GfxbootUpdate
|
Size: 5758
Comment:
|
Size: 4493
Comment: draft
|
| Deletions are marked like this. | Additions are marked like this. |
| Line 6: | Line 6: |
| * '''Contributors''': * '''Packages affected''': gfxboot-theme-ubuntu |
* '''Contributors''': ColinWatson, EvanDandrea, MatTomasewski, MichaelForrest * '''Packages affected''': `gfxboot-theme-ubuntu` |
| Line 15: | Line 15: |
| The appearance and usability of the CD boot loader has been gently polished. | |
| Line 20: | Line 20: |
| * Styling (logo, colors) does not reflect recent changes to Ubuntu boot and desktop * Automatic timeout in the initial language selection screen can cause unintended language selection * User is presented with too many choices in the main menu screen, some of which are only useful in rare situations and only meaningful to technical users * The wording "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" is awkward and potentially confusing * Hints appearing at the bottom (e.g. "Press F4 to select alternative start-up and installation modes") do not provide any added value for advanced users and may prove confusing to beginner users |
|
| Line 21: | Line 26: |
| - Styling (logo, colors) does not reflect recent changes to Ubuntu boot and desktop | Refer to UbuntuSpec:hardy-bootloader-review for background, since this is not the first time we have undertaken polish work on the CD boot loader and there is some history here. |
| Line 23: | Line 28: |
| - Automatic timeout in the initial language selection screen can cause unintended language selection - User is presented with too many choices in the main menu screen, some of which are only useful in rare situations and only meaningful to technical users - The wording "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" is awkward and potentially confusing - Hints appearing at the bottom (e.g. "Press F4 to select alternative start-up and installation modes") do not provide any added value for advanced users and may prove confusing to beginner users. |
Constraints: * It's hard to change the language on the fly during a GNOME session; switching the language of running GTK+ applications is decidedly non-trivial * The timeout exists for two reasons: firstly, to let people walk away and have the system boot automatically in English; secondly, because some USB keyboards are known not to be usable in `syslinux`, and so without a timeout some systems would be entirely unbootable * Note that blind users have to enter the F5 menu anyway (we provide directions) to enable accessibility options at boot, so they aren't relying on the timeout * Graphics can be changed easily; fonts can be replaced but it's much easier if the metrics are identical |
| Line 37: | Line 40: |
| Mikhail wants to install Ubuntu on his friend's old PC. He chooses to check disks for defects and test memory prior to installation. Then he chooses the "Safe graphics mode" in case there are issues with the graphics hardware. == Assumptions == |
Mikhail wants to install Ubuntu on his friend's old PC. He chooses to check disks for defects and test memory prior to installation. There are issues with graphics hardware, but X automatically notices this at boot time and falls back to VESA. |
| Line 43: | Line 44: |
| === Proposed changes: === | === General === |
| Line 45: | Line 46: |
| ==== General: ==== | Update the Ubuntu logo and colours to match the current styling. |
| Line 47: | Line 48: |
| - Update the Ubuntu logo and colors to match the current styling | Replace "Safe graphics mode" with bullet-proof X, but automatically fall back to VESA rather than asking since the system is known to be unconfigured. |
| Line 49: | Line 50: |
| ==== Initial language selection: ==== | === Greeter === |
| Line 51: | Line 52: |
| - Remove timeout from the initial language selection screen | Instead of relying on the boot loader to choose between the two major paths "Try Ubuntu" and "Install Ubuntu", the Desktop Experience team will develop a display manager greeter that offers this choice. |
| Line 53: | Line 54: |
| - Change the default title of the language selection screen to "Press Enter to use English as your main language". If the user chooses another language, the text should change accordingly. | === Initial language selection === |
| Line 55: | Line 56: |
| Mockup of the proposed design: | If the new greeter lands, then insert a "press any key"-type message before the main gfxboot menu (this requires some kind of iconic representation, since we do not yet know the user's language) with a five-second timeout, and drop the 30-second timeout from the main menu. |
| Line 57: | Line 58: |
| {{attachment:lang_menu.png}} | === Main menu === |
| Line 59: | Line 60: |
| ==== Main menu: ==== | Change the wording in the first option to "Try Ubuntu without installing". (The design team will confirm final text for this option.) |
| Line 61: | Line 62: |
| - Change the wording in the first option to "Try Ubuntu without installing" - Move "Check disc for defects", "Test memory" and "Boot from first hard disc" into the "F6 Other Options" menu - Do not display any hints Mockup of the proposed design: {{attachment:main_menu.png}} == Implementation == === UI Changes === === Code Changes === === Migration === |
Remove the "Press F4 ..." hint. |
| Line 88: | Line 66: |
| The design team will use daily builds to verify appropriate appearance; milestones are too infrequent for quick iterations. Fetch daily builds from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and use something like `kvm -m 512 -cdrom lucid-desktop-i386.iso`, or (perhaps preferably) use [[https://launchpad.net/testdrive|testdrive]]. | |
| Line 89: | Line 68: |
| == Future work == | |
| Line 90: | Line 70: |
