Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2010 13:39:52 +0200 From: David DEMELIER <demelier.david@gmail.com> To: Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk> Cc: FreeBSD Ports <ports@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: OPTIONS Message-ID: <AANLkTimYreQGpBKSXD9apb=DTN0_kwgCaZyHpjM-xDPM@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <4CA86AC8.9080108@infracaninophile.co.uk> References: <4C93AA31.5080202@DataIX.net> <AANLkTik%2B1rvY4ZYgzHRjaX8PBfD1UqNCNeadHqg3KBfo@mail.gmail.com> <20100918223933.GB85995@dragon.NUXI.org> <AANLkTi=vPKpaPL9L=pQN9EdWdEN3sf1pos6uGtJU7ybV@mail.gmail.com> <20101002002605.GA8018@dragon.NUXI.org> <AANLkTinkasFFQ8ssbTSdbYUS%2BJ-tYMc1U3w9rkUCk9Gd@mail.gmail.com> <4CA844E5.7060303@infracaninophile.co.uk> <AANLkTimLqUaZMyDs-mhc-cQbASU%2B_1XqRjd=2=N%2BVSsR@mail.gmail.com> <4CA86AC8.9080108@infracaninophile.co.uk>
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2010/10/3 Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk>:
> On 03/10/2010 10:45:01, David DEMELIER wrote:
>> 2010/10/3 Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk>:
>>> On 03/10/2010 09:22:46, David DEMELIER wrote:
>>>>> 3. OPTIONS are limited to only checkbox YES/NO settings.
>>>>>> Why can I not set PREFIX thru the OPTIONS framework and have it come
>>>>>> from /var/db/ports/${PORTNAME}/options on the 2nd and later builds?
>>>>>> Even the boolean NOPORTDOCS isn't available thru OPTIONS.
>>>>>> Thus it is an inconsistent way to configure a port.
>>>>>>
>>>> I agree. As I said in 4, OPTIONS should follow the defined knob in
>>>> make.conf. But for not boolean knobs there is something we can also
>>>> do, spawn a little textbox to define an option with a string. Example
>>>> :
>>>>
>>>> [X] WITH_X foo bar
>>>> [ ] WITH_Y foo bar baz
>>>> [fr_FR en_GB] LANGS to be build
>>>>
>>>> Here pressing enter on LANGS would spawn a little textbox that can be
>>>> fulfilled by the user. The little problem is how to tell to OPTIONS
>>>> that it's not a boolean entry.
>>>>
>>>
>>> And the rest? =C2=A0Pursuing this idea through to its logical conclusio=
n,
>>> you'ld end up implementing radio buttons, text entry boxes, drop down
>>> lists -- all the normal bits used in html forms.
>>>
>>
>> Don't you like this? sysinstall was made with dialog. And radiobuttons
>> could be used to choose a group of options yes, for example when you
>> only need to choose one option in three available choices, then BROKEN
>> lines could be removed :-)
>
> Don't get me wrong -- I think the current OPTIONS processing is at once
> too limited and too intrusive, and that it is ripe for some serious
> improvement. =C2=A0I'm all for your idea; I just don't think you've gone =
far
> enough.
>
> Now, personally, I quite like the idea of simply sticking entries into
> /etc/make.conf to control port compilation settings. =C2=A0Which would be
> fine for me managing my small number of home machines, but certainly not
> suitable for all users. =C2=A0There is also the problem of knowing what
> controls are available and having some reasonable idea of what they do,
> without the necessity of being a make(1) guru or grovelling through the
> guts of dozens of ports.
>
Yes that's why I would like that OPTIONS must read make.conf to set
default ports options and only after make a individual change for it.
> Giving OPTIONS processing a lot more flexibility, and the capability to
> display help text etc. (yes -- I know there have been attempts in this
> direction already) plus pushing some of the logic up from the Makefile
> into the OPTIONS dialogue[*] would certainly improve the user experience.
>
> Something with the capabilities of sysinstall would be a step in the
> right direction, but I think most would agree, sysinstall is a bit
> clunky and confusing to new users. =C2=A0An alternative that behaves like=
a
> web form is going to be a lot more accessible to J. Random User.
>
> But that is really beyond the limits of what I have any idea about
> coding. =C2=A0I can see how to prototype it readily enough as a web app, =
but
> having to fire up an instance of apache or something just to install a
> few ports just ain't right.
>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0Cheers,
>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0Matthew
>
> [*] Ever had the experience of clicking on OPTIONS settings and then
> finding the port won't accept that combination of OPTIONS? =C2=A0That's
> frustrating, especially when combined with the use of eg. portmaster(8)
> where choosing OPTIONS can happen quite a while before attempting to
> build the port.
>
> --
> Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
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>
>
--=20
Demelier David
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