Finally, I’ve Found Offline Package Management System I Need

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

For many years, I was waiting for offline package management system in Linux. I got it at 2013 and I implemented it at end of 2014. That offline management system is alldeb. Alldeb is a new package management system created by Nifa Dwi Kurniawan from Indonesia Ubuntu Forum to install a software in Ubuntu in single offline installer way. Alldeb made it possible to install one software by just one file. All dependencies included inside a single .alldeb file. Just the same way as EXE (Windows), DMG (Mac OS X), and APK (Android). And I packaged many alldeb packages as my implementation at end of 2014 in http://bengkelubuntu.org. Now by using alldeb and getting packages from BengkelUbuntu, you get your software in Ubuntu and you can save the installer and you can install that single package on another Ubuntu in completely offline way. So, for example, if you have a lab with 100 computers, you need only to download a single alldeb file for KDE to install KDE for all 100 computers. You don’t need to spend your lab bandwidth by downloading KDE in every single computer. Plus, the main function of alldeb system is to backup any of your chosen installed software completely with its dependencies into just single file. Every software you choose repackaged into single file. You choose what software you want to backup, not as bloated as APTOnCD does. So basically, alldeb does “magic” to repackage any single installed software with its dependencies into one single package with the extension .alldeb. Alldeb solution helps many users in Indonesia and it was my dream. Alldeb system has already included officially in some Indonesia Linux distributions such as GrombyangOS, AsrilOS, and Manux. I hope alldeb will come into Ubuntu official image soon or at least into another major Debian-based distro.

The alldeb_user interface installing wine.alldeb package

PS: this is the first post after 2 years in this blog.

New Package Management System (For You AppCenter Developers)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Maybe people don’t understand what I have written in many forums even in Launchpad about single offline installer. I will explain briefly now by this post. See at this pictures:

This scheme shows us the normal way our distro doing installation. Retrieve packages from the internet then install them then the installer saved on same directory (/var/cache/apt/archives).

What I Proposed to You I

This scheme, at the main point is, the package manager (your AppCenter) must be able to save the installer (DEB/RPM) into specific folder based on the name of program. Why? You can see the “magical app” created by Indonesian guy Fajran Iman Rusadi: http://repo.ugm.ac.id/apt-web. This web app (Github: https://github.com/fajran/apt-web), has helped thousands of Indonesian Ubuntu users because it can give you the complete links into an application. Simply, enter an aplication name, the links appear, download all links into a folder, and install all packages on that folder. Try that first so you can understand closely this proposal. My proposal just a desktop implementation (similiar but not same) for APT-WEB. Why, once again, why? Because offline system has so many benefits even more than just normal installation system above. If we mix all downloaded packages, we don’t know which is the dependencies for one app. Different if the downloaded packages can be saved on separate folders. Offline installation system allows you to give the folder to another user so you can help your friends and neighbours.

Look at this screenshot. I have some folders contain apps I like. I download them by APT-WEB.

How to use the folder? So easy. We Indonesians, because of APT-WEB, we habitually use sudo dpkg -i *.deb on the directory. So, if your AppCenter has implemented this Proposed Installation System I, your users just do sudo dpkg -i *.deb again for installaing what he removed yesterday. No need to download it again.

To be clear: you can just add this feature to your AppCenter/package manager as an option. You don’t need to change the normal system to Proposed System I.

What I Proposed to You II

Actually this is the one reason why this blog named DREAM. Yes because this is my dream since first time using Mandriva some years ago. I dreamed someday I can just install an app by one installer only. Not more than one. How? By combining the Normal System and Proposed System I. You don’t need to change radically the repo system. No, don’t do it. But change your AppCenter/package manager to do these:

1. do the Normal System (OK)
2. do the Proposed System I (not yet)
3. accept what user select from installed program (not yet)
4. ZIP down the folder which is the name selected by user (not yet)
5. copy the ZIP into another folder (not yet)

See? Just a modification to Normal System. The second option is these:

1. do the Normal System (OK)
2. don’t do the Proposed System I (OK)
3. accept what user select from installed program (not yet)
4. do filtering/selecting from mixed and crazy-crowded folder (/var/cache/apt/archives/) which are the correct dependencies for the selected program (not yet)
5. copy the filtered packages into one folder (not yet)
6. ZIP the folder (not yet)

The most headacheable part is number 4. This part is what I asked on many forums and as I know nobody can do it until now. And, if the last part is OK (ZIP), then it is amazing if your AppCenter/package manager can convert the ZIP into RUN. Single offline installer.

