I think I fixed the problem. My ISP's DNS servers are acting goofy which caused my comment spam filter to go nuts.

Since I was logged into the system it didn't check my comments in the spam filter.

Thanks for the heads up, ROM, but I'm afraid I'm still having problems in FF2. IE6 is still working just fine, but I keep getting that same message in FF2. I've even cleared my internet cache, to no avail.

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OzzFan,

I've downloaded and installed Firefox 2.x and haven't been able to reproduce the problem.

:(

By chance do you have cookies turned off or something like that?

No, cookies aren't turned off. I just tried it with IE6 and it works fine. Must be a problem with FF2, probably a cache problem.

Just to clarify, since my last post wasn't too explanitory, I go to romwnet.org, scroll down to topic "BOINC Simple GUI is in beta", then I click on "Comments". In FF2, I keep getting that error message that I copied and pasted (I'm still getting it as I type this). Works fine in IE6. I'll keep working at it on my end, as it appears to be a problem with my browser.

OzzFan,

I think I fixed the problem. My ISP's DNS servers are acting goofy which caused my comment spam filter to go nuts.

Since I was logged into the system it didn't check my comments in the spam filter.

Sorry about that.

Feel free to post away.

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----- Rom
BOINC Development Team, U.C. Berkeley
My Blog

Don't forget it is not BOINC staff who did this it was the WCG lot who did all the coding for this as they wanted to help out BOINC by getting a simple GUI for those people who want to use it.

Plenty of there original users are used to using a simple looking interface.

If you don't want to use it then don't use it stay in advanced mode

Don't like the skin? Then either create your own or wait for some others to start releasing them

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Join us in Chat (see the forum) Click the Sig


Join UBT

OzzFan,

I've downloaded and installed Firefox 2.x and haven't been able to reproduce the problem.

:(

By chance do you have cookies turned off or something like that?

No, cookies aren't turned off. I just tried it with IE6 and it works fine. Must be a problem with FF2, probably a cache problem.

Just to clarify, since my last post wasn't too explanitory, I go to romwnet.org, scroll down to topic "BOINC Simple GUI is in beta", then I click on "Comments". In FF2, I keep getting that error message that I copied and pasted (I'm still getting it as I type this). Works fine in IE6. I'll keep working at it on my end, as it appears to be a problem with my browser.

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What does my site do?

I keep getting an error when clicking on "comments" under the "BOINC has been released in beta heading" (paraphrased).

This is what Firefox 2.0 displays:

An error has been encountered while processing the page. We have logged the error condition and are working to correct the problem. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Theme design by Jelle Druyts
Header image by FreeWebPageHeaders

Am I doing something wrong?

OzzFan,

I've downloaded and installed Firefox 2.x and haven't been able to reproduce the problem.

:(

By chance do you have cookies turned off or something like that?

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----- Rom
BOINC Development Team, U.C. Berkeley
My Blog

Indeed.

Don't forget about the desire for the "AMS" (account management services, BAM and GR) to take a more prominent role. When you combine the Ease of attachment and management the AMS's offer with the "simple GUI" you get it about as easy as it can be(when you're offering 40 project choices and all the differences between them). It's been stated that boinc wants the order of importance to be 1) Participants, 2) AMS and projects, 3) then lastly Boinc. Boinc has no interest in being "central command".

When it comes to improving the "Simple GUI", I think that was the intent of the OP for participants to throw in their 2C. To take the "simple GUI" for a test ride and give feedback, remember this is version 1.0 (as it were).

IMO the "simple gui" is for those who are group 1, don't run multiple projects, and want something that is set and forget. No hand holding necessary. As close to classic as they can get.

If people want to set and forget, they have that option with the current version. Just minimize/close the window. Simple. Heck, when windows boots, the window doesn't exist. It's just a little icon in the system tray. And even with the new version, you still have to do all the same "complicated" stuff to set up the project and client parameters. So I just don't see what is being gained here for anyone...except for skins.

Sure, it's a choice thing with the new version. But why waste all that time on coding the equivalent of minimizing/closing the window? I think effort would be better spent fixing the current version so that we don't have to click all over just to get the information we want. It's like a TV where you can see only 1/3 of the screen at a time. But you get to use the remote to pick which third. Frustrating.

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Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

Don't forget, as it is now, the simplified GUI is an opt-in thing.

The classic BOINC manager interface will not be replaced, rather, it will still be available should you not want the new one.

What mmciastro said about the differing camps on this issue can be satisfied with this level of choice, I believe.

