Re: [Usability]preferred applications dialog

[Mathew Johnston <johnston capsaicin ca>]

> Assuming Linux/UNIX stops sucking for home-users and gets easy
> application installating, I could see users doing this.  Say a distro
> ships with Mozilla normally, and the user install Galeon or something,
> they'd want to use it - then when it gets all buggy on them and what
> not, they need to easily be able to switch back.

I agree with you that managing a set of mappings between applications
and combinations of mime and URL scheme is much more complex than what
we've currently got, but it's much more theoretically 'correct'. A good
interface can be built ontop of a theoretically correct architecture,
but it's very difficult to build a good interface on top of a lame
architecture. 

> Secondly, it's a *hell* of a lot more convenient to select a "web
> browser" than 3 or 4 different protocols.  ("OK, change HTTP, now change
> HTTPS, now change mailto, etc.")

I agree that it is. I've probably jumped the gun and suggested some
levels of implementation before allowing us to fully define what we
need; that always results in arguements that don't go anywhere useful.
So, sorry :) However, I think that you can agree that the current
management system of file type, URL scheme and 'preferred applications'
is broken on even a theoretical level, let alone an interface level.

I'd like us to improve this, since it is the cornerstone of the desktop.

Mat.