Simplifying the Web Install

PepeLapiu

So just a suggestion for the web install.
It's very confusing when installing with a Windows machine to see instructions for Linux machines.

I would suggest you do a seperate web install page for each OS.

Dumdum

PepeLapiu
There's no need? Only part of the installation guide about Linux is this and Flashing as Non-root above it. The rest is OS-agnostic.

ErnestThornhill

The installation guide reads perfectly fine.

missing-root

Now imagine using Linux and seeing Windows instructions everywhere ;D

raccoondad

missing-root

Windows users have installers, Linux users have instructions :)

Relaks

The OP is simply stating their personal impression of the web install instructions. I find it quite disheartening to see members of this community simply brushing this aside as something objectively false. I agree with the OP. Non-technical users who use Windows or Mac and don't know what Linux is, might be confused as to how to proceed in the guide.

It might be better to split the guide more clearly into different operating systems, perhaps offering a very simple overview of the OSs with clickable links.

I'm very happy to see that GrapheneOS has recognized this point: https://twitter.com/GrapheneOS/status/1753499682163073206#m
(Alt. link: https://nitter.unixfox.eu/GrapheneOS/status/1753499682163073206#m)

Dumdum

Relaks I find it quite disheartening to see members of this community simply brushing this aside as something objectively false.

And frankly we're right to do so (especially since it is objectively false).

Non-technical users who use Windows or Mac and don't know what Linux is, might be confused as to how to proceed in the guide.

Please stop with "non-technical users" in matters of simple competence. Don't know / understand anything to do with Linux? Don't bother with the parts clearly marked with Linux. It's that hilariously simple.

It might be better to split the guide more clearly into different operating systems, perhaps offering a very simple overview of the OSs with clickable links.

Sure. I'm not particularly against this, but I (and seemingly a number of others here) all find it to be a rather pointless / low priority issue for the GOS team to bother with. The guide is incredibly readable as is and, as someone who has been on this forum for a while, this is the first time I've seen someone claim they find it "very confusing" to see instructions for Linux. In other words, its pretty much a complete non issue.

I'm very happy to see that GrapheneOS has recognized this point: https://twitter.com/GrapheneOS/status/1753499682163073206#m

I guess we're just gonna ignore the part literally two posts below that one which says:

Look at the install guide ignoring those kinds of things and you'll see it's already very simple.

In other words, literally what I said in my first point above.

Titan_M2

The website could do OS and browser detection to show relevant instructions and a menu to show them all. Don't know if this is feasible with a static site though.

Relaks

Dumdum Thank you for your input. I did not see the tweet farther down. I already think the guide is easy to follow, and did not intend to claim otherwise.

I'm sorry if my post came off as rude or disrespectful.

minxes0v

Dumdum as someone who has been on this forum for a while, this is the first time I've seen someone claim they find it "very confusing" to see instructions for Linux. In other words, its pretty much a complete non issue.

That's a pretty big leap there. Do you really think every single person who finds the guide confusing is going to find the forum, make an account, and complain?

It's very common for support documents to have completely distinct sections for different operating systems.

I'm sure at some point, people said the same thing about the CLI install guide being perfectly fine, yet here we are with a WebUSB installer.

matchboxbananasynergy

We have ideas about how we can further streamline the installation process. We already consider it fairly straightforward.

It is as wordy as it is because we try to cover all edge cases and be thorough with our steps, making it so someone who reads through it won't be caught off guard by something. This, however, ends up making the page a bit "daunting", at first.

Desktop LInux and Windows is unnecessarily complex, but it is not something we can fix. Installation on Android, ChromeOS or macOS is much simpler.

There are some ideas/sketches about how we can improve the UX of the web installation process where one starts by selecting their OS and browser, which makes only the relevant steps to that setup appear, instead of everything. It would be a guided installation process with multiple screens, instead of a single page.

That said, this is nothing but a concept at the moment, and I still maintain that the current guide is simple enough for people who take the time to read through it. 99% of the time, the issues people have are things that we cannot control, no matter how the installation guide is structured: faulty ports/cables.

ErnestThornhill

matchboxbananasynergy It is as wordy as it is because we try to cover all edge cases and be thorough with our steps, making it so someone who reads through it won't be caught off guard by something. This, however, ends up making the page a bit "daunting", at first.

This is a perfect example of "Damned if you do. Damned if you don't." If you don't try to make it as simple as possible, someone will complain about it. If you do try to, however, someone is still going to find something to complain about.