GNOME/Updater Applet

From openSUSE

OpenSUSE Updater applet for GNOME is GNOME version of the Updater Applet.

The applet is currently under development and Version 1.0 is nearing its completion.

• See the TODO 1.0 list for the list of tasks to be done until version 1.0. This will be the version for the 10.3 timeframe.
• See TODO 2.0 for list of tasks to be done for version 2.0. Work will probably start in the 10.3 timeframe, but it won't be finished until after 10.3 is released. Possible target might be 10.3+1, but no guarantees granted.

TODO 1.0

• improve UI - add status/error messages, tooltips; handle failures
• create manpage
• add debugging support (logs, etc.)
• add configuration window (using gconf) - mainly for backend selection
• add gettext support
• applet quit context menu item or another way to stop the whole app
• add support for non-gnome WMs
• use GNOME stock icons instead of KDE applet's green icons? (Optional)

TODO 2.0

• rewrite backend to communicate directly with zypp
  • can later also be used by KDE applet
  • Benefits:
    • Better usability of the update workflow
    • No code duplication for the two applets
• add ability to update packages (needs backend rewrite)
• provide nice popup instead of tooltip while in working state (needs backend rewrite)
• more to come, see Future Plans

ICONS

Quote: use GNOME stock icons instead of KDE applet's green icons?

• What do you mean? There are no GNOME stock icons devoted to an update applet, but we could create links (working with tango, might brake with other themes):
  • no-updates -> face-grin (although this one should not be needed, if we manage to transform it into a real notification applet)
  • busy -> emblem-system
  • updates-available -> emblem-important
  • need-restart -> view-refresh
• TODO: Ask upstream, e.g. tango-artist, to discuss and create a standard set of icons or to define, which of the existing icons can be used

The current icons and the ones proposed in UX SUSE Updater: Icons are not HIG conform as the states can't be distinguished by the form of the icon.

Update Process on the Desktop

A collection of thoughts the maintainer had when designing the applet. Includes some rationals why or why not a specific way was chosen. Comments very welcome.