Closed Bug 45863 Opened 24 years ago Closed 21 years ago

Need updated README for linux installer

Categories

(Documentation Graveyard :: Help Viewer, defect, P3)

x86
Linux
defect

Tracking

(Not tracked)

VERIFIED WORKSFORME

People

(Reporter: granrosebugs, Assigned: asa)

References

Details

Attachments

(1 file)

A mozilla contributor tested the linux installer for us as a first time user and
has the following comments.  Bottom line, we need to make sure we have the right
README for the installer, and that it is being packaged correctly as well.  The
Netscape 6 build will need its own README as well.  User comments below:

2: When unpacking mozilla-i686-pc-linux-gnu-installer.tar i find the following
files:
-rwxrwxr-x 1 dark dark 89916 Jul 18 19:00 mozilla-installer-bin
-rwxr-xr-x    1 dark     dark         1494 Jul 18 19:00 mozilla-installer
-rw-rw-r--    1 dark     dark         3417 Jul 18 19:00 README
-rw-rw-r--    1 dark     dark        30869 Jul 18 19:00 MPL-1.1.txt
-rw-rw-r--    1 dark     dark         4297 Jul 18 19:01 config.ini

The README file is the wrong README file. It's the file that should accompany
the prepacked binary of mozilla. It is NOT a readme-file that has anything at
all to do at all with the installer. This was very confusing before i realized
the error.

The erronously added README file describes how to unpack the binary, and that
alone. (In addition it contains errors, user is asked to move and copy the
tar.gz files twice - quite needlessly since they are already unpacked at the
point where one is asked to copy them again. But that has nothing to do with
installer.)


This needs to be done:
A README file *WITH* information about installer should be writtten (if it
isn't) and later included with the installer.tar.gz file.

This new README file should include the following information about the
installtion routine:
-information about the fact that installer will actually itself download files
via ftp
-tell user WHERE these files are initially *temporarily* placed (in a subdir
called .tmp.xi.o)
-tell the user that if he/she wish to install in the default path,
/usr/local/mozilla, the installation should be started by user root, and
furthermore that it starts when you write ./mozilla-installer
-some lines about the progress-meter not being exact (actually it will just hang
in a fixed position all the time during download, which for all users on slow
connections will be THE most time-demanding part of the installation. This
"frozen progress-meter" can otherwise easily confuse users, and lead them to
think the installation is hanging.

An additional paragraph for the README seems to then have to include additional
info about "post installation" stating something like this:

--
"If you install in the default directory, or any other directory where only user
root normally have write-access, you must also start Mozilla one time as user
root, before others users can start the program. This will generate a set of
files required for later use."
--
me CC
Accepting for now. I don't recall writing a Read Me for mozilla, but senility
may be the issue. I wrote one for the commercial builds (at least for Mac and
Windows). Could you please attach the read me?
Status: NEW → ASSIGNED
attached the README that's found in the tar.gz containing the installer.
It's said to be just a placeholder till a README for installer has been made.
However, it's wrong and confusing either way. (Look at the instructions about
copying that takes part there - done twice)
nominating nsbeta2 as this is an offshoot of nsbeta2+ bug 32475.
Keywords: nsbeta2
Putting on [nsbeta2+] radar.  rudman, please confirm if the right READ ME is in 
linux commercial build or still an open issue.
Whiteboard: [nsbeta2+]
Confirmed that the correct read me is in the commercial build. Putting as 
nsbeta- per Jan.

Leaving as assigned to me for now, to deal with mozilla build...will talk with 
Asa re: mozilla read me.
Whiteboard: [nsbeta2+] → [nsbeta2-]
Depends on: 58137
Depends on: 59137
No longer depends on: 58137
proposing for 0.9 and based on the abundance of open readme bugs marking
mostfreq. CC'ing myself
Keywords: nsbeta2mostfreq, mozilla0.9
Whiteboard: [nsbeta2-]
Removing mostfreq - if there are open README bugs, please mark them dependent on
(or dupes of) this bug. When you've got ten, mark it mostfreq again :-)

Gerv
Keywords: mostfreq
Reassigning to Asa. Issues may already be addressed by bug 59137.
Assignee: rudman → asa
Status: ASSIGNED → NEW
Blocks: 59885
I just checked the readme of linux build 2002012606, file 
mozilla-i686-pc-linux-gnu-sea.tar.gz and the instructions in the
README file are still completely wrong. It is also not very helpful
to include instructions on unzipping and untarring into a file
that will only be seen after unzipping and untarring.
Rather, give sytem requirements and tell users about installation 
options (e.g. I read the README because I wanted to know if 
it is possible to pass parameters to the mozilla-installer script
that would let me automate the process. I am installing nightlies
quite often into the same place and would want to do it without
user intervention).
The new Read Me has got r= and sr= in Bug 72037. Reporter, can we close this
bug? Might want to see the new Read Me in 72037 before you decide.
I took a look at the README for the 2003013108 build and it is the same as for
the other builds.  It looks fine, but then again I am not a Linux user.
Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 21 years ago
Resolution: --- → WORKSFORME
Yes, also the Linux part of the README make sense nowadays.
v
Status: RESOLVED → VERIFIED
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