Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of SimpleAttach

Timestamp:

Jan 6, 2015, 10:33:35 AM (10 years ago)

Author:

davea

Comment:

--

SimpleAttach

@@ -1 +1 @@
 [[PageOutline]]
-= Improved attach process =
+= Simplified registration/download process =
 
-This document proposes changes to the process by which volunteers attach to projects.
+This document proposes changes to the process by which volunteers
+download BOINC and attach to projects.
 
 == Current attach process ==
@@ -37 +38 @@
 Problems with this design:
 
- * In each case there are a lot of steps, and we lose a fraction of volunteers at each step.
+ * In each case there are many steps, and we lose a fraction of volunteers at each step.
  * If the computer is of a type for which the project has no apps,
    the user doesn't learn this until BOINC has already been installed.
    Ideally they should learn this immediately.
- * It doesn't take into account whether the project uses !VirtualBox.
-   If it does, the user should be required to download BOINC+VBox.
+ * If the project requires !VirtualBox,
+   the user should be required to download BOINC+VBox.
  * The scheme applies to non-Android computers.
-  For Android users the process is similar, except that BOINC must be downloaded from
-  the Google or Amazon app store.
+  For Android users the process is similar,
+  except that BOINC must be downloaded from the Google or Amazon app store.
   The standard project front page says nothing about Android.
 
@@ -52 +53 @@
 == Project front page ==
 
-If the user's computer is of a type for which the project has no apps,
-they see a message like
-
-'''This project doesn't currently support Mac OS X computers.
-A list of supported computer types is [here].'''
+The project front page has a "Join" button, linked to a page described below.
 
 === Android case ===
 
-For Android devices, the front page says
+On the Join page:
+if project has no Android apps, show a message like
+
+'''This project doesn't currently support Android devices
+A list of supported computer types is [here].'''
+
+Otherwise show:
 
  * '''[Download BOINC]''' (link to Google or Amazon app store)
  * '''Open BOINC, select Add Project, and choose (project name)'''
 
+Note: we can probably improve this.
+
 === Non-Android case ===
 
-For non-Android computers, the front page says:
+Join page:
 
- * '''To participate, the BOINC software must be installed.'''
- * (big green button): '''Join (install BOINC)'''
- * (smaller text): '''If BOINC is already installed, click [here]'''
+if the project has no app versions for the platform, show
 
-If the project has VBox apps for this platform, the above is replaced with
+'''This project doesn't currently X computers.
+The supported computer types are: xxx"
 
- * '''To participate, the BOINC and !VirtualBox software must be installed.'''
- * (big green button): '''Join (install BOINC and !VirtualBox)'''
- * (smaller text): '''If BOINC and !VirtualBox are already installed, click [here]'''
+Otherwise show a create account / login page:
 
-For new volunteers, the process is:
+ * Create account: please enter your email address and a password.
+ * If you already have an account, please log in (links for forgot passwd etc.)
 
- 1. Visit project web site, click on '''Join (install BOINC)'''.
-   Download happens, browser remains on project web site (see below).
-   Possibly (depending on OS/browser) goes to a page describing how to
-   run the installer after download is done.
- 1. When download is done, click on installer.
- 1. Click on Defaults in installer
- 1. Manager runs and brings up Attach wizard at the "enter email/password" page;
-   no need to select project etc.
-   This page also has name/info of project.
-   Enter email/password.
+On completion, show a "download page":
 
-Existing volunteers click on the "already installed" link,
-and see a page telling them to open the BOINC Manager and select Add Project.
+ * To participate in X, your computer must have BOINC (and VBox) installed.
+ * [Download BOINC (and VBox)] (link to concierge.php).
+    This goes to a page explaining how to install after download.
+ * [BOINC (and VBox) are already installed].
+    This goes to a page saying to open the Manager and select Add Project.
+
+So for new volunteers, the process is:
+
+ 1. Visit project web site, click on '''Join".
+ 1. Enter email/passwd
+ 1. Click Download
+ 1. Click on installer, choose defaults
+ 1. Manager runs, brings up dialog showing project and account info,
+     asks for confirmation.
 
 === What projects must do ===
@@ -103 +109 @@
 In the home page:
 
- * Call '''browser_platform_supported()'''.
-   If this returns false, show the "platform not supported" text,
-   and link to '''supported_platforms.php'''.
- * Call '''join_button()''' as:
-{{{
-list($url, $text) = join_button();
-}}}
-   and display a button linking to the returned URL.
-   '''$text''' is either "BOINC" or "BOINC and !VirtualBox".
- * Show the "already installed" link, pointing to '''attach.php'''.
+ * put a button linking to join.php
 
 == Implementation ==
 
-=== '''browser_platform_supported()''' ===
-
-This gets the platform from the user agent string,
+Join page:
+get the platform from the user agent string,
 then finds the supported platforms by enumerating
 the app_version and platform tables.
 
-=== join_button() ===
-
-This extracts from config.xml:
+Download page: extract from config.xml:
  * the master URL
  * the project name
@@ -130 +124 @@
  * the project institution
 
-It sees whether VBox is used by enumerating the app_version table.
+See whether VBox is used by enumerating the app_version table.
 
 These data are passed as URL args to a URL on the BOINC web server (concierge.php).
@@ -169 +163 @@
 If this is present, it puts up the Attach Wizard,
 at the email/password page.
-
-== Comments ==
-
-There are actually four scenarios, corresponding to:
-
- 1. Whether the user has installed BOINC on the computer.
- 1. Whether the user has an account on this project.
-
-This design is geared to the cases where 2 is false.
-We should handle the other cases as well.
-