antiX-forum

Hello. Which do you prefer, the zenity-style config menus or the gtkdialog version?



The gtkdialog version does require gtkdialog (which could replace zenity) as well as the vanilla gnoome icon set. The gtkdialog version does, however, have the advantage of staying open - even after choosing an action.

What do you think?

john (and anti)

Note: this project is still in the development stages while the zenity project is more-or-less complete.

Special thanks to kdulcimer for the use of his tinyme scripts.

The gtkdialogue version certainly looks more "professional" and may be more friendly for noobies. When you think about it though, it all boils down to a test file somewhere to edit to achieve the results you want/need.

So perhaps an "indifferent" option should be added?

john

I prefer the gtkdialogue version because it looks more refined/polished. I agree with erie that it would also be more user friendly for noobs.

Having said that though, if it would add to the overhead or bloat in a significant way my vote would be no. What are we talking here in terms of added file size? Doesn't sound like too much.

I like both, but i guess the GTK looks better (From an eye candy point of view). For me it would be as impuwat says, "How much overhead and/or bloat" do they both carry? Zenity seems fast & really functional for me, but i have also been using the gtkdialogue that's part of TinyMe, and that seems very fast as well.

When I first installed zenity, before it was included on the iso, I believe it pulled in 2-3 additional packages. When I installed gtkdialog, it did not pull in any additional packages. However, as I said, you would need to include the vanilla gnome icon set. But, for those of us that have installed pcmanfm or lxde, it should already be on our systems. So overall, the gtkdialog would be more bloat due to the additional icon set.

As a workaround for the extra bloat created by the gnome icon set, I could make a folder for all used icons a package it that way? That would mean perhaps less bloat than zenity? Would that be more acceptable?

In terms of speed, I noticed that when the gtkdialog version is first launched, it is slower to load than the zenity version. However, after that it is about the same. And again, you can keep the gtkdialog window open indefinitely, while the zenity window closes after choosing an option.

john

They both look real nice.
It would be hard to pick one.
gtkdialogue would please the newbies.
You might want to take a look at Lxlauncher or tabble too?

Another difference (I think) is that with the gtkdialog one you only click once to open the option you want and with zenity you have to click OK first.

That combined with the fact that it stays open would make me choose the gtkdialog one, although I like the look of zenity more.

THD

Looks like a landslide.

JawsThemeSwimming428 wrote:Looks like a landslide.

Yes it does. But it would be nice for those with old boxes ie PII/PIII 128-256MB RAM to comment.

Before the final decision is made, it needs testing on how it works on old boxes. Remember antiX is aiming at the PII/PIII (and hopefully with a new kernel AMD k5/k6, and if at all possible even PI) with 64MB RAM minimum, recommended 128MB RAM.

As an aside, over the last 6 months or so, dist-upgrading the 'live' antiX (Lysistrata) has gone from 325MB to 390MB (antiX-M8 in progress) with no extra apps!

It grows fast. You might want to think about leaving out some extras as they can always be installed afterwards.

ie:transmission, pidgin etc.

People may have other preferences.

I'm working on a new version of the config center - one with tabs. So one tab for user tasks and one for admin tasks. I have also written the screen res, mouse, and keyboard config files in gtkdialog. They are in the zenity radio button style and stay open until closed. Yah!

The bloat problem happened to me in early 7.x versions - I think it is due to the lenny branch. I remember evince and more apps being installed all the time. I think it has happened here again. Once lenny goes stable, the problem should phase out.

I'll send a screenshot once I have a prototype.

john

Any chance of adding a button for editing /etc/slim.conf? I do that to get my username to come up automatically for login.

Good idea jerry. Maybe one to change the slim login wallpaper too?

I don't know how to do it yet, but how about a button to create a slim theme? This will allow you to edit slim, change wallpaper, etc. This would be in the admin menu rather than user menu?

john