Linux Mint 8: More mintInstall Improvements, Beta Testing
The development process of the Linux Mint operating system moves on now that Linux Mint 7 Gloria has been released as a final and stable product. The user can download and install Linux Mint 7, Linux Mint 7 x64, Linux Mint 7 KDE and Linux Mint 7 XFCE, but enough about Gloria. Focus must be now switched Helena; that’s the codename for the upcoming Linux Mint 8.
Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre recently made public the changes that will be made to mintInstall in Linux Mint 8. Just as a little reminder, here they are:
- Less branding: you won’t see “mintInstall” nut Software Manager” in the menu
- APT status and removal of applications: queries to APT are sent to discover if a listed application is installed on the system and if it is, what versions are installed.
- No more refresh: the refresh button has been removed. When data is updated the user will get a Level 1 package update in mintUpdate.
- Graphical interface: the GUI has been improved.
Those were supposed to be all the enhancements mintInstall would get. Clem Lefebvre initially planned to move on and work on the OEM installation and on mintBackup, but that plan changed when numerous Linux Mint users posted their opinions on the mintInstall improvements.
Clem Lefebvre: “So I decided to make the jump and to give mintInstall the ability to install multiple applications at a time. There’s also going to be a “View” menu with the ability to choose the visible columns, and I’m also planning to make changes in the application view, but the main thing here, is the fact that you can now see what’s installed, and click apply after a series of additions/removals. The GUI is dramatically changed because of this.
Here’s how it looked after the changes mentioned by Clem Lefebvre were implemented:
There’s more good news for the Linux Mint fan: mintInstall has entered Beta testing phase.
Clem Lefebvre again: “I’d like to thank all the people who sent us feedback during the recent development of mintInstall. We’re still happy to receive ideas and suggestions at this stage, but we’re also getting close to a usable product. Because the number of changes was so great and because I know many of you are interested in running this newer version, I decided to publish DEB packages for this beta of mintInstall.”
The interface looks like this now:
Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre recently made public the changes that will be made to mintInstall in Linux Mint 8. Just as a little reminder, here they are:
- Less branding: you won’t see “mintInstall” nut Software Manager” in the menu
- APT status and removal of applications: queries to APT are sent to discover if a listed application is installed on the system and if it is, what versions are installed.
- No more refresh: the refresh button has been removed. When data is updated the user will get a Level 1 package update in mintUpdate.
- Graphical interface: the GUI has been improved.
Those were supposed to be all the enhancements mintInstall would get. Clem Lefebvre initially planned to move on and work on the OEM installation and on mintBackup, but that plan changed when numerous Linux Mint users posted their opinions on the mintInstall improvements.
Clem Lefebvre: “So I decided to make the jump and to give mintInstall the ability to install multiple applications at a time. There’s also going to be a “View” menu with the ability to choose the visible columns, and I’m also planning to make changes in the application view, but the main thing here, is the fact that you can now see what’s installed, and click apply after a series of additions/removals. The GUI is dramatically changed because of this.
Here’s how it looked after the changes mentioned by Clem Lefebvre were implemented:
There’s more good news for the Linux Mint fan: mintInstall has entered Beta testing phase.
Clem Lefebvre again: “I’d like to thank all the people who sent us feedback during the recent development of mintInstall. We’re still happy to receive ideas and suggestions at this stage, but we’re also getting close to a usable product. Because the number of changes was so great and because I know many of you are interested in running this newer version, I decided to publish DEB packages for this beta of mintInstall.”
The interface looks like this now:
