SystemConfig/ReviewGuideLine

This page is a draft only
It is still under construction and content may change. Do not rely on the information on this page.

Review of System Config Tools

Things to look at when reviewing the s-c-tools:

GUI

• Check if tool is easy to understand:
• Is the purpose of the tool clear?
• Are there unclear descriptions/labels? List them below with a comment.
• Is it clear what happens (before you click on things)?
• Check functionality:
• Does the tool allow everything that one would want
• If not:
• Does the tool make its limitations clear?
• Does it point to the right config files/ help pages for working around its limitations?
• Do you think this functionality could/should be added?
• Does the tool several unrelated things that should be divided into different tools?
• Check UI:
• What kind of navigation is used? (item list on the left, buttons opening dialogs, druid, single dialog only, ...)?
• When are changes applied (per dialog, global save/apply, instantly, ...)?
• Is undo implemented (no, reload file, one step, whole history, ...)?
• Is is possible to load defaults?
• Are related things grouped or spread widely
• Is there hidden functionality reachable with hot keys only?
• Is there a menubar or toolbar?
• Does a help exist? Is it sufficient?
• Check for consistent look:
• Too many different fonts/text sizes?
• Too many different spacings
• Misused space
• Unclear icons?
• Too many colors or color schemes
• Button placement in dialogs and main app

Text mode

• Is there a Text mode interface?
• If yes, does it cover the whole GUI functionality?
• If not, what's missing?
• Could the GUI be easily translated into text mode?
• more than two columns?
• Height of 25 lines sufficient?
• Aswer all question from the GUI section here!

Command line

• Is there a CLI?
• If not, are there other CLI tools for that purpose?
• If yes, does it cover the whole GUI functionality?
• If not, what's missing?

---

Back to SystemConfig