Bug #6412

go-pear misleads user into thinking env vars are acceptable

Details

Request #6412	go-pear misleads user into thinking env vars are acceptable
Submitted	2006-01-04 09:09 UTC
From	mvd at thinkling dot com
Assigned	pajoye
Status	Bogus
Package	PEAR
PHP Version	4.4.1
OS	Linux 2.4
Roadmaps	(Not assigned)

Comments

[2006-01-04 09:09 UTC] mvd at thinkling dot com

Description:
------------
go-pear gives the impression in its menus that it understands variable expansion by mentioning "$prefix".

go-pear.php will say:

>1. Installation prefix : /usr/local
>2. Binaries directory : $prefix/bin

This led me to try using $HOME and ~/ in the paths I provided it. The former actually creates a directory called "$HOME" which tempts newbies to remove it by "rm -r $HOME", which is disastrous.

I suggest go-pear be modified to say instead:

>1. Installation prefix : /usr/local
>2. Binaries directory : [Installation prefix]/bin

It would be even better if go-pear can be modified to understand env vars.

(Aside: there appears to be no install/go-pear package to file bugs against.)

[2006-03-03 20:23 UTC] mvd at thinkling dot com

I didn't request that the handling of env vars be changed, just mentioned it as an option.

This is a UI bug with misleading output, and I requested that at least the output be changed. It's a nearly trivial change that can save first time users some real frustration and improve the install experience.