Re: Fedora Workstation Technical Specification, System Installer
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Workstation/Technical_Specification#System...
The first sentence defines a preference for a minimalist installer user experience, with
a hard requirement for dual-boot preserve existing OS (Windows and OS X).
The second sentence uses "classes of hardware that are expected in workstation-class
machines" which includes multiple devices (two SSDs, two HDDs, one of each).
Could the WG clarify the scope of these statements?
Taking them very literally, I could propose:
1. Remove Manual/Custom partitioning path entirely. The Tech Spec doesn't
specifically say only the default path should become minimalist.
2. Remove all partition scheme options from the Automatic/Guided path. Two options
isn't the minimum possible, no option is.
The existing Automatic/Guided path permits multiple device selection, and makes an
assumption how to use them. [1] Keeping with the minimalist preference, this could still
mean no Manual/Custom partitioning: by continuing to make current or revised assumptions,
[2] with or without informing the user; or conditionally present a simple UI that enables
the user to assist in resolving the ambiguity with a few options: raid0, raid1, and one
cache option once one is considered stable. (i.e. not raid4, raid5 or raid6 or concat.)
So is the WG's intent that Automatic/Guided is a recommended path that should simply
work for all uses cases, implying the user doesn't really need to be bothered with
making such obscure choices? Should Manual/Custom partitioning be removed, de-emphasized
(maybe relocated to its own spoke from the hub), or remain essentially as-is in which case
the minimalist intent applies specifically to the default Automatic/Guided path?
Chris Murphy
[1] What they get depends on the partition scheme chosen, but none of them cause either
raid0 or raid1 to be created. Instead, the LVM and Btrfs options use linear/concat, and
the Standard Partition scheme puts /home on one drive and everything else on the other.
There's no indication to the user how the selected storage will be used.
[2] Perhaps most users choosing multiple devices in this path think raid1 is being
configured? We're already making an assumption now that's probably less correct
than assuming either raid1 or raid0, so it's not any more or less correct to change
the assumption to something else.
You might need to provide more details and background in posts like
this, Chris, considering the context. I don't think the desktop team is
as familiar with the ins and outs of installer partitioning as the
anaconda and QA teams. They don't deal with it every day. :)
--
Adam Williamson
Fedora QA Community Monkey
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