Some GUI features
I have no idea if any of the features listed below are being implemented, but this is what I'd like to see in the "perfect OS". :wink:
- Virtual desktop space
- Virtual hard drive space combining (hard drive partition 1 + hard drive partition 2 = 1 new virtual drive).
- I've always wanted this feature: mounting of HTTP and/or FTP directories as drives/folders when connected to the internet. Be able to navigate through them like a local drive, double click a file, it downloads, then executes.
- Be able to customize current color scheme with HTML hex colors, not just RGB format (Windows :cry: ).
- Number pad can act as mouse if none is present like in XWin
- Game controller can act as a mouse
i dunno, i have lots of ideas... heh :oops:
Comments
Re: Some GUI features
Assuming I understand what you mean, this already works in BeOS 5, dependent on your graphics card.
BeBits, get FTP-FS. There you go, for FTP anyway
Hex codes = RGB encoded in Hex. Same difference. Support for this would probably take only minutes to code, as the Backgrounds app would take care of it.
SpicyKeys lets you do this.
Some GUI features
keep in mind: i am new to beos, i've never been able to use it, as i've always had problems with it booting. but visually and systematically interesting, i've always been intrigued, hopefully haiku lets me experience it when the final product is released. these are only ideas from a distant point-of-view.
Re: Some GUI features
I agree with this one. Plus add ISO and CUE/BIN too like Daemon tools works under Windows. :wink:
The feature I really want in Haiku R1 is built-in Remote Desktop capabilities. I want to be able to log into my BeOS PC from distance or from another computer. (And no VNC)
Re: Some GUI features
Security issues aside, OS's get bloated by having too much built into them. Best to leave things that most people won't use to 3rd parties. BeOS is supposed to be slick and quick. Adding and adding won't do much for the speed and overhead (*coughwindowscough*).
Re: Some GUI features
You could probably do a X type jobbie and disconnect the remote app and input servers and attach them to the local machine. *probably*. I don't want to be the one that codes it though, as it could be horribly messy.
Re: Some GUI features
I guess this entire "Feature Request" forum is useless then and I should quit posting.
Some GUI features
If you want to avoid bloating, then get let's get rid of the worst offender: theming. All os who have that built-in are horribly fat and are poor performer (GNOME, KDE, etc...)
And as for security, there is none in BeOS. It's a free for all environment. One bad email attachment and boom, BeOS is gone in a flash.
Don't take it like that.
He's trying to get his(her) point across. I don't agree with him since Remote Desktop is the greatest thing to ever happen (no need for KVMs!!!)
Some GUI features
Remote desktop definitely won't make it into R1. I think there is probably a pretty good chance of it being in R2, since it shouldn't be too bad to fit into the current architecture of the app_server.
Some GUI features
I think I would have to disagree with you on that, I believe that if done properly, with some compromises, theming can be fast(er).
I think that in many cases, theming support is added after the fact, in an unoptimized way - and to make things worse, the theme-developers tend to ignore performance and use monstrous graphics that chew up tons of memory.
After-all, the GUI has to have SOME kind of theme, BeOS has a very simple theme that doesn't involve a lot of graphics and colors, making it easy to draw.
I think my number one complaint about themes are that they encourage people to change the look-and-feel of the standard GUI making it difficult for them to cope with it as-is (they don't like to use other people's computers), and makes it difficult for everyone else to use theirs. There's little reason NOT to support themes in some fashion (even if that means just changing colors) as long as the user has the option to choose a high-performance basic theme for performance when necessary.
BTW, if you haven't seen it, check out SkyOS - they use a "themable" GUI layer called WindUI that allows very comprehensive theming, and I don't think anyone is calling it slow (yet).
Some GUI features
Agreed.
Some GUI features
Ah yes, no security in BeOS plus remote access = all sorts of fun... for the crackers that is.
Let's get it clear though. I'm not saying that Haiku shouldn't have a remote desktop. I'm saying that it shouldn't be built into the system as it opens up *far* too much and this decision should be left up to the user. Perhaps it could come along as a 3rd party app that is an option to install like some did in BeOS R5.
There have been many exploits on other systems that the service was supposed to be turned off but was running anyway, etc. So, why make that decision for the user if even some don't want it.
IMO, in todays world, build an OS that doesn't have security in the design from square 1 is foolish indeed. And it'll probably end up worse than windows when it comes to security. Since securityfocus made a mailing list for windows all to itself because it produced so many holes that is saying something now isn't it.
Some GUI features
I doubt Remote Desktop for BeOS would be the best target to do some mayhem. Email is much more conveniant. :lol: :wink:
@umccullough
I don't agree about the theming part. IMO it's wasted and Haiku people should focus on a great default widgets for R2 just like Apple did with MacOS X.
Some GUI features
nice way to stay on topic of my original post guys, jk way the hell off subject
Some GUI features
Wasn't it Win2000 that someone could reach across the inet and just take over your computer. With a remote desktop taking over someones computer is like taking root on a *NIX sytem - the ultimate goal - so I do think that it'll be a target and a major one at that.
olaf:
In case you haven't noticed peoples conversations tend to deviate somewhat. Since we are in the Feature Requests forum and are debating a feature (and one that was mentinoed within this thread I might add), I'd tend to think that we aren't really off topic. Especially since I've seen a thread talking about drivers start a debate about licenses.
Some GUI features
Remote Desktop would be harder because you have to know the IP address of the machine's internet connection.
