[News] Future of MP Extensions - Design Concept (1 Viewer)

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infinite.loop

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    But I agree in part that for me the standalone app sounds mostly useless. I do not want to use standalone app on my HTPC to install or configure plugins.
    Well, you have to understand that this is design concept is neither about "you" nor is it about "me".
    It is about our _entire_ userbase. MediaPortal supports a lot of different usecases and user types.

    Many users absolutely hate configuring and managing a system inside the applications GUI. Others love it.

    So under no circumstance I am going to build a design concept, that would favor the needs/usecase of one usergroup over the other, because the needs of both usergroups are equally valid.

    http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_.../MP_Extensions_Rework/03_MP_in_GUI_Management

    Everything described in "Goal" is already possible with current Extensions plugin.
    Please do more research - because it is not.
    Just read the rest of that page.

    For example, configuring TVSeries is very simple on my HTPC, what I really need to do is set up the shares, which I have one or two. That is basically it, I've never changed any other settings nor do I want to click through import wizard..
    Okay, hold the line here please.....
    Where is my concept about the CONFIGURATION of a extension?

    Can I politely ask if anyone actually read the Wiki docs infinite.loop spent so much time providing?
    Some of the replies make we wonder too..... :confused:
     
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    seco

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    infinite.loop said:
    Well, you have to understand that this is design concept is neither about "you" nor is it about "me".
    It is about our _entire_ userbase. MediaPortal supports a lot of different usecases and user types.

    Many users absolutely hate configuring and managing a system inside the applications GUI. Others love it.

    So under no circumstance I am going to build a design concept, that would favor the needs/usecase of one usergroup over the other, because the needs of both usergroups are equally valid.

    Just sharing my thoughts with users feeling the same. I can share my personal opinions here can I? Anyway, where we are now it seems that the favor has always been on the configure-everything-with-mouse-and-keyboard-using-different-kind-of-configuration-apps side.

    infinite.loop said:
    Please do more research - because it is not.
    Just read the rest of that page.

    I did read rest of the page, thats why I said "Goal" which you probably missed.

    infinite.loop said:
    For example, configuring TVSeries is very simple on my HTPC, what I really need to do is set up the shares, which I have one or two. That is basically it, I've never changed any other settings nor do I want to click through import wizard..
    Okay, hold the line here please.....
    Where is my concept about the CONFIGURATION of a extension?

    infinite.loop said:
    Auto configuration for many extensions is not possible. Such as i.e. TvSeries. Yet I can imagine that those also provide an wizard for the first time setup.

    Just gave an example that TVSeries is a complex plugin that in the end might not need that much configuration to get it running.
     

    Dadeo

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    To quote from the news and first post:
    There are still many details we need to work out. I am looking forward to discuss these with the developers involved in the process.

    If you are interested to make this design concept become reality, then please contact me in the forums, or write in the discussion thread.
    So many of the final decisions and developments will be sorted by those developers interested to work on MPEM. What infinite.loop has done is provide some basic specs, i.e. a design concept so that such developers have a clue what they are volunteering for. :p

    While I am sure the interested developers will appreciate to hear users comments, I just hope they don't run for the hills after reading them ;) because if we don't get enough interested devs to help, nothing will happen at all.
     
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    ChristianW

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    I'm not familiar with MP very much. What actually goes in to the installing of an extension? Does it make registry entries? Is it a stand-alone app? Why would it need UAC rights in the first place?
     

    Edalex

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    Many users absolutely hate configuring and managing a system inside the applications GUI. Others love it.
    Maybe you could start poll of what way do users prefer?
    Do they want to configure MP, MP-TVSeries, scan TVchannels etc in nice 10-feet UI or in standalone apps?
    I'm not familiar with MP very much. What actually goes in to the installing of an extension? Does it make registry entries? Is it a stand-alone app? Why would it need UAC rights in the first place?
    My guess is about copying files in Program Files folder
     
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    SiLenTYL

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    I use MP as a 10-foot experience. I can do anything with a remote control only. Except the standalone configuration.exe/MPExtention Installer. The sooner we get remote control support for configuration/MPEI the better. I hope this MPEM has remote control support.. Or perhaps iPhone/android app support.

