Kubuntu install policy nonsense

[tomcloyd]

I keep encountering this problem, and it's making me upset. I don't like stupid design, and that's what this looks like to me. The problem...

- in general: I install a program, via Synaptic or Adept or whatever, or maybe just from a *.deb package. Then....nothing. No sign of it. It doesn't appear on any menu, and I have NO idea where to search for it. Now, maybe folks who aren't only a week into their experience with Linux/Kubuntu find this no problem at all, but for me it's a blank wall. I have no clear idea what to do, AND I cannot fathom why anyone would go to the trouble of setting up an applet/program/package, then allow this sort of thing to happen. Verdict: bad systems design. I think the system (OS) should have a clear place these things end up - some set of temporary links, with a notification window, or whatever, so that fresh install CANNOT just disappear like this. Arrrrgh.

From my point of view, these things should NOT require secret knowledge of some sort. Interfaces need to work for humans, not computers. This aspect of this one isn't working. (I want to say that this is one of the very few complaints I have about Kubuntu - in general I'm VERY pleased with it!!!!!)

- specifically: Via Synaptic, I just installed the kweather display applet and the xfce4-weather-plugin. I want to do a comparison of the two. However, I first have to FIND them, now that they're supposedly installed. No sign of them, so I rebooted, and that didn't help. I was hoping they'd magically appear on the taskbar. Nope.

So...dead in the water here. Three questions:

1. Anyone have anything to say about both my general problem?
2. ...and my specific problem?
3. If I wanted to take my general problem to a higher level, with the hope that it might make some list of future system amendments, how might I do it

THANKS!

[claydoh]

Re: Kubuntu install policy nonsense

As stated in its description, kweather is a panel applet, and as such it is added to it like any other: right click on the taskbar, then Add Applet, and go from there.

The xfce4-weather-plugin, from its description, is weather information plugin for the Xfce4 panel, which basically is the same as kweather, only for the Xfce desktop environment, so I don't eevn know if it would run properly in a KDE environment.

Also, one thing to remember about a lot of programs in linux don't make menu entries if they are command line apps, though admittedly often this isn't always specified.

Also, to confuse things for you, another weather thing to try (and the one I use) is the LiquidWeather theme for Superkaramba
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3088810.0

[lingenfr]

Re: Kubuntu install policy nonsense

While the applets that tom mad are not good examples, I have plenty of examples, most recently gtranscode. Bottom line is that kubuntu should throw a link in a lost+found menu if the packager didn't take care of it. It chaps my arse to have to search around and try to remember the names and go back to adept to determine what I have installed. This does require fixing. I use kweather on one machine and liquid weather on another. Superkaramba is great eye candy, but it hoses once in awhile and goes runaway with resources. All in all, I don't find it worth it. YMMV.

[claydoh]

Re: Kubuntu install policy nonsense

kubuntu (or any distro for that matter) can't put a link to something if the packager doesn't even create a menu entry or icon graphic

Packages like this, which are usually found in the outer reaches of the repository multiverse are usually like this as they are basically unsupported/unmaintained.

The best way to help fix this is to file a bug report for it