Re: [gnome-love] Task manager for GNOME

[Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie>]

On 9 Jul 2003, Brady Hegberg wrote:

> Date: 09 Jul 2003 07:06:35 -0500
> From: Brady Hegberg <bradyh bitstream net>
> To: gnome-love gnome org, Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie>
> Subject: Re: [gnome-love] Task manager for GNOME
>
> "gnome-system-monitor" is probably the closest to what you're looking
> for.  There's a program called "acme" that I think would let you setup a
> key combination to run the command "gnome-system-monitor" but I've never
> used it.

I know.  I did not ask the original question.  I learned eventually gave
in to the command line and learned to use top.  (I used gtop for a bit,
but it seems to be gone now and I know that procman aka
gnome-system-monitor uses libgtop on the back end).

> If you want to ssh to a system you can setup a launcher with the command
> "ssh -l username systemaddress" - where systemaddress can be either an
> address like "www.gnome.org" or an ip address like "172.121.16.25".

I know I could put together a nice wrapper script.
I am trying to think of things from a very Desktop/Graphical User Inteface
oriented users point of view.

> Oh and when you want to find a program that does what you want and you
> have an rpm based system like Redhat or Mandrake - one way is to use the
> command "rpm -qa | grep keyword"...for instance if you want a config
> command run "rpm -qa | grep config" and that will give you a list of all
> the programs installed with the word config in them.

If I wanted to use the command line it would probably be better to use
'apropos' (which is synomymous with some special incantation of 'man') as
it is more widely available than RPM.

I know this is not the usability list but it is usually a failure if the
answer to doing something on the Gnome Desktop is not to use the desktop
and to use the command line instead.  This is only a rule of thumb and not
necessarily an idea you want to take too far.  (I used to really like the
Apple Macintosh and I still have nostalgia for it).

In response to Murrays comment about the Application menu:  I have gotten
in the habit of using the Run Dialog (or a terminal window) to start most
programs.  If you already know what you want it is easier (faster) to type
it in the Run Dialog than to hunt around the menus trying to find it or
even if the distribution or machine you are playing with today even has
the program installed.

I know I am not the only user who would like to be able to hit the
"Windows Key" and 'R' and have the Run Dialog pop up and start a program
quickly.  I know many users would always have at least one terminal open
but I have many bad habits from years of using other sytems and I have no
intention of breaking all of them.

It is known that users learn to do things one way and stick with it.  It
is very hard to convince users to learn to do things a better way even if
it will save them time in the long run.  (I do read documentation and I do
write scripts sometimes but only when I am reasonably confident it will be
more convenient in the long run.  I still frequently set the video
recorder incorrectly though, I really should checkout MythTV or
something).

Sincerely

Alan Horkan
http://advogato.org/person/AlanHorkan/