December 2010 - openSUSE Features - openSUSE Mailing Lists

[New: openFATE 310122] Annual Major Release + Bug Fix Release
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 25 Feb '11

25 Feb '11

Feature added by: Refilwe Seete (ReferenceSeete) Feature #310122, revision 1 Title: Annual Major Release + Bug Fix Release openSUSE-11.4: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Desirable Requested by: Refilwe Seete (referenceseete) Partner organization: openSUSE.org Description: Move to an annual major release with an additional bug-fix remaster. An Example of How it Would Work: Every May* a new major release of openSUSE is released. All the components get their usual refresh - kernel, DEs, OOo, Mozilla, etcetera. New features at the distro-level also get implemented, the sort of things that are ususally requested here on FATE or in bugzilla. This release would be like every other release of openSUSE so far. Then in September*, a bug-fix respin would be published. This would be the major release plus all the updates released so far through the standard update repo. Given the new update policy this would likely include upstream bug-fixes from GNOME/KDE/Mozilla plus the usual assortment of openSUSE security fixes. Version Numbers: Our next (major) release would be 12.0. The bug-fix respin would be 12.1. If there is a second bug-fix respin it would be 12.2 and so on. [*A different month might be considered more optimal by the community] Business case (Partner benefit): openSUSE.org: PROS 1. Conservative users get their "super-stable" release in the respin, which will include all the official bug fixes from GNOME/KDE/Mozilla along with the squashing of most major bugs that may have cropped up in wider testing. 2. People who have bandwidth limitations would benefit from a 'maximum fixes included' iso being available. 3. Gives openSUSE consistent release months that everyone knows and can plan around rather than the current tumbling system. 4. Provides the artists, programmers, testers and translators a longer period of time to work on things for each major release. 5. Aligns our current version number scheme with what it implies: Major and minor releases. 6. Prolongs the shelf life of all support mechanisms. Forum helpers don't need to shift their support target as quickly, manuals and wiki pages stay valid for longer periods of time. This also means openSUSE books have a longer viability period in stores. If an openSUSE foundation is created, perhaps we can negotiate some sort of revenue-sharing deal which will help support the foundation. 7. Given the support commitment of "two releases plus two months" the support cycle would expand from 18 months to 26 months - the respin doesn't count as a proper release since it just a collection of bug fixes for the major release. This would reduce the feeling of being on an "upgrade treadmill". 8. Provides us with something that makes openSUSE distinct from other distros - a good period of support for every major release. CONS 1. There's supposedly a large segment of Linux users that want new software but are only willing to get it through brand-new releases of the whole distro. I think this segment is misunderstood. The users who need major releases to get new software are using major releases to get around their frustration with the software not being provided via online updates. The presence of the OBS means anyone who really wants the newest Amarok/Chromium/OOo/whatever can get it - what we need to do is make the appropriate OBS repos more discoverable. 2. openSUSE will miss a major update to GNOME and KDE. I don't think this is that big a deal. The current 8-month release cycle already misses major versions sometimes (for example OS 11.3 will have KDE 4.4.x while OS 11.4 will have KDE 4.6.x). -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/310122

1 16

[New: openFATE 310432] globaly visible versioned library store
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 25 Feb '11

25 Feb '11

Feature added by: Artur Mustafin (hack2root) Feature #310432, revision 1 Title: globaly visible versioned library store openFATE: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Desirable Requested by: Artur Mustafin (hack2root) Description: I think all installation technology shuld be revised: We should invent globaly visible versioned library store, new packaging system, e.t.c. I think it is must be a simple commit, like this: -begin transaction -installs missing libraries/apps in libary store (multiversional, global, cached) -commit transaction in case of any error: -rollback trasaction -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/310432

1 5

[openFATE 306924] Software Store like AppStore/Android Market
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 25 Feb '11

25 Feb '11

Feature added by: Raúl García (bgta) Feature #306924, revision 1 Title: Software Store like AppStore/Android Market openSUSE-11.3: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Important Requested by: Raúl García (bgta) Description: The idea is to create an online store like AppStore or Android Market using One Click Install. The currents search system is offuscated. By example, if you try to search "Firefox" in the current search system, you get more than one result, and Mozilla Firefox isn't the first. I think in some site like http://www.pbidir.com/ Thanks for your time and sorry for my bad english :) -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/306924

1 8

[openFATE 307498] Improve and Integrate users.opensuse.org across openSUSE sites
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Feature added by: Francis Giannaros (apokryphos) Feature #307498, revision 1 Title: Improve and Integrate users.opensuse.org across openSUSE sites openFATE: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Important Requested by: Francis Giannaros (apokryphos) Description: There is a lot of need IMO for centralisation and improvement with users.opensuse.org and the other websites. This would help in building a community around the project, as it will make it easier to find out who is doing what and where. I really don't think this can be understated either. Things like groups (let's say, KDE devs, Bug triage team, IRC ops), contact details, home: repository in the build service, respective wiki page, and an avatar at the very least should be handled from there. A good example of this working in action (and really _helping_) can be seen on launchpad; i.e. https://launchpad.net/~sabdfl Selecting 'openFATE' because I can't see where else to put this under. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/307498