    Edit: doesn't this already sort of exist :https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...for-mpeinstaller-updated-on-25-04-2011.75926/
     
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    Terra

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    My 2 cents:
    As some already mentioned I also don't like the plugin handling as it is right now. If the Extension installer would be build in with all its functionality in the MP GUI it would be so much less work, don't even mentioning an auto update feature. (I love that in Streamed MP)
    Right now everytime some update is released for some plugin:
    1. Remote Connect to my HTPC
    2. Close MP
    3. Start FireFox
    4. Go to the developers Homepage and search the update
    5. Save the file locally on the disk
    7. Run the Installer
    8. Close all applications
    9. Start MP

    A Movie was wrongly recognized my Moving Pictures:
    Remote Connect to HTPC -> Close MP -> Start MP Config -> Select Plugin Config -> Config -> Close MP Config -> Start MP

    That said, I installed XBMC Frodo yesterday for testing, the first XBMC I have ever installed so far, and was pretty amazed by the speed, usability and extension management. Basically all plugins just install without prompting anything inside the GUI and if something does not work out of the box you can still configure it in the GUI afterwards.

    Maybe you could start poll of what way do users prefer?
    Do they want to configure MP, MP-TVSeries, scan TVchannels etc in nice 10-feet UI or in standalone apps?
    For a solution that is accepted by everybody I think both is needed. If the configuration is defined in XML files in a standardized format it should not be a big problem making a dynamic MP GUI Config and old school Windows Config Menu.

    Our repository has to become the only place to directly distribute an Extensions to MPEM/MediaPortal.
    When files are hosted externally, and the update.xml is faulty, this causes havoc in the repository and the Extensions Installer.
    As we see now that some developers, even the ones of the most popular plugins and skins, are not using it should be a concern for that goal. XML files can be checked with a schema definition and ignored if it is not valid. Was there any survey asking the reasons why developers are not using it?

    Regarding the people who raise concerns here that the Website is the online option to install Extensions in future, the Wiki page states:
    in GUI configuration:
    Some, but not all, extensions can be configured inside the MP GUI. Skins may also have configuration pages.
    Thus the MPEM should have an option to indicate if the installation of a extension requires mouse input. That has to be shown inside the Extensions plugin so that the user is aware of that before he starts the installation.
     

    tommyc2k7

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    For a solution that is accepted by everybody I think both is needed. If the configuration is defined in XML files in a standardized format it should not be a big problem making a dynamic MP GUI Config and old school Windows Config Menu.
    I think this is a fantastic idea and should definitely be looked into! I think I might look into this myself, however I'm new to mp plugins so no guarantees how it will work out, but at least it's a start.
     

    Terra

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    For a solution that is accepted by everybody I think both is needed. If the configuration is defined in XML files in a standardized format it should not be a big problem making a dynamic MP GUI Config and old school Windows Config Menu.
    I think this is a fantastic idea and should definitely be looked into! I think I might look into this myself, however I'm new to mp plugins so no guarantees how it will work out, but at least it's a start.
    I have developed an internal application together with a colleage and it's quite simple. Just use something like:

    Code:
    <config>
      <category name="General Config">
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter1" type="boolean" value="" description="" />
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter2" type="localFile" value="" description="" />
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter3" type="localFolder" value="" description="" />
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter4" type="String" value="" description="" />
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter5" type="Integer" value="" description="" />
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter6" type="multiselect" value="" description="" >
          <option>Option 1</option>
          <option>Option 2</option>
          <option>Option 3</option>
        </parameter>
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter7" type="select" value="" description="" >
          <option>Option 1</option>
          <option>Option 2</option>
          <option>Option 3</option>
        </parameter>
        <parameter name="ConfigParameter8" type="radio" value="" description="" >
          <option>Option 1</option>
          <option>Option 2</option>
          <option>Option 3</option>
        </parameter>
      </category>
    </config>

    The GUI is then responsible to provide a GUI to render everything and the validation of the input. Such a config can be used by several applications.
     
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    Arandor

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    Hi everyone,
    i guess i can develop an standalone extension manager like this. Can anyone tell me who made the current manager, so i can ask a few questions before i start with the work?
     
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