[PM] Bad Ubuntu install experience

[JeffryBooher]

Could be related to #7237 but the deb package launches the software center to do the install but doesn't put a link on the desktop or the application launcher and it's buried deep in the system.

It would be good to at least add a link to the application launcher but other things that the installer does may be worth-while as well.

[ingorichter]

@jeff, using the launcher doesn't work for you? I'm using the launcher all the time, but you have to type the name of the App in order to start it. But I was thinking about placing an Icon on Desktop. The issue with this, there are not that much Apps that pollute the desktop and I don't know what users might think about placing Icon on their Desktop.

[ir-g]

I concur. The Ubuntu Software centre is the .deb installer on Ubuntu, and installs as cleanly as any Windows app. As mentioned in #6504 and #7237 - This isn't on the software centre, which would make Brackets searchable on the software centre, automatically trusted, and also can be installed by an app URL. Like: apt://geany shown here.

[0b10011]

@ingorichter Many apps lock themselves to the launcher automatically after install, which could be cause for confusion (since it's "hidden" by default).

[JeffryBooher]

@bfrohs it needs a better install experience was the point. @ingorichter users shouldn't need to go searching for the app in their /usr/bin folder. Windows we install to the program files which is standard, Mac is /applications (standard) but on Linux it is a challenge to find. Especially for non-techno-heads.

With the Windows installer we use Wix which generates the code for us but it's not hard to add steps to the installer with checkboxes asking things like "Add Shortcut to Start Menu", etc... but we just add to the start menu automatically. My question was -- Does the Debian software center have a similar experience

I'm find with locking to a hidden launcher by default, btw.

[ir-g]

Why not search with the dash E.G.(Windows Key, then type "Brackets")?

[jadbox]

What's the level of effort to add a link to the application launcher? Ideally users shouldn't need to search for it, however placing an icon on the desktop might be a bit too much.

[pthiess]

@ingorichter @JeffryBooher do you guys have an ETA for @jadbox ?

[JeffryBooher]

I'm not that familiar with Debian install packages.

[pthiess]

@redmunds @ingorichter If we can't come up with an ETA easily ourselves - this might be something to ask the community to help with.

[ingorichter]

I'm not quite clear what we want to accomplish. I think this story has two parts

1. Discoverability - find Brackets in the Software Center
2. Visibility - make Brackets easy to find for the user after the installation

I think, we are talking here more about option 2. We install Brackets and make it available to the Dash (the Unity search). This is the default behavior on Ubuntu and it seems that most of the users use this functionality for launching. The other option would be to place an Icon on the desktop or in the Launcher Dock to make it more visible. I'm not convinced that placing an icon in either location will make users happy. We could ask the user during the installation process if they want to add an icon to the desktop/dock. Then it is the users choice and we can offer to make Brackets easier to locate.

[0b10011]

We install Brackets and make it available to the Dash (the Unity search). This is the default behavior on Ubuntu and it seems that most of the users use this functionality for launching.

As an Ubuntu user, I typically prefer applications to dock themselves to the launcher. If I don't want it there, it only takes two clicks to remove it (right-click > Unlock from Launcher). However, if it isn't added to the launcher, I have to:

1. Open the Dash
2. Type the name of the application (that is, if I remember the name of the app I installed, which isn't always the case when installing several programs at once during initial system install)
3. Open the application
4. Right-click the icon and click Unlock from Launcher
5. Close the application

It isn't that big of a deal when installing just a single program, but when installing multiple programs at once, this becomes annoyingly tedious (especially if some of the programs take a while to open/close).

The reason I use the the launch instead of dash is to open several programs at once faster (eg, Firefox, Brackets, Terminal).

The other option would be to place an Icon on the desktop

No, no, no. Applications in Ubuntu, at least none that I have used since the inception of Unity, add a shortcut to the desktop. Provided as a non-default option during installation would be fine, but I wouldn't recommend having this happen by default (or even be selected by default).

We could ask the user during the installation process if they want to add an icon to the desktop/dock.

That would be reasonable. Personally I would recommend having Dash selected by default, and Desktop not selected by default.

[0b10011]

I'm not quite clear what we want to accomplish. I think this story has two parts

1. Discoverability - find Brackets in the Software Center
2. Visibility - make Brackets easy to find for the user after the installation

This issue is related to Visibility.

#7237 is related to Discoverability.

[pixelr0]

hi there, i can't start brackets from Ubuntu's dash, the icon is showing, it is search-able but when i click on the icon nothing happens. I can launch brackets form the terminal /opt/brackets$ brackets.
Another thing is that it didn't create a shortcut on the Launcher, panel however they call it

installed form here https://github.com/adobe/brackets/releases/download/sprint-38/Brackets.Sprint.38.64-bit.deb

[pthiess]

@jadbox - please take a look.