[asterisk-users] Why does everyone seem to dislike *now?

[Eric "ManxPower" Wieling]

If the #AsteriskNOW channel is dead on IRC that does not mean you can 
bring your problems to a channel dedicated to Asterisk (i.e. no GUI). 
Go ahead and use AsteriskNOW, but don't pester the people in #asterisk, 
most of which have never used it and many have never even heard of it.

All the GUIs make incredibly complex dialplans, macros, and AGIs to do 
what they do.  If you are using AsteriskNOW and build your config files 
from scratch then most everyone on #asterisk is willing to help you -- 
you are using simple easy to understand, troubleshoot, and diagnose 
config files.  The problem with this is that the GUI will no longer work.

AsteriskNOW is not Asterisk.  Asking questions about AsteriskNOW on 
#asterisk is like asking for support for your linux based cell phone on 
#linux.  The environment, built, paths, libraries, and software are all 
totally different on a linux based cellphone and people that know Linux 
really can't help you.  All you end up doing is wasting people's time.

There is a similar problem with #asterisk-dev.  You do not go to 
#asterisk-dev to ask user type questions.  That is not what the channel 
is for.  #asterisk-dev is for development questions related to Asterisk.

I'm sure that AsteriskNOW is a great product.  Use the correct support 
methods, that is all we ask.

SIP wrote:
> Not at all relevant to your query, but I still use the mysql CLI for any 
> mysql task... and while most OSs have nice, functional tools to add 
> users (command-line tools), there are SOME (*cough* Irix *cough*) where 
> there are no CLI tools and VI is your only option (especially if you're 
> remotely logged in via a term window and have no X).
> 
> GUIs have their place. But it's often a trade-off between abstracting 
> the details to make things user-friendly and hiding the power that is 
> available via the CLI from someone who knows it. If you're comfortable 
> with the CLI, why learn another tool? If you're NOT comfortable with the 
> CLI, by all means use a GUI, but don't expect people who never use it to 
> be of much help when you ask questions.
> 
> That being said, I like AsteriskNow's GUI. They've obviously spent a lot 
> of work on it (prettier than the stuff that comes with Trixbox). 
> However, for me, I learned using vi and the cli, so I can never quite 
> find what I'm looking for in AsteriskNow.
> 
> N.
> 
> 
> Jim Canfield wrote:
>> Greetings,
>>
>> Last week I began researching Asterisk for the first time. I did what 
>> most noobs would do; downloaded an image that seemed simple and 
>> straightforward and had some credibility (*now).  I also downloaded 
>> the TFOT version 1 as a guide.
>>
>> As questions arose, I tossed a few out in #asterisckNOW channel..and 
>> found it to be a ghost town.  Only later did i start to ask a few 
>> quesions in #asterisk...my biggest mistake was mentioning *now and I 
>> was quickly marked as the GUI idiot.  Not entirely untrue at this 
>> point but not helpful for someone who is getting started.
>>
>> Here are my first impressions:
>>
>>     * The Devs have spent a LOT of time on *now and seem to be doing a
>>       fantastic job.
>>     * *now is not just a GUI...it's a complete base/reference system -
>>       I like that the MOST.
>>     * *now is a great starting point for someone new (Me).
>>     * *now needs documentation!  I know it's in beta, but having links
>>       to a down site, is not cool. (Sign me up for help if needed).
>>     * *now could be more geared for use as a universal tool.  The
>>       default contexts and files were quickly replaced with more
>>       standard configs.
>>     * *now could be very helpful in tracking issues with links to
>>       "Report a problem" or search the WIKI from the app.
>>
>> I understand the tendency to love the CLI, but I honestly think there 
>> a place for a GUI in Asterisk. How many of us still use the mysql CLI? 
>> I can't expect my helpdesk guy to know emacs or vi just to add a user.
>>