PPA page should show binary installable packages

Bug #496862 reported by Michael Nelson
24
This bug affects 3 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
Launchpad itself
Triaged
Low
Unassigned

Bug Description

As part of the 3.0 PPA redesign, we wanted to end up with the PPA index page helping the user of a PPA to decide "Do I want to install this software (or software channel)" by listing the installable binary packages rather than the source packages there (which, at the moment is really just a simpler version of the source packages on the +packages page). Unfortunately time ran out.

This would allow us to clear up other inconsistencies too, such as changing the "View package details" link to simply "Source packages", allow users to download binaries directly if desired (possible warning them that if they want updates they should instead add the PPA to their system etc.)

Bug 496458 goes together with this, displaying the latest changelog entry when the user clicks on a (binary) entry in the list, to help decide whether it is what they are looking for.

(I'd like to say this is high priority - as the 3.0 ppa redesign really isn't complete without it - but I'll leave that to Julian :) ).

Tags: lp-soyuz ppa ui

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Revision history for this message
Julian Edwards (julian-edwards) wrote :

I'm taking the Curtis approach and saying that since we don't have time to do it right now, it's Low priority. :)

Changed in soyuz:
status: Confirmed → Triaged
importance: Medium → Low
Changed in soyuz:
status: Triaged → In Progress
assignee: nobody → Michael Nelson (michael.nelson)
milestone: none → 10.03
Revision history for this message
Michael Nelson (michael.nelson) wrote :

Here's a screenshot of the current branch on dogfood.

Issues to note:

1. Column widths need to be tweaked to avoid the break between the icon and binary name,
2. I'm not sure where the version would be best placed. I initially had it as part of the name (too long), then as the second column, and now trying as the 3rd column.
3. Although I did implement the logic to indicate when there is a newer binary package available in the main archives, it causes a timeout on df for certain ppas, (eg. ppa:fta/ppa).

Revision history for this message
Michael Nelson (michael.nelson) wrote :

Here is are two new screenshot that shows the installable binaries on the ppa index with real(ish) data. With the aim to help *users* decide (1) do I want to add this PPA to my system, I've moved the version to the 3rd column (after the more important name and description), but let me know if this is an issue.

I'll upload a separate attachment showing the display in a narrower browser window.

Revision history for this message
Michael Nelson (michael.nelson) wrote :

And note, finding newer versions of the binaries is still pounding the page, I need to see if it can be optimised.

Revision history for this message
Michael Nelson (michael.nelson) wrote :

Just another more realistic example, showing some repetition in the binary descriptions.

Revision history for this message
Michael Nelson (michael.nelson) wrote :

Martin had some great feedback in this thread:

https://lists.launchpad.net/launchpad-dev/msg03058.html

To summarise:

Instead of having the (slightly confusing) "Newer version available" link displayed only when a *newer* version is available, we could have a separate column that always displays the most recent version of the Ubuntu distroseries version (if one is available). This would enable:

1. Users to see whether this package is provided in the main archive at all,
2. Compare the changelogs if they would like to, to see what's different,
3. the current case of determining when a newer version is available in the Ubuntu distroseries

The other main points are to make the PPA description itself larger (bug 547031) and the binary descriptions less prominent (due to the often repetitive info).

Changed in soyuz:
milestone: 10.03 → none
Changed in soyuz:
status: In Progress → Triaged
Curtis Hovey (sinzui)
Changed in launchpad:
assignee: Michael Nelson (michael.nelson) → nobody
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