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GeneralAntilles
Well, let me give you a short overview of how the package distribution system works on Maemo.
Most of the software available for Maemo is distributed through two user-transparent channels (i.e., unless you're interested in the technical details you don't need to worry about this): Nokia and maemo.org.*
The Nokia channel handles system software (updates, etc.) and software from Nokia's commercial partners. It's managed wholly by Nokia so it's not of particular interest for this explanation.
maemo.org is the channel that most users will be getting their software through its Maemo's primary distribution channel and contains the vast majority of all community and 3rd-party commercial software. This software repository is called Extras and is enabled out-of-the-box on the N900 (unlike previous tablet releases as some of you may know).
As part of the agreement between Nokia and the community to have Extras enabled out-of-the-box we needed to set up a testing and QA infrastructure for Extras. This infrastructure will ensure that software available from Extras meets certain quality requirements (e.g., does not consume too much battery, isn't a major security risk, isn't unreasonably crash-prone, functions as advertised, etc.). In order to facilitate this QA process we've split the Extras repository into three separate sections (those of you familiar with Ubuntu's arrangement should see some vague similarities):
Extras (extras): This is the section that is enabled out-of-the-box and where stable and tested software is available. The software here has been tested to conform to certain minimum quality requirements and should be suitable for all users.
Extras testing (extras-testing): This is the staging area for software making its way into Extras where the majority of software testing is done. The software here will generally be fairly fit and unlikely to break things. This section is intended only for developers and users interested in helping test potentially unstable software
Extras development (extras-devel): This is the Wild West. Packages in Extras-devel have no guarantee of basic quality and could very well break your device. This section is intended only for developers and very adventurous users.
With the pre-release devices right now there is only a very small selection of software available in Extras. Most of it is still undergoing testing and review in Extras-testing (which, by the way, anybody with a device is more than welcome to help out with!). Part of this review process is ensuring that packages entering Extras have been properly "optified". So most of the packages in Extras-testing right now have not been, trust that they will be by the time they make it into Extras.
Michal Jerz wrote:
Well, the only storage space I am able to use to install 3rd party software seems to be what they quote as "256 MB NAND formatted as UBIFS containing the bootloader, kernel and root directory "/" with about 100MB of free space." All packages seem to install under "rootfs", i.e. under "/". Just as they wrote, it is about 256 MB in total but with only about half of it free.
GeneralAntilles
Picking a installation location is handled by the developers. /opt is a relatively recent addition to Maemo, so most packagers have not yet patched their packages to use it. Don't worry, this is being addressed at the infrastructure level (maemo.org Extras) and by individual packagers and developers.
Users should have no need to worry about available application space once the device ships.
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Michal Jerz wrote:
Indeed, there's also a /home/opt directory (which on my unit shows 2 GB and not 1 GB as Wikipedia says) but the only software that was installed there was DocumentsToGo. All the remaining packages installed under "/" and I ended up having about 10 MB free under "/".
GeneralAntilles
Yes, this is a packaging issue which will be addressed by developers in the coming weeks.
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Michal Jerz wrote:
But if so then it is a silly idea because - apparently - most developers ignore this suggestion and all the remaining software I have installed (including quite a lot of packages much larger than those 500 kB, for instance the "officially available" Bounce Evolution of 17.5 MB or an official theme for the N900 of 7.8 MB ) used the "/" (rootfs) despite being much larger than 500 kB.
GeneralAntilles
Most developers don't yet have a final SDK and /opt was a relatively recent addition to the packaging system. It'll take a little while for everybody to transition over. But, again, don't worry, we're on it.
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Michal Jerz wrote:
So either the system should be AUTOMATICALLY installing the software to /opt if a package to be installed is larger than 500 kB, or there should be an user selectable option where to install a package.
GeneralAntilles
Automatically doing it makes the system inflexible and brittle, making the user choose is confusing and unnecessary. It'll be handled at the infrastructure level. Part of the QA process for packages getting into Extras will be to ensure that they're being installed to the right location. We're working on it and the fruits of that labor should be apparent soon.
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michal jerz wrote:
also, what happens if a user mostly installs small packages, but a lot of them? will they all go to "/" and, eventually, fill it up?
GeneralAntilles
my rough calculations would put that number at about 250-500 packages (based on a remaining free space of 100mb and an average package size of 250kb). my gut tells my this is unlikely to be an issue anytime soon.
so, in summary, the extras qa process should ensure that all packages are properly "optified" and that application storage shouldn't be an issue for users using extras.
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Edit
Angående att surfa/ringa osv samtidigt
Multitasking while on a call is the same as always. You can switch to any other application and do whatever else you like, no matter if you use the loudspeaker, bluetooth headset, wired headset, or anything else. If you take a look at the screenshots in my preview, you'll notice that the phone app while on a call still has the "taskmanager" icon/button in the upper left corner. Just tap it to go to the Task Manager where you can switch to any other application or go to the Menu/Applications to launch new ones. There are absolutely no multitasking restrictions while on a call and the Phone app is just like any other app in this regard.
It's not the iPhone where Apple intentionally blocked/reduced a fully multitasking Unix based OS to get something dumb enough for what they think a smartphone should be
my-symbian.com
Redigerat av moparman, 30 september 2009 - 08:55.