Benefits of Proposed I

1. Your users can save the installers for further installments.
2. Your users can give the  folder to their friends. At least, their distro version is same. Further ideas are waiting.
3. Your offline users (such as majority in Indonesia) can install app without any difficulties anymore. Tutorials can be short and simple.
4. You help your users to save their bandwidth because they don’t need to download again.
5. You help your users to save their money because of point 4.
6. You help your users to save their time because they don’t need to searching one by one dependencies by themselves in the /var/cache/apt/archives or on PKGS.org.
7. You help your users to avoid headache because of point 6.
8. You can keep the Normal System ahead of this system.

Benefits of Proposed II

1. Same with Proposed I.
2. No folder, just one file (single offline installer).

Conclusion

This is just an idea. My idea because I live at a place where internet is expensive. You can take this idea or just abandon it. I wish it is the best for end users and I have feel it 7 years with Windows. Now I see my friends’ smartphone (Android) and I wish the APK-like system comes to Linux desktop. Don’t care what distro you are. You have chances to implement this proposals. Choice is yours! Thank you so much.

Important Notes!

Firstly, this post have begun by some posting I have created on many forums. You can see them here:

1. [ASK] Tracking Package Dependencies in /var/cache/apt/archives (Ubuntuforums.org)
2. [ASK] Tracking Package Dependencies in /var/cache/apt/archiv (LinuxMint Forum)
3. [ASK] Tracking Package Dependencies in /var/cache/apt/archives (Debian Mailing List)
4. [ASK] Backup Manjaro Installed Applications (Manjaro Forum)
5. [ASK] apt-get download Untuk Yang Sudah Diinstal (Indonesian Backtrack Team)
6. [TANYA] apt-cache untuk Instalasi Offline (Ubuntu Indonesia Forum)
7. [TANYA] apt-cache untuk Instalasi Offline (Kaskus The Largest Indonesian Forum)
8. The future of package management in Fedora (a Fedoran blog)
9. I forget where again I posted the ideas.

Secondly, I have found some candidates similiar to my ideas but they are not meets all of my criterias. They are:

1. PortableLinuxApps.org (the best but not officially accepted by community)
2. Zeroinstall | Official | (awesome but honestly I don’t understand how the system works)
3. Keryx | Omgubuntu | Askubuntu | (almost the best and very close to Proposed I above but it seems uncontinued)
4. apt-get hack | Webup8 (simple, clean, easy but only for us not for newbies)
5. Synaptic script (why should script if you can make it Proposed I and Proposed II?)
6. apt-offline | Ubuntu Official Manpages | Fifi | Its FOSS | Debian Admin | Askubuntu | (not same with the name, the PC with apt-offline must be connected to the internet)
7. apt-cache (it can’t do point 4 at Proposed II second option)
8. apt-rdepends (some people say it is suite but apparently not)
9. dpkg-repack (almost perfect and almost out of the box except it only can handle one package)
10. AptOnCD | Askubuntu | (just wanna backup one installer, not whole system)
11. Wagung’s Way | Linuk | (the inspiration (beside MegaGlest’s installer) behind Proposed II and the most out of the box hacker in this section. He don’t modificate the AppCenter. He created a new packaging system. Amazing but same with point 1, community don’t see it as a brilliant idea, unfortunately)

So you don’t have to worry.

Thirdly, as the great inspiration of PortableLinuxApps, I have created a mirror server for it. You can access it now http://otodidak.freeserver.me. Hope Allah will bless me.

Best User Experience Design Presentation Example

I found a great presentation from Oracle about OpenOffice Impress last year. At the time, I don’t know  anything about UI or UX. But at the time, I have fallen in love with the presentation. Simply cool presentation. You can enjoy it also here.