HTH,
Simon.

Zombie, some previous seticlassic users complained that Boinc was too complicated and they preferred the simple classic app.

I see three camps on this:

1) too complicated
2) OK
3) Not near enough control

Each time something is added to give group 3 more control, it gets more complicated and thereby group 1 grows. If things are taken away to make group 1 happy, then group 3 becomes less happy.

IMO the "simple gui" is for those who are group 1, don't run multiple projects, and want something that is set and forget. No hand holding necessary. As close to classic as they can get.

I just don't get it. What's the point of the "simple view"?

It's for users that don't want or need to know more. Not necessarily a "dumbing down" for "dumb users" (though I suppose it could fit them as well), but for intelligent people that don't like the Advanced View, such as Car Mechanics, Doctors, Plumbers, etc.

These people don't necessarily want to see the advanced information - it's simply extra information for them that they aren't interested in seeing.

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I just don't get it. What's the point of the "simple view"?

You miss out on so much information. You can't see how many WUs are downloaded and waiting to run. You have to click on multiple tabs to see the status of each running job (I have a machine with 8). Compare that to just scanning the Tasks page, and all the information you can get with a single glance. It's like taking a great dashboard with 10 gauges, and replacing the whole thing with a single red/green light.

Not at all what I was expecting by "simplified GUI". I thought we would get to see all the data we have access to under the current GUI (and maybe more), but with a better layout, on a single page. That way you don't have to click from messages, to tasks, to projects just to learn the status, and take action if necessary. This just severely reduces the amount of data and control. What's the point?

I do like the ability to to set some preferences in the client, but why can't you set them from the regular view? Do they still apply when in the regular view?

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Dublin, California
Team: SETI.USA

"gimme some skin"
<slap>

Seconded, motion carried (I "third" ;o)).

The simplified GUI is completely skinnable, and there's already some documentation available.

If I were a team leader, I'd think about the possibilities - Team skin, anyone?

Regards,
Simon.

That's a problem with written vs. verbal communication -- no "tone of voice."

Too true! I've said it before myself: we can't hear the inflections in our voices, so it's hard to tell how one is "speaking".

Either way, a pretty BOINC is a better BOINC.

Is that a "seconded"? 8-)

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Instead of a complaint, how about a call to action!

I guess it depends on your perspective. You can view it as a complaint; I was offering it as constructive criticism.

That's a problem with written vs. verbal communication -- no "tone of voice."

Either way, a pretty BOINC is a better BOINC.

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For those interested in taking on the challenge, the instructions are here:

How to Skin the BOINC GUI

You'll need to run the current beta to test your skins.

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I have not been paying attention, what new gui is coming out? Can i beta test it?

If you download BOINC v5.7.2 (beta build!), you can see the new BOINC Simple GUI (defaults to normal view, you have to select File -> Simple View from the menu to see it).

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I have not been paying attention, what new gui is coming out? Can i beta test it?

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Instead of a complaint, how about a call to action!

I guess it depends on your perspective. You can view it as a complaint; I was offering it as constructive criticism. If someone wants to step up to the call, then so be it. That's why I pointed out that it was a comment; it wasn't intended as a complaint per se, but just my personal opinion, someone else may like the default skin for all I know. I could be in the minority. So, before I start calling people to action, I should at least bring up the comment first to see what others think. If others dislike it too, then there can be a call for action at that point.

I guess I was doing it more democratically instead of like Jeopardy. Motion on the floor. Waiting to be "seconded".

I gave my opinion here for reasons twofold: to provide feedback to ROM and to start a conversation about the issues.

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If one appreciates art, they need to engage artists, not software developers.

Since neither of us have talents as artists, maybe we can inspire those who do.

Point taken and understood.

But, in merely bringing up the topic here on the boards, aren't I, in some way, engaging (or calling out) all the artists out there already? Otherwise, I don't know where else to turn, that would be appropriate, to get my opinion vocalized to the right crowd other than here.

I think what I'm suggesting is sort of a modified-Jeopardy model (Be sure to give your answer in the form of a question!)

Instead of a complaint, how about a call to action!

Hey, all of you artists out there! Check out the new simplified BOINC GUI! It works well, but pastel blue and limey* green and soft yellow? Let's see who can create a better skin -- and see if BOINC will adopt it.

I know, it's marketing, and I'm as good at marketing as I am with art, but sometimes, spin is good.

*in this context, Limey is meant to describe a color only.

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