Re: Re: We need usage data - please review

On 1 Dec 2006, at 18:55, Jaroslav Tulach wrote:

> Indeed I need to get some real data first before I can find out  
> what to do
> with them. I was expecting that I need about 1000 submitions to  
> create at
> least few (five) useful tips of the day.
>
> I mean I agree that the "return value" can wait. However I'd like  
> this part be
> fully hosted on the "server side" - so it can be changed anytime,  
> without
> installing any module on the client. I know this is not much about  
> UI, but I
> guess this is important flexibility that is likely to be found  
> handy later.

The question is whether to show the "Get Tip of the Day" button or  
not. The IDE should show it only if it offers reasonable tips.

>> If the user agrees to send the data, the
>> IDE would then send the data silently maybe with each connection to
>> update center,
>> or each exit, or some other suitable time.
>
> Exit time is more suitable than "update center time", because at  
> "update
> center time", there are usually no recorded actions yet.

If the IDE collects the data on disc and sends it once a week when  
connecting to update center then the data should be already recorded.

>> Other than
>> that there would be no other UI changes needed.
>
> This would be fine for a release (except that by then there we are  
> capable of
> providing the "returned value", whatever it will be), however we  
> need this to
> work in daily builds soon and as far as I know those are mostly  
> downloaded in
> ZIP form. As such the installer approach is not likely to work for our
> current audience very much. Imho we need a UI, but the UI can be  
> suppressed
> by installer.

I understand. For final release I would recommend to use installer  
UI. For daily builds, it's tricky because there isn't really suitable  
time to ask for permission, as users would not expect something like  
that during the IDE exit nor IDE startup (if we ask during the  
startup). In any case I think the most appropriate would be to ask a  
simple onetime question whether the user agrees or disagrees to  
participate in the program. Maybe showing something like the  
following dialog during the IDE exit or startup:

+------------------------------------------------+
| NetBeans Gesture Collector                     |
+------------------------------------------------+
|                                                |
|                                                |
| <Explanation of UI gesture collector program>  |
|                                                |
|                <with a link to Privacy Policy> |
|                                                |
| Do you agree to ... ?                          |
|                                                |
|                     [ I Agree ] [ I Disagree ] |
+------------------------------------------------+

What do you think?

Thanks,
Jano