Hi,
The problem is that the AppBar could be populated with lots of apps that
might not be interesting for the user. Currently the AppBar acts like an
AppIndex (for the apps that provide the panels.Applications UIX), while
some users might expect it to act like a Favorites mechanism (the admin
deciding what apps should be promoted there). Also the AppBar is not very
scalable: having 50+ apps installed will be hard for an user to scroll in
order to find his desired app.
Trying to simplify the Appbar by removing apps from it, concludes that
users might not be able to know if some apps are installed and available.
The administrators have access to EM and AppBar configuration, but normal
users don't. So it's normal to have the need of an "Application Index",
just like we have for pages, users and wikis.
Topics:
1. App Index page location
2. App Index launcher location
1. The first thing we should decide is where we should locate this App
Index. Alternatives:
1.1 Main.AppIndex : consistent with Main.AllDocs and Main.UserDirectory,
not consistent with WikiManager.WebHome.
1.2 Applications.WebHome: as a new top level space. In theory, other
applications could use this space as parent.
1.3 AppWithinMinutes.AppIndex : as part of AWM, but the livetable should be
extended to include all the apps UIX. The page will be included on the
AWM.WebHome in addition with the ability to Create new AWM apps.
1.4 XWiki.InstalledApplications : as part of EM, but with rights visible
for all users, not just Admins. It will list just apps, with the ability to
'Launch/Open/View' an app.
1.4 other?
2. App Index launcher could be placed:
2.1 in the Drawer with the rest of the Indexes
2.2 instead of the AppBar 'More applications' menu, as a link
There are several aspects:
A. EM lists for admins all the installed extensions, but they cannot see
just the 'applications' installed on the wiki and launch them. We could
create a filter to list just applications (InstalledApplications) and help
the admin manage apps faster. If we were to move administrative actions
inside an external AppIndex (outside of EM) it would duplicate/split EM
functionality (Launch, Install, Delete, Add/Create, etc.)
B. AWM allows you to create apps. For a simple user, he might not see the
difference between what apps are created with AWM and which are not, and
why should he care. For an user, an application is just an application. If
we don't chooses 1.3 than the user might be confused why some apps are
listed in AWM.WebHome, while others/all are listed in an external AppIndex
(outside of AWM).
C. If we transform AppBar into a Favorites, then we will need to move the
UIXP to the Application Index. It's a bit strange that we are considering
using a panel dedicated UIXP as a simple 'application descriptor'.
There are many things to consider since AppBar, AWM and EM share
applications definitions and we might want to remove duplication, but still
allow both admins and users have access to information about apps.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Caty
Related issues:
- "Simplify the Appbar by removing some apps"
http://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-13433
- "Create an Application Index"
http://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-11423
- "Better differenciate the notion of Application inside XWiki"
http://jira.xwiki.org/browse/XWIKI-7924