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== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
There are many people | There are many people whose hardware can't run Gnome Shell, which is Gnome 3's defining user interface. While Gnome 3 contains a fallback interface, it has clearly been stated that it won't be developed further and isn't intended to provide any good user experience. These users are many and however they can solve their problem by manually installing an alternative desktop environment, in order to help these users and provide a good default user experience to them, we should make this automatic. | ||
The preferred way to do this is to detect the lack of 3D capability and present the user the option to switch to Xfce on first boot and/or installation time. See below for details. | |||
Assuming that non 3D accelerated/Otherwise not capable of running gnome-shell hardware is either old hardware that would work better with a lighter DE, or has a too low amount of RAM for running gnome-shell properly (fallback mode also require a big amount of available ram as GNOME 2.32 did). | Assuming that non 3D accelerated / Otherwise not capable of running gnome-shell hardware is either old hardware that would work better with a lighter DE, or has a too low amount of RAM for running gnome-shell properly (fallback mode also require a big amount of available ram as GNOME 2.32 did). | ||
== Owner == | == Owner == | ||
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== Current status == | == Current status == | ||
* Targeted release: [[Releases/16 | Fedora 16 ]] | * Targeted release: [[Releases/16 | Fedora 16 ]] | ||
* Last updated: | * Last updated: 10th April 2011 | ||
* Percentage of completion: 0% | * Percentage of completion: 0% | ||
== Detailed Description == | == Detailed Description == | ||
* | * DVD installation | ||
** Anaconda could detect the 3D capabilities and offer the option to default to Xfce if Gnome 3's requirements are not met. | |||
** | * Live CD | ||
* | ** Only install Xfce basic components, use Gnome utilities (eg. gedit) which are already shipped on the installation media, instead of Xfce utilities (to save space) | ||
** Only install | * At the first boot | ||
** | ** Display a dialog that explains the experience of Gnome's fallback mode, Gnome Shell, and Xfce | ||
*** The dialog will select the best option for the specific hardware, but will allow the user to change the selection | *** The dialog will select the best option for the specific hardware, but will allow the user to change the selection | ||
**** When 3D acceleration is available, gnome-shell will be selected by default | **** When 3D acceleration is available, gnome-shell will be selected by default | ||
**** When 3D acceleration is not available, or when the system doesn't have large amount of RAM, | **** When 3D acceleration is not available, or when the system doesn't have large amount of RAM, Xfce will be selected | ||
**** If the user | **** If the user selects gnome-shell, and 3D acceleration is not available, display a warning (not in a message box, but in the window itself) that gnome will start in fallback mode unless 3D acceleration is available | ||
== Benefit to Fedora == | == Benefit to Fedora == | ||
* Better user experience for users with low-end hardware | * Better user experience for users with low-end hardware | ||
* Fedora | * Fedora could lower its minimal hardware requirements to the requirements of Xfce | ||
<!-- What is the benefit to the platform? If this is a major capability update, what has changed? If this is a new feature, what capabilities does it bring? Why will Fedora become a better distribution or project because of this feature?--> | <!-- What is the benefit to the platform? If this is a major capability update, what has changed? If this is a new feature, what capabilities does it bring? Why will Fedora become a better distribution or project because of this feature?--> | ||
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== User Experience == | == User Experience == | ||
* Users with low-end hardware will be able to enjoy a light-wight, relatively modern, actively developed desktop environment | * Users with low-end hardware will be able to enjoy a light-wight, relatively modern, actively developed desktop environment | ||
<!-- If this feature is noticeable by its target audience, how will their experiences change as a result? Describe what they will see or notice. --> | <!-- If this feature is noticeable by its target audience, how will their experiences change as a result? Describe what they will see or notice. --> | ||
Revision as of 23:39, 9 April 2011
Alternative desktop environments as fallback for Gnome 3
Summary
There are many people whose hardware can't run Gnome Shell, which is Gnome 3's defining user interface. While Gnome 3 contains a fallback interface, it has clearly been stated that it won't be developed further and isn't intended to provide any good user experience. These users are many and however they can solve their problem by manually installing an alternative desktop environment, in order to help these users and provide a good default user experience to them, we should make this automatic.
The preferred way to do this is to detect the lack of 3D capability and present the user the option to switch to Xfce on first boot and/or installation time. See below for details.
Assuming that non 3D accelerated / Otherwise not capable of running gnome-shell hardware is either old hardware that would work better with a lighter DE, or has a too low amount of RAM for running gnome-shell properly (fallback mode also require a big amount of available ram as GNOME 2.32 did).
Owner
- Name: Timur Kristóf
- Email: venemo (at) msn.com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora 16
- Last updated: 10th April 2011
- Percentage of completion: 0%
Detailed Description
- DVD installation
- Anaconda could detect the 3D capabilities and offer the option to default to Xfce if Gnome 3's requirements are not met.
- Live CD
- Only install Xfce basic components, use Gnome utilities (eg. gedit) which are already shipped on the installation media, instead of Xfce utilities (to save space)
- At the first boot
- Display a dialog that explains the experience of Gnome's fallback mode, Gnome Shell, and Xfce
- The dialog will select the best option for the specific hardware, but will allow the user to change the selection
- When 3D acceleration is available, gnome-shell will be selected by default
- When 3D acceleration is not available, or when the system doesn't have large amount of RAM, Xfce will be selected
- If the user selects gnome-shell, and 3D acceleration is not available, display a warning (not in a message box, but in the window itself) that gnome will start in fallback mode unless 3D acceleration is available
- The dialog will select the best option for the specific hardware, but will allow the user to change the selection
- Display a dialog that explains the experience of Gnome's fallback mode, Gnome Shell, and Xfce
Benefit to Fedora
- Better user experience for users with low-end hardware
- Fedora could lower its minimal hardware requirements to the requirements of Xfce
Scope
How To Test
User Experience
- Users with low-end hardware will be able to enjoy a light-wight, relatively modern, actively developed desktop environment
Dependencies
- gnome-shell
- @xfce
Contingency Plan
Revert any changes made to firstboot, continue using gnome fallback mode.