Download it 3 MB

 

See it here

 

Project Renaissance Impress OOoCon2010

Trying To Design New Libreoffice Icons

I have posted a call of submission for Libreoffice icons here few days ago. It is unofficial surely. But now, among my daily business, I create some icons I want. I like the glossy ones, or the web 2.0-styled icons. Here my icons created with Inkscape. Below I describe my idea for these icons.

I tried hard to do it simply. Per icon, I decided give only 2 color. Usually I can’t do it because I think unsimple always. That is my fault. But here I wanna keep it simple, Son! I create these icons based on:

• my contra of nowaday Libreoffice icons especially on sliced top-right corner on every icon
• pure white icon on Libreoffice starter
• less glossy icons
• i hate them all.

I provide the SVG file for this here.

Dreambox

Just simply writing on KDE Notes:

futuristic linux we want is:

• simple 1 DEB installer for complete app including all dependencies
• superextract from zipped files when extracting into root folder (no terminal)
• including 1 download manager like IDM which can be used behind any proxy config and download damn fast
• has beautiful UI plus ultraconfigurable feature by single special config app (to change all themes, resolution, de, wm, compositor, 3d cube, etc.)
• has optional UX (like zorin) so user can changes from one UX to another in the same os
• care with WIN key, to open menu like in unity, gnome3, and cinnamon
• has unique apps dedicated only for it no for another os
• has fast file manager and it should can sort by type -> group any files like windows explorer
• has beautiful iconset (no tango, please) which is glossy like kde oxygen, or blackened flat like faenza

 

UGET: Finally My Searching End For Proxy Configurable Download Manager in Linux

UGET is an open source download manager. I have tested Multiget, aria2, axel, all. Even the new Flareget. But they all, can’t be configured behind proxy (at least for now). Now I know Uget, the only one GUI download manager  similiar to IDM in Windows, that I can use it behind proxy. My proxy passworded, so I need such download manager. And I found it. Yes, all praises to Allah. See this screenshot:

See the speed? 200 KB/s. Byte in big B not in small b. It means kiloBytes/seconds! Wow. And it works behind proxy server. So, if you want download manager for Linux for replacing IDM in Windows, which it can use passworded proxy, please choose Uget. You can install it from repo. Use Synaptic.  maybe this is the true download manager to be equal with IDM in Linux. Downloader type of Linux users absolutely need Uget! Next screenshots following.

to be continued…

KDE Hears Its Users!

I like to emphasize this. Since my previous article, I continuously want to give you a screenshot or more. These are the proof.

I should go home now :)

to be continued…

What Kind of Application Packaging?

I wanna write such this article since I know the concept of dynamic library in Linux as a contrary of static library in Windows. Why I wanna? Because this difference made Linux disliked by most users in the world. Hey, I want you to use Linux as me too. I don’t have interest to explain technical-style what is library concept, but I only need people understand. Surely, this article contains purely my opinion. Concepts of new installation system in Linux.

Windows Application Installation

1. You take one EXE.
2. Double click it.
3. Installed on system.
4. Although happen redundancy (duplicating install) some parts of another applications.
5. But you don’t care enough because your HDD is in 100++ GB or even TB.
6. Freedom along with users to install.

Linux Application Installation

1. Too many ways.
2. Too many options.
3. Installed on system.
4. No redundancy but your head could become sick.
5. Too many another things should be installed along even just wanna install Marble Globe Application.

Problem Example

In Linux, we can make an example. Simply take Marble. Marble is an application focused for education (good aim, Dude) and it is a part of KDE Education Package where it was focused on Geographical teaching. Now, we can make a scenario:

1. I wanna install Marble.
2. I select it from Synaptic and apply.
3. Wow, it looks like many another applications following Marble to be installed. Time felt so long for install (read: download).
4. Marble has installed successfully.

Advantage: if you install another application from KDE Education Package such as Kgeography or Kalzium or Kturtle, you don’t need to repeat what anything together with Marble has downloaded. As short I know, this is named dynamic linked library style.

