[294] in Athena User Interface
Project timeline
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Christopher D. Beland)
Wed Jul 19 00:31:16 2000
Message-Id: <200007190431.AAA10688@oxyacetylene.mit.edu>
To: aui@MIT.EDU
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 00:31:13 -0400
From: "Christopher D. Beland" <beland@MIT.EDU>
So yesterday I talked with Owls and tibbetts at length about the AUI
project timeline. I also just completed a complete update of the
status page in the project notebook
(http://web.mit.edu/aui/notebook/). Anything that should be offered
for MIT or I/S community review should be linked from there.
Now that we have some context and firm goals, I'm turning my attention
to the collaboration on the actual setup of the usability tests. I'll
also be taking on responsibility for implementing the plans for new
printing GUIs.
Anyway, here's a working timeline for AUI, based on yesterday's
discussions. This is also on the status page, via the link top of the
"Target" column.
-B.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1. The following components are required for usability testing
("alpha" release). Deadline for these components is August 1. Novice
users will be recruited for testing in early August. A demo for I/S
staff will occur before users are brought in; some changes might be
made in-between. Note that the AUI project is currently in
the "Discovery" phase even though active development is taking place.
- GNOME 1.2 build on at least one platform (done)
- Window manager (done)
- Gnome panel, with test set of icons
- Sample set of Gnome menus
- gmc (with minimal AFS hacks and /mit handling)
- exmh (done)
- Account configuration and session management
- Gnome User Guide
- Outstanding bugs:
- raise panels on mouseover
- xscreensaver preferences and basic functionality
- logout icon functionality
- gmenu UI
- missing documentation
- see also status page in project notebook
2. Preparatation of resource estimate. Based on the results of the
prototype design and testing phase, we need to generate a cost
listing for full Gnome-Athena delivery, including staff time,
hardware, and software.
3. Prototype work continues.
4. Last call for stakeholder comment.
5. Public opt-in beta release. When we a.) confirm that there are no
objections from any stakeholders and b.) satisfy the following
component requirements, we will make an opt-in public beta
release. This marks the beginning of AUI Delivery.
AUI-Beta components:
- "setup aui-beta" (or somesuch) script
- MOTD & HOTD functionality
- AUI wash
- Better console
- Graphic design work
- gKerberometer
- Printing GUIs
- gZephyr (sending, user location)
- Disabling esound
Note: We will have to make apologies that the login may be abnormally
slow, as Gnome must be loaded over the network out of the aui-beta AFS
space. This will be fixed in the 1.0 release, and can be mitigated by
taking advantage of local AFS caching.
6. 0.5 IAP release. On the assumption that we will have increased
staff resources over IAP, an "0.5" update to the public opt-in
beta is expected.
Components expected for 0.5 release:
- New mail reader
- New file manager
- Athena-specific documentation
- New session management system
- gOLC
- chpobox, chfn (capplet?)
7. 1.0 release. Assuming all goes well, Gnome-Athena could become the
default login style for new users as early as Summer 2001.
Components expected for 1.0 release:
- Quickstation support
- changes to xlogin
- Better Moira GUI
- Better Discuss GUI
==EOF==
