[E-Lang] Re: Pet Extensions and such (was: what is good about E?)

[Marc Stiegler]

> Prior to MarkM's message about the "powerbox" I wouldn't have seen a
problem
> here. If, as is current practice and you seem to be suggesting, that the
> writer of the installation script can ask questions like "Microsoft
> recommends you update DirectX (the part of Windows designed to help games
> run better). OK to do so now?" then the questions can be worded in such a
> way that capabilities are granted when maybe they shouldn't. If instead
the
> installation script works through the powerbox then this risk is avoided.
> But then it is quite a challenge to arrange things so the powerbox asks
only
> "sensible" questions? Note that there are at least two aspects to sensible
> questions: only ask about things that are worth bothering the user about
and
> word the questions in such a way that you don't assume much prior
knowledge.
> E.g. adding my parenthetical remark to the DirectX question above.

It is easy to make sure the  powerbox asks only sensible questions. The
DirectX example has reminded me that there are sensible questions which it
might be hard to make the powerbox understand should be sensibly asked.

This is, as markm noted, an area that is almost thoroughly unexplored. I
think I have figured out how to do write an installer that works quite well
for office-style apps, and pretty well for browsers and mail clients (though
my belief needs to be tested by the writing of code :-), but things like
directx are outside the domain I have thought about.

--marcs