GNU bug report logs - #35604
Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations the current one?

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)" <pelzflorian <at> pelzflorian.de>
To: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations the current one?
Date: Mon, 6 May 2019 18:35:39 +0200

GRUB’s boot menu displays a menuentry for booting the current
generation and a submenu with entries for previous generations.
However, it is not clear if the generation at the top of the submenu
is the current generation or if it is one generation before.

I would prefer to resolve this by displaying the current generation’s
generation number and date outside the submenu as is done for the
previous generations in the submenu.

Regards,
Florian

Message #8 received at 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr>
To: "pelzflorian \(Florian Pelz\)" <pelzflorian <at> pelzflorian.de>
Cc: 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#35604: Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations
 the current one?
Date: Mon, 06 May 2019 20:52:26 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Florian,

pelzflorian (Florian Pelz) wrote:
> GRUB’s boot menu displays a menuentry for booting the current
> generation and a submenu with entries for previous generations.
> However, it is not clear if the generation at the top of the 
> submenu
> is the current generation or if it is one generation before.

The current generation is by definition not a previous one and 
shouldn't appear in the ‘previous’ list, but I see how it could be 
confusing.  Especially once possible language barriers and 
translations are added to the mix.

> I would prefer to resolve this by displaying the current 
> generation’s
> generation number and date outside the submenu as is done for 
> the
> previous generations in the submenu.

It makes for an uglier boot menu, which sounds silly, but I've 
noticed that the more numbers and symbols are on a screen, the 
more likely ‘non-geeks’ are to ignore the whole thing as something 
not meant for them to understand.  Especially a black one :-)  I 
see it as part of GNU's values to counter that attitude.

How about changing ‘previous generations’ to ‘all generations’, 
and have it include the current generation at the top (now with # 
and date, maybe ‘(current)’ appended)?

That way we can keep the default nice and friendly and skimmable 
in ~5s, and the overview is actually a complete overview.

Kind regards,

T G-R

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Message #11 received at 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr>
To: 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#35604: Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations
 the current one?
Date: Mon, 06 May 2019 20:59:48 +0200

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Tobias Geerinckx-Rice wrote:
> How about changing ‘previous generations’ to ‘all generations’, 
> and
> have it include the current generation at the top (now with # 
> and
> date, maybe ‘(current)’ appended)?
>
> That way we can keep the default nice and friendly and skimmable 
> in
> ~5s, and the overview is actually a complete overview.

I'd like to give this patch a try, by the way, if it's considered 
acceptable.  Good excuse to dive into Guix's grub code a tiny bit.

Kind regards,

T G-R

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Message #14 received at 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: "pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)" <pelzflorian <at> pelzflorian.de>
To: Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr>
Cc: 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#35604: Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations
 the current one?
Date: Mon, 6 May 2019 21:32:11 +0200

On Mon, May 06, 2019 at 08:52:26PM +0200, Tobias Geerinckx-Rice wrote:
> How about changing ‘previous generations’ to ‘all generations’, and have it
> include the current generation at the top (now with # and date, maybe
> ‘(current)’ appended)?
> 
> That way we can keep the default nice and friendly and skimmable in ~5s, and
> the overview is actually a complete overview.
> 

I agree.  Your suggestion is better.

Regards,
Florian

Message #17 received at 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Ludovic Courtès <ludo <at> gnu.org>
To: Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr>
Cc: 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org,
 "pelzflorian \(Florian Pelz\)" <pelzflorian <at> pelzflorian.de>
Subject: Re: bug#35604: Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations
 the current one?
Date: Tue, 07 May 2019 11:53:13 +0200

Hello,

Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr> skribis:

> How about changing ‘previous generations’ to ‘all generations’, and
> have it include the current generation at the top (now with # and
> date, maybe ‘(current)’ appended)?

Yes, I’m fine either way (I found that “previous generations” was clear
enough, but apparently it isn’t all that clear).

Thanks,
Ludo’.

Message #20 received at 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: swedebugia <swedebugia <at> riseup.net>
To: 35604 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#35604: Is the top bootloader entry for previous generations
 the current one?
Date: Tue, 7 May 2019 18:58:21 +0200

On 2019-05-06 20:52, Tobias Geerinckx-Rice wrote:
...

> How about changing ‘previous generations’ to ‘all generations’, and have 
> it include the current generation at the top (now with # and date, maybe 
> ‘(current)’ appended)?
> 
> That way we can keep the default nice and friendly and skimmable in ~5s, 
> and the overview is actually a complete overview.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

-- 
Cheers
Swedebugia

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