The current package source selection method involves clicking on what looks like a hyperlink, at the bottom of an application's description, and selecting a drop-down menu that appears. I believe this could be improved, as for example, I had no idea this feature existed (for apps that have matching AppStream IDs) until I saw the animated Gif Nate posted here: https://pointieststick.wordpress.com/2018/01/14/how-you-can-help-drive-flatpak-adoption/ I'd like to suggest a few improvements to make package source selection a bit more visible to users: 1. Remove the current hyperlink method of selecting a Source, as users expect a hyperlink to link to a webpage URL, as the License link does directly below it. 2. Either change this to a visible drop-down box, or a button. 3. Move the Source box or button up. If it is a button, it could be next to Install for example. Having it at the bottom of a description can push the Source information below the screen, and require scrolling to check. New users won't know to check. On my laptop this happens with apps with long descriptions such as GIMP. 4. Add icons for each package type to make it more visible and pleasing. Such as the Flatpak icon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatpak#/media/File:Flatpak.png) and a package icon (http://pc-freak.net/images/how-to-fix-unfixable-broken-package-dependency-on-debian-ubuntu-linux-icon.png). Obviously the latter would need to be platform independent as one could be using RPM, DEB, etc. This icon could be displayed in the top corner of an app page, near the source selection box/button, to make it more obvious what type of package is being installed. I believe these changes could help with Flatpak/Snap adoption, especially for new Linux users, and those new to Discover.
> Either change this to a visible drop-down box That sounds familiar, Aleix... ;) And the icon approach was Andres' idea.
Git commit a2550b7ceac8c7e13bf0fa94e63c1b4972bd9eff by Aleix Pol. Committed on 22/02/2018 at 19:35. Pushed by apol into branch 'master'. Include API to provide an icon for the backend M +2 -0 libdiscover/backends/DummyBackend/DummyResource.h M +1 -0 libdiscover/backends/FlatpakBackend/FlatpakResource.h M +1 -0 libdiscover/backends/KNSBackend/KNSResource.h M +5 -0 libdiscover/backends/PackageKitBackend/PackageKitResource.cpp M +2 -0 libdiscover/backends/PackageKitBackend/PackageKitResource.h M +1 -0 libdiscover/backends/SnapBackend/SnapResource.h M +2 -0 libdiscover/resources/AbstractResource.h M +1 -0 libdiscover/resources/ResourcesProxyModel.cpp M +2 -1 libdiscover/resources/ResourcesProxyModel.h https://commits.kde.org/discover/a2550b7ceac8c7e13bf0fa94e63c1b4972bd9eff
Possible solution: https://phabricator.kde.org/D10753
Git commit af5058de7f9aec39660de7477da94d6574dfae05 by Aleix Pol. Committed on 15/03/2018 at 16:53. Pushed by apol into branch 'master'. Provide the source selection as a contextual action Summary: Instead of the dreaded link button. Reviewers: ngraham Reviewed By: ngraham Subscribers: cfeck, ngraham, plasma-devel Tags: #plasma Differential Revision: https://phabricator.kde.org/D10753 M +16 -37 discover/qml/ApplicationPage.qml M +4 -0 libdiscover/resources/ResourcesProxyModel.cpp M +2 -0 libdiscover/resources/ResourcesProxyModel.h https://commits.kde.org/discover/af5058de7f9aec39660de7477da94d6574dfae05
Thanks Alex!