44 replies to this topic

[oeed]

Sora the Hedgehog, on 30 November 2013 - 02:04 AM, said:

I've thought for the longest time that the community should get just together and make a whole bunch of standards (ie for Rednet transmissions, our own version of X, etc, etc) It honestly surprises me a little that it hasn't happened.

Something that would help maintain compatibility with standard CraftOS is trying to create hooks into the current APIs. Using the fs API as an example, you can implement symbolic links and file permissions, and by hooking into the fs API, every program is now automagically aware of permissions and symlinks. It eventually gets difficult trying to hook new functionality into the existing API and still have it make sense, though.

Perhaps we should try for a 'community OS'? I know that there have been ones in the past, but I believe they've all died.

Yes, having it part of CraftOS would be the ultimate way to ensure the standards. I might make a new topic about standards though, it's veering off topic. What do you mean by community OS?

basdxz, on 30 November 2013 - 02:16 AM, said:

I have seen a lot of OS'es but pretty much all of them have severe crash bugs, if you could avoid them then I think more people would use it.

Yea, crashes are obviously things I want to avoid. The current build of the OS doesn't have any crashes so far, but then again it's not very developed yet.

[Sora Firestorm]

oeed, on 30 November 2013 - 02:31 AM, said:

What do you mean by community OS?

Just an OS that the community as a whole contributes to. Again, I know this was attempted in the past, but I believe it hadn't survived each try.

[Engineer]

Really, for the interface thing, just make sure you have some kind of manual. For instance, my grandpa needed help with his windows 8 laptop, so he downloaded a manual.

He read that and after that he knew more, but still needed my help. Fortunately my grandma made a self-baked apple cake, but that's nothing more then irrelevant

Point was to make some kind of manual, which helps people out.

[Sora Firestorm]

Engineer said:

Point was to make some kind of manual, which helps people out.

Sure, if people would actually read the thing. Most people around here already can't read API documentations and the like, nor search Google. A manual is only helpful it it's read.

[oeed]

Sora the Hedgehog, on 30 November 2013 - 06:28 PM, said:

Engineer said:

Point was to make some kind of manual, which helps people out.

Sure, if people would actually read the thing. Most people around here already can't read API documentations and the like, nor search Google. A manual is only helpful it it's read.

The program should be so easy to use you don't need a manual. If I ever do read the manual it's because the product/software was so poorly designed that I can't use it, and if that's the case then the manual often has such broken english that I can't read the manual. The most instructions I ever put in my programs is generally the pastebin command. Windows 8 is not a good example of 'an easy to use OS/program', as much as Microsoft wants it to, I literally had to Google how to shutdown when I first got it... To be honest, I don't think anyone's got it yet. Not even Apple (what did he just say!? )

[Sora Firestorm]

oeed, on 30 November 2013 - 07:21 PM, said:

The program should be so easy to use you don't need a manual.

I agree with this, it shouldn't be necessary to have to resort to a manual or the internet to figure out something basic.

[Engineer]

First of all you should definitely aim for an user-friendly desing, but there are always people who dont get it. Those shouldl read the manual or play around with it. If they are going to ask questions, you should refer them to the manual.

Its like playing with a console of your choice. You need to change a setting, but cannot find where you should change it. You couldnt figure it out, so you most likely hop on the internet and search if google has answers for you. If you cant find it then, then you should read the manual. You of course dont need to know how to setup your console, you hop directly to the customizations page.

And I want to underline again: Not everybody get it, thats humanity. (Yes, TOBIT, I did it myself this time )

[Sora Firestorm]

The forums should start writing up RFCs (Request for Comment) in general, to standardize on a whole bunch of different things (Link to Lyqyd's Terminal Redirection over Rednet as an example of what the idea is and a well-written example to boot.)

[Engineer]

To standardize something is never going to work properly, just because it doesn't give compile errors if you don't use those conventions.

Look, conventions and standardized crap are different, very, very different. Lets take for example Java, there is a convention that you start a class with a capital letter. But if I don't feel like doing that, I just use lowercase letter to begin a class. My program works so I'm happy.

You can come up with conventions yourself and hope that people follow those, but they don't have to.

If you make things standard, like that rednet stuff, what do you actually achieve? Essentially you can do the same by using other parsing methods, not just those.
And honestly, I see something like the rednet term stuff more of an extension to the program. It actually is an API, cuz we know how it gets parsed and gets sent, so we can follow that.
But if I'm making a similair program, I just use whatever I feel like using.
The idea behind it's good, but just make it documentation, that's just the key.

