Idea about generic command framework for launching common applications

[Darren Fulton]

Thank you for your input.  The process of setting up the alternatives 
(creating the links) should be automated .   I wouldn't expect users to 
issue a command like the example that I gave you from the command line.  
Also, this idea is not really meant to directly benefit those lucky 
souls who only use their own computer. 

This is a standardized alternative method of launching useful common 
applications by issuing a plain language command on the computer that 
happens to be in front of you at that given moment.  No clicking around 
and visually scanning the program menu for 4 clicks and 20 seconds of 
your life just to find a way to open a browser, a text editor, etc. 

--
Thank You,
Darren Fulton


Nicolas Mailhot wrote:
> Le lundi 17 novembre 2008 à 02:00 -0600, Darren Fulton a écrit :
>   
>> Thank you for your response.  A regular user can configure his 
>> alternatives using --admindir and
>> --altdir, assuming the links are placed in a directory in the user's 
>> PATH that he or she can write files. Here is an example:
>>
>> alternatives --install $HOME/bin/email-client email-client 
>> /usr/bin/xdg-email 100 --admindir $HOME/.alternatives/ --altdir 
>> $HOME/.alternatives/
>>     
>
> I don't think you can expect users that do not know what the installed
> text editor is to try this.
>
>