Feature Request
From FTWiki
Contents |
Soft Keyboard
Integrate the Gnome on-screen keyboard, via an admin interface that allows access to the console.
Would this really be a good idea? If I've got a keyboard to play with there is a lot more that can go wrong. Consider sequences such Alt+F4, or potensially even worse, repetitive use of Ctrl+Alt+BS, or just simply Ctrl+Alt+F1 and leaving it right there -- jkroon
I don't think it was intended for the soft keyboard to be generally accessible during normal "Toaster" mode, but accessible via some secret backdoor for people administering the boxes. --MikeMorris
CD-Writer Layout
Arrange the CD-writers horizontally rather than vertically so that it is easier to place and remove CDs when all the drawers are open. Also, have them numbered (on the perspex decoration) so that the numbers can be referenced in the software/content.
Writing of individual CDs
It's happened a handful of times now that one CD would get roasted, or if the user clicks on "Burn Em" too quickly that all but one of the CDs would write ok, then they come me asking me write them that one last CD. Whilst I don't mind helping these people it would help if they can just do it themselves -- jkroon
Blanking of RW media
Someone requested this. Not sure whether it is really feasible or if we should even worry about this, but I might just as well mention it. I just wish I had more time to hack on the toaster -- jkroon
IMHO this is low priority (unless it is a particular itch of yours :-). I would rather put time into making the existing software more robust (detecting if there is a drive failure on one or more of the burners, for example, and adjusting the process accordingly,) putting a wider range of content (Mozilla CD, OOo, OpenCD), and generally improving the information content. Just my R0.05-worth. --MikeMorris
Actually, I have tried this out a bit (trying to blank the media before toasting):
- First, it is hard to detect exactly what medium the user inserts, and adding logic to have the user select whether to blank etc is not that easy right now.
- I tried setting the blank=fast parameter in the cdrecord instruction, and it works for some CD-RWs and not for others. The blanking is the cause of even more failures.
- I think the simplest would be an option where the user can choose to blank CD-RW totally separately from toasting a distro - this has the side-effect of avoiding overwriting disks already toasted with earlier parts of the distro by accident.
I did notice a strong need for what Mike suggests - more robust detection of burn failure, and the ability to reburn just one disk from a set. --CharlesOertel
Content refactoring
It has been very educational listening to non-geeks who wander-by, and has got me looking quite a lot more critically at the content presented onscreen. The content seems (to me) very geared at people who have some exposure to Linux already, and I have noticed many people getting quite confused/bemused by some of the jargon we take for granted.
e.g. "Gentoo...emerge system..." (no explanation of what it is for the curious). I promise to gather more examples next time.
Many people are also looking for the slot where the bread comes out... (They find the Toaster reference obscure, and, when its explained to them, you can almost see the thought "d**n computer geeks" crossing their minds.
How feasible would it be to have the content source on a wiki or subversion/cvs repository so that it can be group-edited?
Source Repository
Title says it all, really -- would love to peek at the source. I can volunteer a subversion repository to host the source and content.
Give me details and I will provide you with the stuff so we can get cracking... --CharlesOertel
I second this, I can also provide svn repositories, but I figure it'll be best if tsf can host it -- jkroon
