[josm-dev] Improving the first run experience with JOSM

[Corey Burger]

On 10/11/07, Frederik Ramm <frederik at remote.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> On Thu, Oct 11, 2007 at 07:47:37PM -0700, Corey Burger wrote:
> > 1. I raised the possibility of merging the validator into JOSM in a
> > seperate email
>
> I have repeatedly said: If something works well as a plugin then why
> not keep it that way? Much easier for maintenance, and if we have
> Windows installers, Debian packages and so on we can easily package a
> number of things with JOSM and the novice won't even notice it is a
> plugin.

Yes, but most users are getting the jar straight and even with a
windows installer, I don't see that changing.

>
> > 2. Redesign the data download dialogue. There are 5(?) different ways
> > to get a bounding box to download:
> >  * Parsed URL
> >  * Manually enter in bounding box
> >  * Select bounding box on map
> >  * Bookmarks
> >  * Whatever is on the screen
>
> There are also plugins that extend this list (that was the idea behind
> the current "tabbed" design), for example the "name finder" and a
> plugin to download by selection from a slippy map display.

Oh, geez, the horror show that is plugin-modified UI. I will start
running screaming now.

>
> > One possible way to do this would be to change the methods of download
> > to a drop down list, showing the various fields as people choose them.
> > However, I haven't yet come up with a great idea but I think somebody
> > else might have one, hence this email
>
> I don't really understand what it is you want to redesign. If you want
> all "tabs" on one big dialog - I can see how that might be nice but it
> would break the ability for plugins to add their own (the dialog would
> become much too large).

Because the current design really doesn't do the trick. It doesn't
represent the multitude of ways people can download data, as I
outlined above.

>
> > 3. Add download and upload to the file menu, to make it clear (as
> > currently open and download can be confused)
> > 4. Rename open to "Open File"
>
> Makes sense.
>
> > 5. Create a higher resolution image for a bounding box
>
> You mean the world image? It is pretty big already... maybe the slippy
> map chooser plugin is the better way.

Sure, that woudl be even better.

>
> > 6. Potentially add a list of major cities as default bookmarks (as a
> > seperate dialog, possibly)
>
> Could do but I find the name finder plugin does a very good job
> finding existing places. (Unless you search for Iceland and find only
> UK supermarkets.)
>
> > 7. Add a status bar on the bottom of the download dialogue (similar to
> > the one on the select bouding box from a map) to show if the bounding
> > box, either via URL, etc is too big and will be rejected. This is most
> > common when you download via the "what is currently on the screen"
>
> Don't really understand... there is such a message below the pane
> where you enter the URL or bounding box... where else do you want it?

Really, did I miss with the latest versions?

Corey