Equinox p2 UI Plan

This page describes the work planned for the next release (3.5) of the p2 UI. This includes improvements for the p2 UI in the Eclipse SDK, as well as issues that have to be addressed for alternate UIs (such as RCP app requirements). Important fixes will be examined for inclusion/backport to 3.4.x maintenance stream.

The overall p2 plan for 3.5 is located at Equinox_p2_Plan

The milestone plans for 3.4 have moved to Equinox p2 UI Eclipse 3.4 Plan

3.5 Milestone Plans

M6 - Mar 12, 2009 - API Freeze

• UI/Usability
  • complete integration of p2 installation pages with about dialog (requires refactoring on Platform UI side)

• Function/Polish
  • copy/paste support in various views
  • misc bugs

• API
  • verify that repo access can be configured out of product Bug 231039
  • misc. code cleanup bugs
  • consider handlers vs. actions for UI pluggability/are some command ID's contracts (so clients can invoke UI by id)
  • examples or work with clients to demonstrate alternate RCP scenarios
    • update but not install
    • configure repo management out of product
    • Silent/automatic updating, user never sees the update UI, it just happens (but may need confirmation, restart dialog, etc.)

Past 3.4.x Maintenance Streams

3.4.1

• Improved progress reporting and honoring cancellation requests
• Improved presentation of errors (resizability, formatting)
• Fix confusing restart language
• Annoying /low risk bugs
  • Refresh artifact repos when metadata repos are refreshed

3.4.2

• Enable a site when a user adds a disabled one (workaround until core fixes in 3.5)
• NLS formatting fixes (awaiting NL team verification)

Past 3.5 Milestones

M1 - Aug 8, 2008

• UI/Usability
  • Usability review of general strategy (modality, overall organization, etc.)
    • Walkthrough with Eclipse UIWG
    • Solicit usability and user persona input from product teams
    • Write concrete user personas to guide use cases
  • Bugs
    • Bring 3.4.1 fixes into 3.5 stream

M2 - Sep 19, 2008

• UI/Usability
  • Develop use cases based on user persona input
  • Investigate integration of installed view with about dialog
  • Develop mockups for new workflows and solicit feedback
• Performance/Stability
  • revisit checkbox/filter/deferred fetch strategy Bug 233269 (continuing in M3)
  • investigate resolution in the background Bug 236495 (continuing in the scope of new workflows in M3)

M3 - Oct 31, 2008

• UI/Usability
  • Complete new workflows (installed view may not yet be integrated with about dialog)
  • Begin improved implementation of installed view Bug 224472
    • Allow drill-down in installed view of requirements that are visible as groups
    • Identify any necessary metadata changes to make this simpler/better (see Bug 227675)
• Performance/Stability
  • finalize checkbox/filter/deferred fetch strategy Bug 233269
    • Better/faster filtering without graying out filter box (postponed to M4)
    • Eliminate "duplicate nodes" problem on first repo read
  • resolution in the background to be provided as part of new workflows Bug 236495
  • Investigate repo adding/loading performance issues and identify necessary changes to core Bug 236485

M4 - Dec 12, 2008

• UI/Usability
  • Finish up installed view changes
    • Complete integration of installed view with about dialog
    • Install drill-down info also shown in install/update wizards Bug 250862
    • Investigate the ability to provide optional/related content Bug 247342. (Decision is not to do anything at this time)
  • Investigate better affordances in available view to show already installed, available updates, etc. Bug 216032
    • Complete initial model/collector work needed to distinguish status and improve "already installed" filtering Bug 210583 and Bug 232632
• Performance/Stability
  • finalize checkbox/filter/deferred fetch strategy Bug 233269
    • Better/faster filtering without graying out filter box
• Usability+Performance
  • More selective loading of repos when sites are added Bug 236485
• API
  • Separation of contributions from the rest of the code Bug 221760
  • Ability to reassemble groups (available, installed, history, repo management) into new locations (pref page vs. wizard, etc.)

M5 - Jan 30, 2009 - Major Feature Freeze

• UI/Usability
  • improved error reporting and explanation of problems between the planner and the UI Bug 218055
  • complete integration of p2 installation pages with about dialog (requires refactoring on Platform UI side)
  • misc polish bugs
  • better presentation of repositories
    • Access to sites from all workflows Bug 250316
    • improve presentation of enabled/disabled repositories Bug 218534
  • Implementation for available view affordances Bug 216032
  • Revert UI improvements
    • history view integrated into about dialog Bug 250316, see Mockups
    • background job/progress reporting/UI freeze issues

Unassigned Milestones

These items have not officially been deferred, but neither do they have a milestone scheduled.

• consider additional enhancements in resolve error/explanation space Bug 261928
• user repo naming (regression of UM function) Bug 194224
• consider proposed license UI Bug 217944

Deferred Items

UI/Usability

• Ability to install/uninstall user-named groups of IU's
• Separation of product base vs. "add-ons" Bug 215398
• Fast-path install scenarios Bug 223264

Major Features

• User's environment is defined explicitly by someone external (administrator)
  • Upgrade or install to a new specification
  • Compare current installation to required one

API

• Core/UI responsibilities
  • should UI be the one coordinating provisioning operations vs. having scheduling rules Bug 218216
  • batched repo events
• Supported API for all UI building blocks
  • Individual wizards, dialogs, commands
  • Content and label providers