Based on design critiqes, I have decided to pursue design two as the major frontend. Some new functionality since the template version is the ability to resize and minimize the windows. I have also added a taskbar-like bar at the bottom of the screen to manage the minimized windows.
Also, because this design is pretty ugly, I will be adding a more professional look to it, much like design one has.
My design templates are now available for viewing. Direct links are also available. Please note that these are not final and do not actually function.
Being an administrator of the Clarkson Open Source Institute Linux build, means having to deal with those that run into problems using it. You get software requests, bug reports ranging from minor to show-stopper, and various other tasks that require you to be physically in the laboratory to fix.
My project will attempt to fix these problems by providing a web based front end for laboratory administration. Users should be able to do the following:
This programs usefulness is relative to the stability of COSI's Linux build. If everything is going perfectly, this program will probably be useless. But, that is doubtful... In reality, I believe this would be invaluable in more common situations, such as when no one who is a build administrator happens to be in the lab during a major malfunction. With this program, an administrator could be contacted and have the problem fixed quickly.
Launce wakes up every morning, at the Manitoba Institute of Technology, feeling well and relaxed. He gets ready and heads out for a day of classes and frustrations involving a certain Linux build at the laboratory where he is an administrator.
Before Launce's first class, a check of the build is required. Everything is okay. By the end of the day, he has had to install several pieces of software, answer questions, and add modifications to a To-Do list for this build. At this point, Launce is ready to head back to his dormitory.
Since Launce has been doing this for a few months now, he knows to leave his cell phone on for people to call inform him that he needs to come back up to the laboratory to fix a computer.
Launce is familiar enough with Linux to do this job and would prefer software to work out-of-the-box, if it doesn't he will move on to an alternative. If none exist, Launce will consider writing his own to fill whatever niche was empty, or will crack open the source code of an existing one. Because of this mentality open source is very important to Launce.
This program has been wanted by COSI administrators for a while now, so I interviewed a few to see what they had wanted in one. Some of their ideas are as follows