unity-design team mailing list archive

[James Gifford <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Folks keep bring up the topic of a Unity Tweak Tool.

It is being worked on, and it is currently almost ready for release. 

Cheers,
James Gifford

On Nov 12, 2011, at 22:40, tommy <tommy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I didn't mean to be offensive or make claims. But if you don't even read what people have to say, don't ask why users are submitting mockups for Unity, and themes for GNOME Shell.
> 
> My few short points:
> - Allow Unity to be extended in Python, C#, Vala, etc. You'll attract a lot more programmers. Extensions is the key to success of Firefox. EVERY mockup could be done by writing an extension (instead of discussing if it's good or not).

Yes, this is currently possible for many Unity components, such as AppIndicators (off the top of my head, I know there are Ruby bindings, Python bindings, I think C bindings, and not 100% sure on Vala bindings).

Lens: Currently, python only AFAIK. 

> - Make Dash themeable. This will satisfy your needs (the design) and users needs (desktop). If someone won't like the looks of Dash, he'll simply install/make a different theme instead of sending mockups. For example theme could include labels underneath lense icons. This could be far more descriptive.

Look, first things first on Unity developers priorities is to get it polished, then start doing stuff like this. It's been said 100 times on this mailing list if it's been said once. :)


> - Allow people to customize Unity. A lot of people simply don't like the "design" and they're moving away from Ubuntu (like me). I use my desktop for professional work, not Facebook. Newest Ubuntu release is "glossy", not productive (previous releases were of course opposite).
> - If you think what needs to be located in configuration tool, look at Launchpad. ~1% of users will file bugs against the system they're using. So if you see more than 100 people commenting on a bug, this (statistically) affects a number of your users. This simply can't be closed as WONTFIX. It needs to be fixed, or if this is a design change request, released as an option for Unity.
> 

This is the exact opposite of my own (and others) experience. If you're not happy with Unity, may I suggest "sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop"? :)


> I realize that this won't be done for Precise Pangolin, but I think this is the way to go. I didn't like GNOME Shell's blacky outfit, but I've installed a different theme and right now I love it. You can't satisfy everyone's needs. But you need to remember that a big number of your users are technical users.

I beg to differ - a large number of VOCAL and OUTSPOKEN users are technical - the vast majority of Ubuntu users are not. 


> These are the people that are recommending Ubuntu to normal, non-technical users. I hope this finally will be taken as constructive criticism, not ranting, fighting or anything else.

Unfortunately you came across as a uninformed ranter, but we all do at one point or another :)


> These are my suggestions where to move on. If you're asking what to do with current design, I will tell you to drop it completely. Other user will tell to drop some parts of it. Key to whole issue is ability to configure and theme Unity.
> 

As I've said before in this email, it's on the roadmap!!

And as it has been said before on this very mailing list, it should be theme able - it should be configurable - and it will be. :)


> W dniu 13.11.2011 03:50, Jo-Erlend Schinstad pisze:
>> Den 12. nov. 2011 22:04, skrev Tomasz Sałaciński:
>>> I think there are two points of view. Designer one and user one.
>>> 
>>> Designers wants everything to look and feel consistent. Everything
>>> needs to be slick and consistent with other parts of the desktop.
>>> 
>>> Users wants everything to be USABLE. Most of current Ubuntu users
>>> don't even notice that X part of the desktop doesn't feel right with Y
>>> part. They notice that they can't minimize apps with launcher click,
>>> the lenses are something they don't understand, dash works slow etc.
>>> 
>> Please substantiate your claims. Users don't understand lenses? My
>> experience is that they do.
>> 
>>> An example:
>>> - User files a bug that ALT-TAB works slow. There is a delay after the
>>> alt-tab window shows up. As far as I can remember - bug was closed.
>>> It's because it's the design. User STILL feels that alt-tab feels
>>> slow. A lot of users still thinks that. But it's not by design, so the
>>> bug was closed. Of course - it FEELS consistent. It looks consistent.
>>> It's a perfect design. But it's completely unusable. I want to know
>>> what window I'm switching to, I don't want to be forced to remember my
>>> last focused window. And the
>> I stopped reading there. I asked for a few short points, but this is
>> ranting.
>> 
>> Jo-Erlend Schinstad
>> 
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> 
> -- 
> tommy
> 
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