I started rambling and I frankly dont care about it. I just can't get why you would do something like that, make an API that has proper documentation, that really is it.

[Lyqyd]

I put the RFC out there. It's a "standard" that anyone can comment on, and if you don't already have an idea of how to do TRoR, it gives you a good base to work from. If you happen to implement the RFC's code, it means it'll be compatible (for the most part) with existing programs like nsh and such. Having standards out there gives everyone a common reference to work from if they desire interoperability, it does not in any way restrict you from doing your own thing. You seem to be rather opposed to the idea of standards, for reasons I can't quite figure out.

[SnappComputerCraft]

Before we get into this, we need to go into something that dan200 needs to work on with the mod,

HD GRAPHICS IN THE COMPUTERS
(only available using HD resource/texture packs, of course)

That would be awesome, 'cause then the OSes that use the colors of adv. computers won't look so clunky and peice of crappish.

Think that would be awesome, right?
Now, onto the BEST OS!!!

- People can create a server using the OS and edit the server to serve a different purpose in the other computers on the Minecraft server. Ex. One person creates a server that hosts applications and sends those apps to other computers using an app (Like the Mac App Store). OR a server can host websites sent to other computers using an internet browser (Like Google Chrome).
- Easy usage, everything is in plain sight and you know where everything is. Your favorite apps would be on the desktop or launchpad or deskpad or whatever you want to call it.
- Minecraft Inception!!!!!!!!!!!
- Easy-to-use Login System, so you can have multiple accounts on the same computer.

That's my take on it.
I bid you a burrito (and a Merry Christmas for the time of the posting of this),
- SnappGamez (oh hey, that's mah YewTewb!)

[RatcheT2497]

Well, for me, the best os would have to have:
-easy to learn GUI (or UI)
-As SnappComputerCraft said, a good login system
-an App store
-an automatic installer
-(optional) an app that you can make programs with, kind of like Visual Basic (or, for games, Game Maker)

[6677]

RatcheT2497, on 29 December 2013 - 01:03 PM, said:

-(optional) an app that you can make programs with, kind of like Visual Basic (or, for games, Game Maker)

Errm lolwhut?
Visual basic refers to a programming language (well 2 considering visual basic 6 and visual basic .net have little relation anymore), it isn't a piece of software.

[RatcheT2497]

6677, on 31 December 2013 - 01:33 PM, said:

RatcheT2497, on 29 December 2013 - 01:03 PM, said:

-(optional) an app that you can make programs with, kind of like Visual Basic (or, for games, Game Maker)

Errm lolwhut?
Visual basic refers to a programming language (well 2 considering visual basic 6 and visual basic .net have little relation anymore), it isn't a piece of software.

Well, i know that, but i was reffering to the program by microsoft. It counts as a program anyway, since you can run the .exe, and it has an interface, etc.

[Lyqyd]

You're thinking of Visual Studio.

[distantcam]

Prior to .NET "Visual Basic" existed as a language (Visual Basic 1, 2, 3, etc) and an IDE with the same name. When .NET came along Visual Basic was changed to Visual Basic .NET and the IDE was renamed "Visual Studio".

[RatcheT2497]

Wow.. Talk about confusing name changes xD

[6677]

Its microsoft, they do that, although visual studio is the best IDE out there in my opinion, one of the few things microsoft has done well.
Heres one for microsoft confusion. Windows 8, then you have their ARM port windows RT. Both implement the win32 api for desktop applications (although in windows RT they have added digital signing to prevent unauthorised desktop applications from running). Both implement the confusingly named winrt api for running the windows store applications on Start/Metro/Modern/Tablet mode/whatever you want to call it. WinRT and Windows RT. Someone go over to the microsoft naming department, find the genius that thought having WinRT and Windows RT was a good idea and give them an almighty kick up the backside. As it is having windows RT and windows 8 seemed to confuse consumers enough because half of them havent even heard of ARM or x86 let alone the difference. For reference, I seem to be one of the few people that actually likes windows 8, I just think microsofts naming was absolutely idiotic.



Actually thats a thing the best OS shouldnt do. Confusion over product names.

[RatcheT2497]

Yeah, it is one of the few things Microsoft has done well.. And, on the topic of Windows 8, i actually like it too, but i just can't live without the Start button (and the Start menu)

[6677]

I never used the start button anyway