Feature changed by: Martin Schmidkunz (mschmidkunz) Feature #305598, revision 9 Title: Improve access to non-preinstalled apps openSUSE-11.2: Evaluation Priority Requester: Important Requested by: Richard Doll (richard_doll) Partner organization: openSUSE.org Description: Currently, we include many apps in the distribution which are by default not installed although accessible for installation via Yast (eg. VPN) Users should have an easy way to find out which apps are available on the system and simply need to be installed. This could be an extension to the application browser (eg. "Search catalog for non-installed applications") or other means to make users aware. Business case (Partner benefit): openSUSE.org: We include numerous "un-advertized" applications in the distribution - it seems self-evident that we should make users aware of what is available to them. Discussion: #1: Gerald Pfeifer (geraldpfeifer) (2009-01-02 12:20:33) This is a bit similar to the issue with YaST, where we made the decision to always install all modules to provide the overview of our capabilities. I am obviously not suggesting this route here, but some of the alternative solutions to the YaST issue may be applicable here. #2: Gerald Pfeifer (geraldpfeifer) (2009-01-02 12:21:26) Guy, Michl, something for our desktop / UI teams to look into? #3: Michael Loeffler (sprudel24) (2009-01-09 18:34:08) Hmm, doesn't the Software Management module in YaST provide exactly this? #4: Richard Doll (richard_doll) (2009-02-17 10:29:18) (reply to #3) I don't think so. You have to go actively into Yast and search there. My request is to bring this closer to the user - possibly a simple search bar in the application browser. So...a simple example might be (based on recent real user experience): - User needs a VPN app - User goes into Application Browser, types in VPN in the Filter - No VPN tool is available, no suggestions or next steps are offered. - User abandons search and concludes there is no VPN app installed on the system An ambitious - and more Linux savy - user might start searching elsewhere or try command line (or open Yast). The scenario I recommend is: - User types in "VPN" in the application browser filter - System returns an answer: "You don't currently have a VPN client linked to the application browser, but there is a VPN client on your system. Click here - BUTTON - to add a shortcut for this application in your application browser. - User accepts and from now on has the - already available - VPN client at his/her fingertips. There might be something in openSUSE - I only use SLED - that could address this #5: Martin Schmidkunz (mschmidkunz) (2009-02-19 16:04:13) What about using (and therefore promoting :-)) the one-click- installation-icon used by software installation via openSUSE.org? I played a little bit around with that idea: http://en.opensuse.org/Image:Application_browser_1click.png Of course we should check the readability of this idea :-) #6: Richard Doll (richard_doll) (2009-02-19 10:17:39) (reply to #5) This looks very good to me. It took me while to notice the wrench on the screenshot, but once I saw it it made absolute sense. Nice thing is we wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel and it would make search even more powerful. Only addition I would make is may be a color code or something that makes it even more obvious what is installed and what is "installable" - otherwise excellent. + #7: Martin Schmidkunz (mschmidkunz) (2009-02-19 16:37:24) + Yes, you are rigth: using a distinctive color makes it really more + obvious :-) See: + http://en.opensuse.org/Image:Application_browser_1click_color.png -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/305598