The bl-welcome Script

Horizon_Brave · 2016-04-22 23:56:29

So this is probably (I hope not) going to come off sounding very arrogant or presumptious of me. But as alluded to in other threads, here and there, I've noticed from my last install that the bunsen welcome script is getting a tad lengthy, wordy, and time consuming to go through. Obviously this is of no one's fault, as it's pretty easy, and even logical to add options to.
My worry though is that the bl-welcome script will become *so* hairy that if we wait too long begin really moderating it's size, that it'll require a ton of changes elsewhere and redundant checks etc...

Also, while it's great that you can opt out at any time and come back to re-run it,, I fear users may forget or not remember how to get back to it. It does tell you to run the bl-welcome command, but if the user doesn't write this down, or actively search for it, it may not be immediately obvious how to return to the welcome script.

Have any idea's been thought of, or proposed to sort of slim down the script? Perhaps we can use this thread as a staging area?

If you all feel this is un-needed, and not of concern , feel free to close...

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-23 00:06:35

Horizon_Brave wrote:

slim down the script?

I don't think so, all of the options have been added in response to specific demands.

Perhaps the options could be presented on a menu-style page rather than reeling through the list one at a time.

At any rate, johnraff has already put many hours of hard work into this script and I think that further changes should be held off until after the official release.

hhh · 2016-04-23 00:20:18

@Horizon, that's valid feedback. Thanks!

re: restarting the script... forum!

re: length... meh.

I agree with Head, this is @johnraff territory. What will he say? (*hushed golf-announcer* Let's see what happens...)

johnraff · 2016-04-23 03:10:40

...

... anyway, @HB thanks for the feedback, which is always appreciated.

You raise a valid point, and a couple of recent suggestions for things to further add to bl-welcome have been quietly put on the back-burner for now. Also, I tend to agree that there might be a couple of pages in the current script that could be dropped with little harm done. The whole thing is quite modular, and now the code's been written it wouldn't be impossible to call up certain sections from outside the main script, eg from the menu.

The welcome script wasn't written 100% by me: Corenominal started it, a #! forum member called sysaxed contributed a lot of code and brought in the modularity, and I built on from that base (making quite a lot of changes, agreed). But anyway, it's now at a sort of resting place - it does what it does, and the bugs have been squashed. It isn't something that users are running often, so I don't think its length is much of a problem.

Let's keep it as it is for the release, but, for sure, let's go on thinking about how it could be improved in the future.

pvsage · 2016-04-23 08:09:55

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

Perhaps the options could be presented on a menu-style page rather than reeling through the list one at a time.

I'm pondering a TUI similar to that of tasksel. Is that what you're pondering?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-23 09:46:55

^ Yes, very much so.

I ♥ ncurses 8)

Horizon_Brave · 2016-04-23 20:21:44

pvsage wrote:

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:
Perhaps the options could be presented on a menu-style page rather than reeling through the list one at a time.
I'm pondering a TUI similar to that of tasksel. Is that what you're pondering?

That is exactly what I was thinking as well. So instead of taking the user by the hand linearly through the options, it can present it as a menu where they can go and select whatever options they want. Each one still having the files and scripts, but hidden behind the context of a menu for them to pick from instead. The Debian install has this as well:

Anyway I definitely agree with you JohnRaff, like I said, I just wanted to raise the issue officially and perhaps have a place for people to discuss for future considerations.

hhh · 2016-04-24 08:06:25

I just did a new install, and I have to commend @johnraff, the bl-welcome script is excellent.

Well thought out language, sane default choices, the whole thing runs at under 5 minutes.

/first world problems

AndyMender · 2016-04-24 19:43:34

I completely agree with hhh. An ncurses-based CLI would be nice, but is it really mandatory? I feel abstraction layers do more harm than aid.

I would actually like to applaud the bl-welcome script's robustness and modularity. I had several occassions when my network connection failed (damned cheap Realtek WiFi dongles...) and the script was able to resume from the last step perfectly!

Horizon_Brave · 2016-04-24 20:34:00

AndyMender wrote:

I completely agree with hhh. An ncurses-based CLI would be nice, but is it really mandatory?

I don't think I used the words mandatory guys. I stated that this is purely preventative and more about trying to avoid an issue later on, which would cause more work. Like I stated, if it's the majorities will, then feel free to close this, and move on.

Sector11 · 2016-04-24 22:31:55

We try not to close threads - or delete them. Especially delete them. For as much as an idea may not tale off - it might inspire some other idea or other threads.

hhh · 2016-04-25 01:25:52

I came here for an argument.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!

AndyMender · 2016-04-25 05:15:04

Horizon_Brave wrote:

AndyMender wrote:
I completely agree with hhh. An ncurses-based CLI would be nice, but is it really mandatory?
I don't think I used the words mandatory guys. I stated that this is purely preventative and more about trying to avoid an issue later on, which would cause more work. Like I stated, if it's the majorities will, then feel free to close this, and move on.

I'm sorry, it's my fault entirely. I didn't mean to sound pretentious . I think the menu idea is a reasonable one, though I still feel the script is fine as it is at the moment. Nevertheless, should it be the decision of the majority to implement it, I will yield and help with testing if possible .

Also, hhh, I already had my 5 minute argument session with my reflection in the mirror. Free of charge!

#1 2016-04-22 23:56:29

The bl-welcome Script

#2 2016-04-23 00:06:35

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#3 2016-04-23 00:20:18

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#4 2016-04-23 03:10:40

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#5 2016-04-23 08:09:55

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#6 2016-04-23 09:46:55

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#7 2016-04-23 20:21:44

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#8 2016-04-24 08:06:25

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#9 2016-04-24 19:43:34

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#10 2016-04-24 20:34:00

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#11 2016-04-24 22:31:55

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#12 2016-04-25 01:25:52

Re: The bl-welcome Script

#13 2016-04-25 05:15:04

Re: The bl-welcome Script

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