Disadvantage: usually users don’t need another. User often just need 1. Okay if user has MB/s connection at home plus Synaptic plus enough fast server. But how if the user belongs to poor country where is no fast connection? So user should download one by one Marble and another applications along it (Linux advance usually call them dependencies)? User should go to one page, then follow instruction “this program needs program C” then follow again “program C needs program D” then follow again “program D needs program E” and next until infinite? No. It is unsmart installation system.

Comparison (for clearing):

• In Windows, imagine, imagine if you want IDM application, you will also install 100 another applications (dependencies) have to be installed in one time. But, you enough download 1 EXE contains 101 things.
• In Linux, imagine, imagine if you want Marble application, you will also install only 50 another applications (dependencies) have to be installed in one time. But, you should download them 51 things separately. They are not packaged in one compact installer.
• I ask you: which is easier? Which is simpler?

Problem: What I typed in disadvantage paragraph is the origin installation system of Linux. Users often love Windows ways. Although it will eats many spaces, okay. Please let user gets all in one packet. It is compact. It will ease user.

Solution?

Maybe Windows style of installation is better. Remember, user should go to a web to download Marble along all dependencies (too many programs to be downloaded) this way: download one program, next “this program needs program A”, next “this program needs program B”, next “this program needs program C”, next until crazy. Look at simplicity of windows:

1. Install IDM? Accept EULA.
2. Bla? Next.
3. Next.
4. Next.
5. Finish.
6. You can use IDM directly.

Enough with one single download. You should download the single installer only. Then the next-next-next system only happen after the program download finished. So, there is no headache. It is should no too many next words in the web, just package them only in single installer, and let the installer verboses in our machine. Don’t let user becomes sick on downloading what he doesn’t know (majority of users don’t know programming).

So, how if the Linux application installation system changed to Windows-like? Or, how if there is a new distro apply this installation system absolutely? Surely complete with a repository contains packaged applications? So you just download a file only from repo to install an application that before you should download too many different items? It is simple for user, Dude. I feel many users from Windows will agree with me :)

Solution number 2?

I know when I said this to an advance man in Indonesia, he told that such Linux installation system have been standardized. I think somebody else will give me same reasoning at future. I feel Linux experts don’t want to change this unsmart installation system to one simply and absolutely simplify users. They refuse to change. So I type this for goaling my idea :)

How if we keep the origin system with adding this new system? How if there is a new distro provides you old installation system (you will find too many dependencies to be downloaded) and the new one (enough with one installer). You can choose between the old if you want and the new one if you prefer with :)

Solution number 3?

Hah? There is solution yet? Oh, alhamdulillah. All praises to Allah. I life with Linux users for some times. I learn from them that solution is always exist. Now hear.

How if we reject my idea but add ‘Give a Friend‘ feature to Synaptic? So, what you installed yesterday in your Ubuntu, you can give the installer (the DEB packages) in one folder to you friend? The system is simply creates one folder in your USB Flash Disk and copy what you program + all dependencies needed to the folder. So your friend just do sudo dpkg -i *.deb. At least, he doesn’t need to download anything. It is smart enough or stupid? You can give a value :)

Sure, this solution generates some problems again.

1. The Ubuntu version must be same → okay.
2. How if he absolutely doesn’t know Terminal? → go to solution number 4.
3. How if my Synaptic didn’t save yesterday downloaded program? → avoiding better than curing. Set this at Preferences > Files TAB > check at first radio button.
4. So on.

Solution number 4?

You should not force anyone to learn Terminal. Will you force me to learn abacus if there is a calculator in my table? I am a terminal user too but please don’t do that to anyone just join. So, we can modify the Synaptic:

How if we reject but inject that system at Synaptic? So when you “Give a Friend”, Synaptic will create one single installer for you? It is simpler than change whole Linux sistem, right? Or this is silly? You can also give a value :)

We can imagine this system like this:

1. Open Synaptic.
2. Check what program you want to give to your friend. Say: Testdisk.
3. Click on Give a Friend button beside Apply button.
4. Choose your folder to save.
5. Wait for seconds. Synaptic is making single installer. Successfully created at /home/you.
6. You can copy it to your friend’s machine. And if you want, you can give it to 10.000 friends.
7. Install it. Simple.