While emails can be harvested from BeOS newsgroups/forums/sites to ensure that those malicius scripts will be run on computers running BeOS. A lot less work if you ask me. :|
Some GUI features
Hehehe
Here's one: I want bigger default fonts. At 1154x864, they're very small. Also bigger icons would be nice (64x64 size). :D
Some GUI features
the first line in the description in man nmap:
Nmap is designed to allow system administrators and curious individuals to scan large networks to determine which hosts are up and what services they are offering.
ie it isn't that hard at all for those who know what they are doing. As in the people that will be doing this.
More specific scripts could be written to exploit the Haiku specific security flaw. eg Run script that beeps when exploitable system found, watch TV until your system beeps. Yes, I feel the sweat on my brow.
Some GUI features
You won't need to sweat. As I mentionned previously, such a service should be disabled by default. :wink:
The malicious intruder will still have to crack the username/password.
Some GUI features
*should*
And I still stand by my stance that this should *not* be part of the distro. Only tried tested and true methods should be used, and even those have there problems and they are designed with security in mind by the experts from the ground up ie openssh. So, you'll have to pardon me if I don't believe in such things here.
Some GUI features
True, it would be nice if people stayed on topic. But your original post was fairly comprehensively answered - most of the stuff you say BeOS already does or can be made to do.
I personally dislike themes, especially when you're a new OS trying to build an "identity". It also makes life hard for app developers- if all the system icons are themed, how should their toolbar buttons look for example. It's a nightmare for consistency. MacOSX has the right idea - a great looking default theme that not many people in their right mind would want to change. I also think this great looking default theme should be in R1, but don't get me started on that again :D
Simon
Some GUI features
Actually, I always thought a good approach to theming was to have decorator engines and widget engines. That way different themes can be created without giving up performance, and a bitmap engine can offer theme support the traditional way. R1 would ship with only the default engines, R2 could add new ones, including the ones for bitmap support. I agree that there should be a new "identity" (the default engines) from the beginning.
Some GUI features
my friend always wanted to make an environment using the gecko engine ;o
re: using the gecko engine ;o
i've been working on getting the gecko engine embeddable on beos. if you or your friend want a stab at it, lemme know, i'll setup my code | notes.
theming
I don't think theming must lead to an inconsistent UI, but IT IS of course possible to do this. It's quite obvious that good ideas can always be mis-used.
Horrible themes will appear anyway, on any OS.
Theming must be done from start and OS-wide, because other solutions like hacks, extensions from 3rd party will never be foolproof or sufficient. Simply because the OS-Devs sure know their code better than 3rd party dudes.
Plus, if theming is done by the core-devs the consistency will be no issue anymore, (IF theming done right)... And i'm guessing by integrating the theming from start, it will be a cleaner (code) solution ?
Plus2: Flexible font-preferences belong to a decent theming-experience.
(bad example: os-x, theming must be done with 3rd party app, fonts-prefs hacked in with 3rd party tool-> annoying inconsistency in fonts and partly GUI)
Plus: I also think that color-schemes (like in windoze, kde, ..) are a nice addition to "real" theming (swapping the gfx). This is a challenge for the coders ?
All this stuff IMHO. :D
Re: theming
I like the theming of Aston replacement shell for Windows - might give some ideas on a way to go about this.
Hello
Really liked my BeOS desktop after i had done some tweaking and tuning on it...; )
Have debian on my laptop and i'm really starting to like FLUXBOX windowmanager (?). It's very comfortable and developed by USERS WHO USE IT not by 'a hip group of programmers' who like to belong...(etc)
(should sound like - gnome-programmers)
Useful feats (from fluxbox and experience):
- mouse over desktop lets you quickly scroll to all/any desktop
- deskbar width user controllable so one could leave a spot of desktop always visible (to get to the desktop-menu, scroll through desktops etc) at one end of deskbar
- lose the 'start/beos' button or make it optional on deskbar (save space) and let user open the main menu just by clicking on desktop (most of us have three button mice now - first button for selecting, second for desktop menu and third rightmost for 'beos' -menu) - this all of course could/should be configurable...
- one of the best apps for default BeOS PE 5 was workplaces, and combined with small app called workmeister it was A DREAM... u could lose the workplaces' borders, and make it jump on top (with a delay if you liked it that way) if the mouse was moved to specific screencorner
- what i didn't like was the way auto-grouping of running apps worked in beos - too much clicking. nicer would be to make auto-grouping optional or/and open the grouped app menu by just moving mouse over it
- tray, menu etc components location/order should/could be configurable
- lineing up icons on BeOS PE desktop never worked quite right imo
- from linux: dockable apps like gkrellm - genious! - saves space but always at hand when needed (later there was apps like that for launching applications on PE also)
- themes are not bad, times are like that now that people expect a features like that, but it shouldn't cripple the UI - i DON'T like the way it's done on XP (runs 10% slower with skins ime), i like it fluxbox-way - feels kinda native (?) or built in and doesnt cripple the system...
- keep up the GOOD JOB and don't give in to mainstream lamers who always toot in all forums that all we need is Mandrake and WindowsXp ;P
Some GUI features
http://bebits.com/app/3697
The non-context version is sitting in Haiku's CVS.
This is because Tracker will not wrap or truncate filenames in icon display.
some Deskbar-Menu access along those lines would be nice :)
Some GUI features
mmmm, GNOME and KDE are not OSes.
Some GUI features
Arguably, they are. Especially GNOME
A full GNOME has its own apps - browser, office suite, etc. And if its running on Linux or a *BSD, its exactly the damn same. KDE to a lesser extent, as you do need to use GNOME apps or you run out of usable kit.
GNOME is so much of being its own OS that its even close to just using the underlying OS as an executive enviroment, and not an OS. glib handles everything from threading and module loading up, it has its own VFS, etc, etc