Comments on: drakSimpleConf http://blog.zerodogg.org/2006/09/16/draksimpleconf/ Geeky comments on geeky things Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:39:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Zero_Dogg http://blog.zerodogg.org/2006/09/16/draksimpleconf/comment-page-1/#comment-2148 Zero_Dogg Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:16:13 +0000 http://blog.iamaturtle.org/?p=67#comment-2148 Ilya: Yeah, I agree. Grouping would definetly be nice. boklm: Well, it all depends ofcourse. For files with "odd" methods of configuration (that is not either key=value or simply "option" (for instance an option could be enable-logging, where logging would be disabled if it wherent in the config file)) it would require additional coding. But for "simple" config files, no matter the size really, it could work. Ilya:
Yeah, I agree. Grouping would definetly be nice.

boklm:
Well, it all depends ofcourse. For files with “odd” methods of configuration (that is not either key=value or simply “option” (for instance an option could be enable-logging, where logging would be disabled if it wherent in the config file)) it would require additional coding. But for “simple” config files, no matter the size really, it could work.

]]> By: boklm http://blog.zerodogg.org/2006/09/16/draksimpleconf/comment-page-1/#comment-2143 boklm Sun, 17 Sep 2006 17:20:26 +0000 http://blog.iamaturtle.org/?p=67#comment-2143 It might be a good idea, or the begining of a good idea. Maybe it is possible to add some syntax for documentation, options for expert mode, automatic choices, etc ... However, I'm not sure it would word for complexe configurations files. It might be a good idea, or the begining of a good idea. Maybe it is possible to add some syntax for documentation, options for expert mode, automatic choices, etc …
However, I’m not sure it would word for complexe configurations files.

]]> By: Ilya http://blog.zerodogg.org/2006/09/16/draksimpleconf/comment-page-1/#comment-2142 Ilya Sun, 17 Sep 2006 17:07:59 +0000 http://blog.iamaturtle.org/?p=67#comment-2142 Could be useful with some more features. For instance, to simplify and explain, grouping options in named tabs would help: group xxx setting ... option ... group yyy setting ... option ... Could be useful with some more features. For instance, to simplify and explain, grouping options in named tabs would help:
group xxx
setting …
option …
group yyy
setting …
option …

]]> By: Zero_Dogg http://blog.zerodogg.org/2006/09/16/draksimpleconf/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 Zero_Dogg Sat, 16 Sep 2006 21:16:26 +0000 http://blog.iamaturtle.org/?p=67#comment-2126 Naturally it would explain things more, which is the tooltip functionality. The points, as far as I can come up with now amount to: - You can't really set a "wrong" option, as it forces you to only enter valid ones - A GUI can be much friendlier to newer users - It's easier to point and click than open and type (though naturally, most geeks prefer the latter) You'd be allowed to not include certain options in the GUI config util for instance, reducing the number of options as you suggest. Maybe in time it'd be possible to include macros to auto-set certain options to something aswell. It's just an idea (and might stay one if people are not interested). Naturally it would explain things more, which is the tooltip functionality.
The points, as far as I can come up with now amount to:
- You can’t really set a “wrong” option, as it forces you to only enter valid ones
- A GUI can be much friendlier to newer users
- It’s easier to point and click than open and type (though naturally, most geeks prefer the latter)

You’d be allowed to not include certain options in the GUI config util for instance, reducing the number of options as you suggest.
Maybe in time it’d be possible to include macros to auto-set certain options to something aswell.

It’s just an idea (and might stay one if people are not interested).

]]> By: AdamW http://blog.zerodogg.org/2006/09/16/draksimpleconf/comment-page-1/#comment-2124 AdamW Sat, 16 Sep 2006 19:24:48 +0000 http://blog.iamaturtle.org/?p=67#comment-2124 Simple question: what's the point? You're not making configuration any easier than editing the text file. The actual points of graphical configuration apps are automation (make choices for the user), simplification (remove choices that most people are not likely to need or want to make), and explanation (help the user to understand what choices mean). Something that just converts the text file to a series of drop down boxes without reducing the amount of choices or explaining them at all is not actually making things any easier for any users... Simple question: what’s the point?

You’re not making configuration any easier than editing the text file.

The actual points of graphical configuration apps are automation (make choices for the user), simplification (remove choices that most people are not likely to need or want to make), and explanation (help the user to understand what choices mean). Something that just converts the text file to a series of drop down boxes without reducing the amount of choices or explaining them at all is not actually making things any easier for any users…

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