My solution number 3 and 4 are orders for you developers who wanna keep your security awareness or something called ideology. It is your right, Dude :) Nobody forces you.

For who?

I hope somebody feels unsatisfied with Canonical or Red Hat or any major Linux makers, will take this ideas for creating new Linux distro. A “waiting for so long” distro which is dreamed by many users. Dream which is never be attended by most Linux developers.

I believe!

I believe that someday such this distro will be created. Portability, simplicity of installation system, are important! More important than security. Users need your program, not your security awareness, nor your dependencies. They always think simply. They always do 1 thinking at 1 time. Your users are single tasking humans, not multitasking machines. So I imagine someday I will take only one installer from the net and install it in 1000 Linux mahines without any downloading again :)

Who will realize this idea someday? I don’t know. Temporaryly, I have satisfied with nowaday Linux system. Ahamdulillah.

Seed…

You know, there is a hope. Apparently, some users be creative by doing something like I imagine about. Look at Indonesia Ubuntu Forum. Look at portablelinuxapps.com. But we are waiting for a new distro :) If Ubuntu have this system, I will be glad. If Fedora, I also be glad. If Blankon, whoa, glad also :) Another, still glad. Let the seed’s growing. And you can see these links:

1. Offline Installer for Ubuntu 12.04.
2. Cara Singkat Membuat Offline Installer Ubuntu 12.04.

If you don’t understand Indonesian, you can use Google Translate. You know, what the seed I mean? It is Keryx. An application for downloading app completely with dependencies. If you have not know yet, simply think Synaptic in Windows for downloading applications only and save them to a folder. Aha, that is Keryx. This application runs in Windows (innovative) for helping Linux users in slow connection country. So, in internet cafe (in Indonesia, internet cafes serve majority users who don’t have internet connection; and most internet cafes in Indonesia use Windows) we can run Keryx and download all applications via Keryx, save to flash disk, and install them at home. This app simplify installation in Linux. We can make .run file contains all apps downloaded by Keryx. And this single .run file can act like .exe in Windows. Wowowo, future! I have not use Keryx until now but I feel it is bright way for future Linux installation system.

I admit that Keryx has not meet all my imagination criterias. But this app seems will inspire many new developers to build new comfortable installation system. It is okay. And hope is still flying :) Thanks for reading!

I Like KDE Since I Know Linux

I admit it. KDE has stealed my eyes at first glance. Yes absolutely my first distro was Ubuntu, so my first desktop was GNOME, but directly when I see KDE screenshot, I feel it is future. I like something futuristic-looked. My eyes feel like home when seeing something glossy and glowing. And I find them at KDE. At that time, I don’t know anything about Mac OS X. But when I know Mac OS with all user’s testimonials about, KDE more and more steal my interest.

Why?

I repeat, I am not a Mac abuser. Also I am not Linux fanatic user. But I endeavour to be subjective here. I am sorry, Mac users.