| == Unresolved issues == == BoF agenda and discussion == {{{ == Wiki notes == Current issues from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lucid/GfxbootUpdate * Styling (logo, colors) does not reflect recent changes to Ubuntu boot and desktop * Automatic timeout in the initial language selection screen can cause unintended language selection * User is presented with too many choices in the main menu screen, some of which are only useful in rare situations and only meaningful to technical users * The wording "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" is awkward and potentially confusing * Hints appearing at the bottom (e.g. "Press F4 to select alternative start-up and installation modes") do not provide any added value for advanced users and may prove confusing to beginner users. Previous specification: https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/hardy-bootloader-review * constraints * it's hard to change language during a gnome session * reason for the timeout was to let people walk away and boot automatically in english * some usb keyboards are known not to be usable with syslinux, and so we need a timeout to ensure that they can boot * accessibility is covered by giving blind users clear instructions about what keystrokes are required (and beeps) * blind users have to enter the F5 menu anyway to enable the accessibility options at boot, so aren't relying on the timeout at boot time * process of changing things - graphic can be changed - fonts can be replaced but it's much easier if the metrics are identical replace "Safe graphics mode" with bullet-proof X (but automatically fall back to VESA rather than asking) * preferably, move "Try" and "Install" to a greeter-level choice (likely to need help from DX/desktop), and insert a screen before main gfxboot menu with instructions to press any key to get more choices * no translation available yet since no language selected, so instructions need to be pictorial * as a fallback, just change "Try ..." to "Try Ubuntu without installing" (Other potential options on greeter: Troubleshoot (CD defects, badblocks, memtest?)) QA PROCESS * best to use daily builds; milestones are too infrequent for quick iterations kvm -m 512 -cdrom lucid-desktop-i386.iso - take daily from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ == Actions == * new logos based on usplash theme packages in karmic, to sync up with current look-and-feel [platform] * drop "Press F4" [platform] * change to "Try Ubuntu without installing" [platform] * get final copy for "Try ..." message [design] * find out if DX/desktop have capacity for greeter work [platform] * greeter work [DX/desktop] * if that lands, insert "press any key" message before main gfxboot menu (requires pictogram) with a 5-second timeout, and drop 30-second timeout [platform] * make sure bullet-proof X works, and if so drop "Safe graphics mode" [platform] * find out how to test daily builds [design] }}} |
Add a "troubleshoot" option to the greeter with options such as testing for CD defects, bad blocks, memory errors, etc. (Note that this will not really replace the boot-loader-level options: the more code you have to execute from the CD, the more likely it is that you'll run into a CD defect before being able to run the test!) |
Launchpad Entry: foundations-lucid-gfxboot-update
Created: 13/11/2009
Contributors: ColinWatson, EvanDandrea, MatTomasewski, MichaelForrest
Packages affected: gfxboot-theme-ubuntu
Summary
This spec describes proposed changes and improvements to gfxboot-theme-ubuntu in Ubuntu Lucid.
Release Note
The appearance and usability of the CD boot loader has been gently polished.
Rationale
Current issues:
- Styling (logo, colors) does not reflect recent changes to Ubuntu boot and desktop
- Automatic timeout in the initial language selection screen can cause unintended language selection
- User is presented with too many choices in the main menu screen, some of which are only useful in rare situations and only meaningful to technical users
- The wording "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" is awkward and potentially confusing
- Hints appearing at the bottom (e.g. "Press F4 to select alternative start-up and installation modes") do not provide any added value for advanced users and may prove confusing to beginner users
Refer to hardy-bootloader-review for background, since this is not the first time we have undertaken polish work on the CD boot loader and there is some history here.
Constraints:
- It's hard to change the language on the fly during a GNOME session; switching the language of running GTK+ applications is decidedly non-trivial
The timeout exists for two reasons: firstly, to let people walk away and have the system boot automatically in English; secondly, because some USB keyboards are known not to be usable in syslinux, and so without a timeout some systems would be entirely unbootable
- Note that blind users have to enter the F5 menu anyway (we provide directions) to enable accessibility options at boot, so they aren't relying on the timeout
- Graphics can be changed easily; fonts can be replaced but it's much easier if the metrics are identical
User stories
Joseph burned the Ubuntu CD and wants to test compatibility with his new laptop which has Windows preinstalled. He chooses "Try Ubuntu without installing" to run the live session.
Federico wants to install Ubuntu on his old family PC, which previously had Windows on it. He chooses Brazilian Portuguese from the language selection screen and "Install Ubuntu" from the main menu.
Mikhail wants to install Ubuntu on his friend's old PC. He chooses to check disks for defects and test memory prior to installation. There are issues with graphics hardware, but X automatically notices this at boot time and falls back to VESA.
Design
General
Update the Ubuntu logo and colours to match the current styling.
Replace "Safe graphics mode" with bullet-proof X, but automatically fall back to VESA rather than asking since the system is known to be unconfigured.
Greeter
Instead of relying on the boot loader to choose between the two major paths "Try Ubuntu" and "Install Ubuntu", the Desktop Experience team will develop a display manager greeter that offers this choice.
Initial language selection
If the new greeter lands, then insert a "press any key"-type message before the main gfxboot menu (this requires some kind of iconic representation, since we do not yet know the user's language) with a five-second timeout, and drop the 30-second timeout from the main menu.
Main menu
Change the wording in the first option to "Try Ubuntu without installing". (The design team will confirm final text for this option.)
Remove the "Press F4 ..." hint.
Test/Demo Plan
The design team will use daily builds to verify appropriate appearance; milestones are too infrequent for quick iterations. Fetch daily builds from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and use something like kvm -m 512 -cdrom lucid-desktop-i386.iso, or (perhaps preferably) use testdrive.
Future work
Add a "troubleshoot" option to the greeter with options such as testing for CD defects, bad blocks, memory errors, etc. (Note that this will not really replace the boot-loader-level options: the more code you have to execute from the CD, the more likely it is that you'll run into a CD defect before being able to run the test!)
Lucid/GfxbootUpdate (last edited 2010-02-26 15:21:42 by 82-69-40-219)