRIENDLY! actually i do not see any reason to supply a newbie a "just-click-next-and-ok" interface. anyone, who is not able or willing to at least RTFM (or otherways not complaining when learing by failing :twisted:

) and trying to understand what (s)he's doing should not be supported. And such a person will stay a newbie for years at least.

Giving the gentoo-installation some more packet-options, like "select what you kind of system you will have: Webserver - Desktop - Laptop - ..." to give a pre-selection of packages so that the basic install does not need so much effort for a newbie figuring out what packages are what for (but what would a newbie do with any special configuration anyway??) might be helpfull, but I do not see any reason for messing around with a graphical installer!

Finally: You don't have to be an expert to install gentoo if you give the install-instructions 15 minutes. maybe you can save these 15 minutes when installing redhatsusemandrake, but if you don't have time you should leave gentoo anyway

* ElCondor pasa *
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dArkMaGE · Apprentice Joined: 20 Apr 2002 Posts: 152

i have to agree, i really really hope gentoo never changes its installation process... its one of the things i love the most about gentoo

wtf · Posted: Tue May 14, 2002 9:16 pm Post subject:

I was 95% linux noob and it only took me a weekend to get gentoo+kde+etc up and running. I wanted to learn how to "drive" linux without an automatic transmission, power everything, anti-lock brakes, etc. It'd be a shame to see Gentoo become Mandrake with a ports system, imho.

tomte · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 08 May 2002 Posts: 122

DArtagnan · Posted: Wed May 15, 2002 2:40 pm Post subject: script

kang · Guest

MaRTiaN · Posted: Fri May 17, 2002 9:50 pm Post subject:

Ummm, lets see. Gentoo developers spend time working on making a graphical install? Something that the average user may see rarely?

Or how about the Gentoo developers working on making portage more flexible/powerful? Increasing stability (already great)? Improving security?

Guess where my vote goes.
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alaterale · Guest

Although I agree with the idea that it should remain mostly text based, I have to admit that better documentation that is not all jumbled together, or a manual that you can purchase would be a big plus.

I think I've tried to install Gentoo at least five times now, and each time it's unsucessful. The first few times I did everything that the install docs (x86) said to do. I could never get grub to boot. I finally figured out on my own that I had to do extra work to get the partition to be bootable (there was no explanation in the doc on how to use fdisk, and I had never used it before--now I understand it a lot better). Now that I finally got it bootable, I try making a non-root user (through a little looking at what programs I had, I found useradd/userdel/etc..) and it never works although I set my passwords right. So I'm still stuck at using it, though I really really want to try it somehow (and I'm still waiting for a net connection to use more than the stage3 tarball).

What I'm basically trying to say is that a text install is fine and probably would be for a lot more newbies, if they had a really well written install documentation that includes not just getting the base system installed, but everything needed for a basic desktop (install, root/useradd, X install, window manager install, etc etc). The current segmented documents are rather full with information, but are presented in a way that impedes people's ability to get a full system up and running. If I knew how to and could get such a system up and running, I would start writing a manual for it myself. I'm not sure if this is already in the works elsewhere, but it should be started soon anyway.

It looks like my rant is pretty much through for now

I'll try to start something this summer (even if for my use alone) and if it ends up being any good, and there's not already a better one out there, I'll post it up. Once again, the idea behind Gentoo is awesome, and it really has potential

Peace,
JS

TheWart · Posted: Sat May 18, 2002 3:09 am Post subject:

I agree, I think that an 'interface' is not really needed. The docs are VERY detailed, and such a GUI installer might be neccessary had not the install docs been so well done
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On the box it said it was designed for Win XP or better, so why won't it work with Linux?

lain iwakura · Apprentice Joined: 09 May 2002 Posts: 176 Location: sd, ca

better ppp and dialup support from the beginning would be nice, for those with , ahem, patience.

as for a graphical install, I see no need. maybe a choice of scripted installation would be nice.

alec · Apprentice Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 270 Location: Here

I certainly don't want to download a graphical installer that I won't use. Wastes my time and Gentoo's bandwidth.

temperanza · Guest

IMO, GRUB is a piece of junk. Maybe it works better with Winblows, but I really prefer LILO.

I think Gentoo should stay as it is, but with some basic improvements to the install- say, an optional install "wizard", using text dialogs (all the graphics you need), and offering an easy way to configure Gentoo. It's a tad too hard to partition (use cfdisk or parted instead), and a tad too easy to miss setting a profile or optimizing make.conf.

lain iwakura · Apprentice Joined: 09 May 2002 Posts: 176 Location: sd, ca

temperanza · Guest

Someone earlier complained GRUB is tough to get working, and they're right. I don't even try, just merge LILO immediately. A choice would be really nice.

lain iwakura · Apprentice Joined: 09 May 2002 Posts: 176 Location: sd, ca

you're right. GRUB is somewhat of a pain in the ass. and I could see how partitioning could be a pain for some people, as well.

I was just trying to say what GRUB has to do with a graphical install, but I kind see the correlation now, i suppose. not trying to make an agrument.