1. Beautiful iconset. You can see Oxygen Icon Theme and its derivatives in KDE. They are glossy, high resolution, and glowing. At the other hand, I feel missmatch with Tango iconset in GNOME since first time. But I prefer Human iconset than it because Human is more glossy. And the reality is Oxygen family icon theme is more glossy than them. I like artwork like that.
2. Translucent menubar. At default as you can see. Waw, transparent menubar looked elegant. I like this.
3. Glowing window. At default, glow color in KDE is blue. And it is an eyecandy for user like me. It looked futuristic.
4. Windows User Experience. Actually I never think KDE is like Windows until I read some articles saying KDE acts like Windows desktop. Hm, I think again and so I say yes. Apparently, until now, I don’t conscious that KDE is pretty close to Windows. Position of the menu, bottom taskbar, the structure of menu, position of system tray, taskbar ability to be moved at right or left or top, position of close-min-max buttons, how to change wallpaper, and many more. But because my preference to the elegant interface, I override anything else. Now, really KDE has Windows-like environment.
5. Configurable at high level. Almost all KDE configurations can be done with GUI. More goodness, all things done by 1 application only (KDE System Settings). It eases me. It is important for majority users who doesn’t care with Terminal, Dude. If you’re developer, please care with it. You will say something similar even you are not KDE user. Ow, I forgot, I say: I think GNOME or Ubuntu takes this concept from KDE on their System Settings. KDE is the first.
6. Innovative desktop. Although I said KDE is similar with Windows desktop, but KDE has many different styles. Windows desktop doesn’t have workspaces/virtual desktops system like KDE has, Windows desktop doesn’t have 2 modes of menu, it doesn’t have widget system, and something else. Even if we do comparation between KDE and other Linux desktop environment, we find that KDE can do different settings at different workspaces/virtual desktop whereas GNOME doesn’t have. You should configure GNOME manually to get different wallpaper at different workspace, right? KDE has something called Plasma. It is a concept. Innovative concept where KDE developers have the Plasma for desktop and Plasma for Netbook/Tablet. And ahem, they also create KDE for mobile device, not only Netbook. They do conceptual working so they don’t fall to confuse interface in desktop with tablet. Somebody consciouses if this movement is innovative? I like something conceptual and consistent.
7. Compiz. Please never forget this. The desktop effect. It makes KDE so wonderful. I am still having dream. Dream to introduce people in my country about Linux. And my opinion is Compiz Dream. Let they amazed with 3D cube shipped with KDE. Let they feel uniquely with Wobbly effect. KDE is the one desktop system that keep Compiz alive with. While another begin abandone it, KDE keep it alive with its KDE System Settings. Now I get what I can’t get in GNOME 3 or Unity only in KDE. I feel soooo haaaappyyy when my 3D Cube with KDE logo on top show the way. I bind the cube with Win+A, cylinder desktop with Win+C, and the sphere desktop with Win+P. For just thinking, I never do it in Windows for 7 years. I find it firstly in Linux. Actually I prefer if Compiz acting in GNOME but now GNOME can’t use Compiz anymore. So, second alternative now KDE. And now KDE become prior! Surprise.

Illustration 1: Finally, I can have 3D Cube desktop :)

Another possible?

Another possible reasons are surrounding us. It is not my primary reasons and you can find something similiars along many users.

• KDE is the first desktop environment. GNOME was created by de Icaza as a reaction to KDE-Qt Framework relation. XFCE seems created based on what GNOME was, same like LXDE. But KDE is the most mature desktop system.
• KDE doesn’t change its user experience for so long time. Since the first KDE when it was still named Kool Desktop Environment until now version 4.9, its default menu is still settled there, at bottom-left corner. But look at Unity and GNOME 3 now, where is your menu? Where is your taskbar? When developers change what people have established with, clashes happen. I know that developers wanna create innovation. They do creativity. But users have not ready to change their habit at desktop. Essentially, the user experience. It is so important apparently. Yes when the KDE developers wanna create something like Unity (for touch-screen device), they make a desktop separately with letting normal desktop alive. Like I’ve mentioned above.
• KDE hears the users. I confused by many users complaining Unity/GNOME developers for some features disappear in desktop, why do we should sad? At least they are still free, Dude. And if you want a developer team to hear you, look at KDE. Look at their Brainstorming Forum. For example, just this week KDE users can open menu with single Win/Super button like in Windows (*glad_expression_smiley*). This hack done by forum admin and directly welcomed by many users including me. You know, this hack sized veeeery smaaaaaal at 4 KB! But this hack made many hearts glad. At least, at best, they hear what they users want and need. They give options back to users.
• KDE hears users again. Oh, I ever sent my feature request for KDE file manager. I want it to be able sort files in order like in Windows Explorer. Do you know my mean? Right click Arrange > Sort by Type. Then, right click > Arrange > Show in Groups. This is a efficient way to manage files in Windows. But some years ago, a developer told me that the file manager have been able to do that but only in Icon View, not in any view. But now, my KDE 4.8 can do in Dolphin and Konqueror, such thing exactly. It is special for me! You know, I am so glad. You can access it via menu View > Sort by > Type. Then, View > Show in Groups.
• Widget system. Especially and intensely, notes widget. This yellow thing, helps me for remembering. I feel easy to remember what unimportant but difficult to remember what important. Forgetter, it is me. So I need simple way to remember what should I do. Since I have my own Linux machine (alhamdulillah…) with KDE, I use it. Now 3 of 4 my virtual desktops contain notes. And surprisingly, I can change the color of notes, I can give strikethrough to my texts, I can bold them, underline, and italicize, even make text align center. Don’t stop, there is clock widget for me shipped with KDE. Just take it from widgets house and place anywhere in the desktop. More, I can change the size of all widgets as I want. For you, more widgets available by accessing them in the rightest side of menubar. Remember it, different widgets for different workspaces. Ah, even I can rotate any widget 360 degrees! “Canggih benar”, Indonesian says.

