Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!bbn!rochester!PT.CS.CMU.EDU!andrew.cmu.edu!mp1u+
From: mp1u+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Portuesi)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Ban the Cloud! (plus sugg. for Workbench)
Message-ID: <YW8SaQy00Xo4yUc05z@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: 23 Feb 88 20:50:36 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University
Lines: 69


c162-fe@zooey.Berkeley.EDU (Jonathan Dubman) writes:

>        Let WB fork out into different tasks whenever a drawer is opened,
>                files are SNAPSHOTTED, DELETED, etc.  And while we are at it,
>        Add ability for name-based directory listings sorted alphabetically,
>                by date, etc. like on the Mac.
>        Add numerous conveniences like SELECT ALL within a drawer, etc.  for
>                snapshotting.  Or, better yet, a SNAPSHOT WHOLE DRAWER 
option.
>        Provide the same programmer interface so nothing breaks.
>        While we are at it, provide a programmer interface.

I agree with every one of the above suggestions, with the exception of
forking up new tasks to handle user commands.  I think if the
performance of Workbench were improved, the cloud would become a
non-issue.  People have flamed about the performance of Workbench in
the past, so I won't belabor the point.

I used to be a staunch CLI user because even though Workbench is not a
fundamentally bad program to deal with, there are enough features
missing from Workbench to make it a truly usable program.  Right now,
I am in limbo between the two environments.  I use the Workbench to
run things that can be started by clicking on an icon, but I still use
the CLI for most other tasks. 

    The above suggestions are a very good start for improving
    Workbench.  Some things I would like to see:

	* Shift-selection is nice, but there should also be a method to "box"
	  up a group of selections, ala the Mac Finder.

	* Zoom gadgets on Workbench windows (click and window fills
	  screen, click again -> original size and placement) would be
	  nice (again, ala the Finder).  Of course, standard support
	  for Zoom and Iconify in Intuition would be a nice idea too.

	* A more useful Info function for files would be keen.
	  Specifically, it should also indicate the timestamp on the file,
	  what volume it lives on, and what percentage of that volume is
	  being consumed by the file.  Using a smaller font, making the
	  window smaller (so that it doesn't obscure the entire screen), and
	  allowing multiple Info windows would also be a big help. 

	* Some method must be provided for every file to be visible on
	  the Workbench, no matter what it is.  I want to use the Workbench
	  as a general file manipulation tool, and I can't do that if every
	  program doesn't have an Icon by default.  The finder on the Mac
	  lets you do this; I would like to do the same on my Amiga.
	  To ease user shock, perhaps a toggle for this option could
	  be included in Preferences.

To the C-A staff: I'm not trying to flame Workbench, I would just like
to see some improvements.  Workbench is probably the most important
program that runs on the machine, since it is the one a novice user
will first use when the machine turns on and to a large extent will
determine the machine's friendliness.  For an experienced user like
myself, Workbench should offer a relatively painless way to perform
simple tasks without spilling a deluge of commands to the CLI.  I
would be happy to toss DirUtil (and its ilk) into the Trashcan if the
Workbench were everything it could and should be. 

I look forward to improvements in Workbench for 1.3.

--
Michael Portuesi / Carnegie Mellon University
ARPA/UUCP: mp1u+@andrew.cmu.edu		BITNET: rainwalker@drycas

	*** BAN THE CLOUD ***