1 5

[New: openFATE 308352] Easy Way to put Media to USB Stick
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Feature added by: Andreas Jaeger (a_jaeger) Feature #308352, revision 1 Title: Easy Way to put Media to USB Stick openSUSE-11.3: Evaluation Priority Requester: Mandatory Requested by: Andreas Jaeger (a_jaeger) Description: Currently a user has to run "dd" to copy an ISO image from file system to media - and this runs the risk that the user destroys the harddisk instead of the usb stick. We should create some simple ways to do the copy. Some options: a) A shell script that checks for one attached USB stick and copies the image over to it. b) A boot entry on the media to copy the image to an attached USB stick. Option b) would allow me to download and create the image on one machine and then put it to use on another one. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/308352

1 18

[New: openFATE 310123] create NET and DVD isos suitable to USB-boot
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Feature added by: Bernhard Wiedemann (bmwiedemann) Feature #310123, revision 1 Title: create NET and DVD isos suitable to USB-boot openSUSE-11.4: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Important Requested by: Bernhard Wiedemann (bmwiedemann) Description: In the past years, netbooks and other computers without a CD/DVD drive have become more common. While there is http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Live_USB_stick , there has always been some confusion among users on which openSUSE iso images are suitable for USB boot and on how to get them working. People have been finding out the hard way that DVD and NET isos can not be used as easily. However, at least for NET isos, this can be changed by running isohybrid openSUSE-NET-...iso DVD isos can be made bootable this way, too, but there is some extra work involved to make it find its data. If this does not have disadvantages, iso images should be adjusted during the creation process to make them bootable from USB-storage devices. It is also good to be able to "dd if=/dev/dvd of=/dev/sdX bs=1M" This feature complements (i.e. is orthognal to) https://features.opensuse.org/310029 https://features.opensuse.org/309238 -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/310123

1 6

[New: openFATE 309261] Hardware Compatibility test before installation starts
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 23 Feb '11

23 Feb '11

Feature added by: ryan smith (ryan1414) Feature #309261, revision 1 Title: Hardware Compatibility test before installation starts openSUSE-11.3: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Mandatory Requested by: ryan smith (ryan1414) Description: I have a feature request for openSUSE 11.3 Before the openSUSE installation starts, openSUSE should first do a hardware compatibility test to check if a computer's hardware(video card, wifi card, printer, scanner, sound card, wireless keyboard, motherboard chipset,webcam,dvd writer, etc) will work correctly and also to check if openSUSE has the drivers to make them work. It could display a list like this: video card:nvidia 4353 Compatible/Driver not included sound card:Sound Blaster 3455 Compatible/Driver included If a driver is not included, users can look on the internet to see if there is a driver available. Once the hardware compatibility test is done and everything is going to be compatible, openSUSE can start the installation. If something/s are not compatible and/or a driver/s are not included, openSUSE can display 2 options for a user to choose which will be Continue installation or Cancel installation. Do you think you could implement this feature in openSUSE 11.3? Use Case: User testing if openSUSE 11.3 is compatible with their hardware before installation starts. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/309261

1 6

[New: openFATE 309159] Reorganize/Add functionality to the Gnome main menu.
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Feature added by: Mariusz Bielski (marbpl) Feature #309159, revision 1 Title: Reorganize/Add functionality to the Gnome main menu. openSUSE-11.3: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Neutral Requested by: Mariusz Bielski (marbpl) Description: Nowadays if we want to launch application that is not in favourite (or recent) group, we have to do 3 steps: open menu, click More applications, and launch it there or search for it with search field - which is not the best example of usability. People are often changing Slab, to traditional menu, and/or to Gnome Do. How about making it like in KDE4 menu, where search field has different functionalities depending on tab on which we are currently. So, if we are in Applications tab, search engine searches for apps. Results are displayed in real time, in the menu itself. Of course it works as incremental search. <a href="http://kimag.es/share/29911151.png">[image] Menu: Searching fo apps.</a> In Documents tab we are searching for files: <a href="http://kimag.es/share/18560681.png">[image] Menu: Searching for files.</a> And in Places tab we are searching for places: <a href="http://kimag.es/share/67970630.png">[image] Menu: Searching for places.</a> There is a problem with this idea, because menu isn't designed to display huge amount of entries. Searching for a "a" string, can result with big number. So maybe in this situation scrollbar <a href="http://kimag.es/share/26285986.png">(r.1)</a>should be implemented, or only first few entries should be displayed in the menu, and rest will be available through "More Applications..." button <a href="http://kimag.es/share/36102822.png">(r.2)</a>. In this case, search string should be automatically copied into Application Browser search field. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/309159

1 2

[New: openFATE 308477] Optimize preselection of games on GNOME livecd
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Feature added by: Vincent Untz (vuntz) Feature #308477, revision 1 Title: Optimize preselection of games on GNOME livecd openSUSE-11.3: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Important Requested by: Vincent Untz (vuntz) Description: The GNOME livecd comes with games, from gnome-games. However, those might not be the most exciting games available -- we should split the gnome-games package to make it possible to install a subset of those games, and also find out if it's possible to install other games by default. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/308477

1 2

[New: openFATE 310518] Make openSUSE 11.4 12.0
by fate_noreply＠suse.de 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Feature added by: Anomyous Anomyous (jcat123) Feature #310518, revision 1 Title: Make openSUSE 11.4 12.0 openSUSE-11.4: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Desirable Requested by: Anomyous Anomyous (jcat123) Description: Since going from SUSE 9 to 10, going to the next major version happened after xx.3. openSUSE 11.4 will come after 11.3, so it should follow this pattern. If this became permanent, then with the release cycle one could always predict what release and when. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/310518

1 4