Better user feedback and better user experience (idea)

Sander Devrieze s.devrieze at linux.be
Tue Dec 16 16:56:24 CST 2008


Hi,

One of the reasons why Linux distributions do not want to include Wine
by default is because compatibility issues may result a bad impression
of the quality of the OS. Users think Linux sucks because their
Windows application does not run (as good) under Wine as it does under
Windows.

Problem: Windows applications ran by Wine do not always run without
issues and the user does not know why. Hence, (s)he will think this is
because Linux is less stable than Windows.

What do Wine coders think about solving the issue by adding a user
feedback interface to Wine? It may for instance work like this:

* By default open a user feedback dialog after the application is
closed (or crashes). In this dialog, the user will be explained why
this dialog is shown, and why he might have experienced bugs or
crashes in the Windows application. The user also can provide text
feedback and other types of feedback (e.g. a checkbox saying "The
application crashed").
* The user has the option to send this information to the Wine project
by hitting a button. Gathered information will be integrated in the
Wine application database and can be helpful for Wine coders and
users.

Advantages:
* Users will better understand why their application did not run as
well on Linux as on Windows.
* Wine will become more interesting to be actively supported by Linux
distributors.
* Users will feel they easily can contribute to the Wine project.
* The Wine project will receive more feedback.


Other subidea:
Create a database with hashes of .exe files. Wine can consult this
database *before* it executes a Windows binary and provide the user
with feedback like this: "Remark that 60% of users were not satisfied
when running this application in this Wine version. Do you want to
proceed?" Or like this: "This application has these issues: ... Do you
want to proceed?"

--
Kind Regards,
Sander Devrieze.



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