Bug 406779

Summary:	Do not filter out backends as missing, they may just need proper configuration
Product:	[Applications] cantor	Reporter:	avlas <jsardid>
Component:	general	Assignee:	Nikita Sirgienko <warquark>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	alexander.semke, alexanderrieder, warquark
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	19.04
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:	https://commits.kde.org/cantor/731fa7186d80f330bf7d7fed8a86b9c2cff4172f	Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description avlas 2019-04-22 17:32:51 UTC

I would strongly recommend against filtering out missing backends at cantor startup (talking about the prompt that appears when no default backend has been set). This is a matter of usability, mostly important for new users trying cantor:

- A new user may want to configure Cantor to use e.g. Octave (This applies to anyone, but will use Octave as an example, because it's what happened to me)

- System's Octave version may be old, so the user install it easily e.g. via flatpak

- Now the user opens Cantor, but Octave is not one of the options.

- This sets the impression that Octave is not supported.

- However, the truth is that Octave just needs proper configuration.

- The way to configure it currently is by choosing any of the available backends and go to Cantor settings to adjust those for Octave.

- I propose to improve usability here by presenting all backends without filtering. 

- If the selected backend is not properly configured (e.g. Octave), its settings should be opened, so the user can set them right.


[ moved to become a specific bug from https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=406684 ]

Comment 1 Alexander Semke 2019-04-22 17:48:04 UTC

Thanks. This makes sense.

Comment 2 Nikita Sirgienko 2019-04-24 22:08:31 UTC

Git commit 731fa7186d80f330bf7d7fed8a86b9c2cff4172f by Nikita Sirgienko.
Committed on 24/04/2019 at 21:48.
Pushed by sirgienko into branch 'master'.

Improve logic of backend showing:
  - Now, all installed backends showed, even disabled
  - For backends with missing requirements, Cantor shows information from backends, about what user needs to do to enable backend.
Also increase soversion of Cantor library, because we break ABI.
FIX-IN: 19.08

M  +25   -6    src/backendchoosedialog.cpp
M  +2    -1    src/backendchoosedialog.h
M  +11   -2    src/backends/R/rbackend.cpp
M  +1    -1    src/backends/R/rbackend.h
M  +11   -4    src/backends/julia/juliabackend.cpp
M  +1    -1    src/backends/julia/juliabackend.h
M  +18   -2    src/backends/lua/luabackend.cpp
M  +1    -1    src/backends/lua/luabackend.h
M  +18   -3    src/backends/maxima/maximabackend.cpp
M  +1    -1    src/backends/maxima/maximabackend.h
M  +18   -2    src/backends/octave/octavebackend.cpp
M  +1    -1    src/backends/octave/octavebackend.h
M  +19   -4    src/backends/sage/sagebackend.cpp
M  +1    -1    src/backends/sage/sagebackend.h
M  +18   -3    src/backends/scilab/scilabbackend.cpp
M  +2    -2    src/backends/scilab/scilabbackend.h
M  +1    -1    src/lib/CMakeLists.txt
M  +2    -1    src/lib/backend.cpp
M  +2    -1    src/lib/backend.h

https://commits.kde.org/cantor/731fa7186d80f330bf7d7fed8a86b9c2cff4172f

Comment 3 avlas 2019-04-24 22:17:48 UTC

(In reply to Nikita Sirgienko from comment #2)
> Git commit 731fa7186d80f330bf7d7fed8a86b9c2cff4172f by Nikita Sirgienko.
> Committed on 24/04/2019 at 21:48.
> Pushed by sirgienko into branch 'master'.
> 
> Improve logic of backend showing:
>   - Now, all installed backends showed, even disabled
>   - For backends with missing requirements, Cantor shows information from
> backends, about what user needs to do to enable backend.
> Also increase soversion of Cantor library, because we break ABI.
> FIX-IN: 19.08
> 
> M  +25   -6    src/backendchoosedialog.cpp
> M  +2    -1    src/backendchoosedialog.h
> M  +11   -2    src/backends/R/rbackend.cpp
> M  +1    -1    src/backends/R/rbackend.h
> M  +11   -4    src/backends/julia/juliabackend.cpp
> M  +1    -1    src/backends/julia/juliabackend.h
> M  +18   -2    src/backends/lua/luabackend.cpp
> M  +1    -1    src/backends/lua/luabackend.h
> M  +18   -3    src/backends/maxima/maximabackend.cpp
> M  +1    -1    src/backends/maxima/maximabackend.h
> M  +18   -2    src/backends/octave/octavebackend.cpp
> M  +1    -1    src/backends/octave/octavebackend.h
> M  +19   -4    src/backends/sage/sagebackend.cpp
> M  +1    -1    src/backends/sage/sagebackend.h
> M  +18   -3    src/backends/scilab/scilabbackend.cpp
> M  +2    -2    src/backends/scilab/scilabbackend.h
> M  +1    -1    src/lib/CMakeLists.txt
> M  +2    -1    src/lib/backend.cpp
> M  +2    -1    src/lib/backend.h
> 
> https://commits.kde.org/cantor/731fa7186d80f330bf7d7fed8a86b9c2cff4172f

Excellent, thank you!