And…

I am a user who doesn’t care too much about performance. Also I don’t care with bug and the security. Yes I like fast and faster application. But I often hear my heart sayings. I prefer using KDE although it is slow. Until now, the slowness of KDE hasn’t disturb my work yet. Even I think KDE is fast-enough. Faster than I should do bla-bla-bla with another desktop environment. I like beautiful desktop.

Actually…

Actually any user experience revolution never disturb me. All praises to Allah. When I change from Windows to Linux, it is easy for me to convert. Now, when GNOME 2 become monster (like what people feel), I still can use it well. Even I like the shell, the themes. This blog is the proof of saying. And my first Unity in 11.04 never make me disturbed. I never think Unity is horrible until I read some articles dislike Unity. Oooh, apparently another users feel disturbed. Then I begin to search reasons directly from users (find them at comments section) and today I make this writing :) Apparently, as a conclusion of searching, I find Linux users want easy way too. Linux users are same with Windows users, they are searching for usability. They need what makes them easy. Not all users like changes.

So?

You will never confused if you meet me, why I use KDE :) Although there are Unity and GNOME 3 even MATE on same Linux machine, I will often use KDE. KDE is very easy. KDE is advanced even futuristic desktop environment. Actually I wanna say Unity is more advanced but if users can’t feel the advancedness of a desktop system, who will say it is advanced? So KDE is more advanced for me. Advanced here means usable (highly usable), rich features, configurable, and jobs done. I like it. When more we will find free but advanced desktop system like this? 

Remember!

My principia is not to be a fanatic of a technology. Just use them fairly and properly. I can switch between KDE, Unity, and GNOME. I can do it anytime I want. When I think I wanna play with beautiful themes in GNOME, just go there. When I think I can make money by writing Unity tutorial, just go. If I want Cinnamon Desktop, just install. Easy. It is Linux freedom, right? So should we be sad? No. Make it fun, Guys. Where is your spirit of freedom? You are still have choices :)

Libreoffice Mockups

What is mockup? A mockup is concept design for user interface of application. Do you know mockup? If no, you can see pictures below. Before, if you interested in design (like me) you should like it. Creating mockup is funny. More funny if you can do the best mockup. Yes although you can’t do the programming to realize your concept. And here, I’ll talk about something become my intense interest for long time. It is my collection for best Libreoffice mockup concepts.

Default Libreoffice User Interface

I take it on my Linux machine. Maybe if you have artistic appetite, you will say the UI is less aesthetic. It is not sweet (although many users have experienced with). I feel this UI unpretty. Truly I jealoused with Microsoft Office 2007/2012 UI. They have good UI (although some users say the UI is slow). Yes they are paid applications, commercial. You should pay to get them so you get balance good UI too. But Libreoffice is open source. Why its UI defeated by Microsoft Office? It should has good UI too because it developed by whole world. Even better than Microsoft Office. Better UI promises better future for Libreoffice, then for Linux. So, take off from this thinking, I do search for mockups. I found them. 

First Libreoffice Mockup Concept

Creator: Paulop

Status: he is not Libreoffice developer

Note: until now, I fail again and again for creating mockup. Now I know mockup can be created by Inkscape and GIMP only. It seems easy but when I try, oh. Creating a 3D book design is easier[1], apparently. Creating mockup needs many patiences, Dude. I am still willing to create mockup, but for now, let me write the mockups I’ve collected only. Let me show the world there are aesthetic mockups over there :)

to be continued…