We're working on F24 change to change the primary downloadable of Workstation to Fedora Media Writer (formerly LiveUSB Creator): https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/LUCasPrimaryDownloadable
We need assistance from the websites team because the change requires changes on the download website:
1) Based on the user agent Windows users should be offered an exe file of FMW (Dennis is currently figuring out location for it).
2) For them, we should alter the website and explain what FMW is instead of "What is a Live image"? We should still keep ISOs in Other downloads for those we do want to download an ISO.
3) For everyone else (Linux, Mac,...), we should still offer an ISO, but instead of general "To use this image, you need a drive that can create or "burn" DVDs, or a USB flash drive at least as big as the image." we should point them to FMW, probably linking How_to_create_and_use_Live_USB which we will change to describe FMW.
Answers to additional questions asked by robyduck in email conversations:
Do you want to let people download a software to get a Fedora image instead of a simple download link of the iso?[[BR]] Yes, that's the idea. Especially on other platforms (Windows, Mac), it's hard to find a tool that can reliably write Fedora on a USB drive. So instead of downloading an ISO, Windows users will download a tool that will let them download it and write it on a USB drive.
Mostly for win users?[[BR]] Only for Windows users in F24 release cycle. We planned the same for Mac users, but the Mac port won't be finished on time. If there is a standard cross-distro installation format (e.g. xdg-app) in the future, we may consider it for Linux users, too, but not for F24.
What about spins, labs, Server?[[BR]] The Server working group decided not to use FMW as primary downloadable. We also don't want to include spins and labs now. FMW allows you to download Server, spins and labs, but spins and labs are in a list you need to extend, so it may be confusing for users as primary downloadable. We plan it only for Workstation now. Anyway, FMW should be at least mentioned as the official way to write the ISO on download pages of other editions, spins, and labs.
How will checksums work?[[BR]] FMW checks checksums of ISOs it has downloaded before they're loaded to a USB drive.
Where and who will provide documentation for the use of this software?[[BR]] We will describe how to use the tool on the following wiki page once it's official. We don't want to change the wiki page now when FMW is still not officially available.[[BR]] https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_create_and_use_Live_USB
We are already in the middle of the F24 release cycle, and websites are going to branch for Beta today or max tomorrow. AFAICS you don't want to change so much for F24, and probably the best would be to add just a section like:
{{{ Windows user? Get Fedora Media Writer and download Fedora right to your USB stick. }}}
I can understand it is useful for Windows users, but I can't see an advantage to use an extra software to do the same I can do also just clicking on the ISO; that's more an aditional hurdle. Also, we should not replace the "What is a live image", because people will still get a live image, also with FMW, right?
If we still want Linux users to download their Fedora ISO as always, we cannot point them to FMW to burn the image. They still can use a DVD burning software if they like, or use a USB writing software of their choice.
If the tool is going to replace all, we should add the description of how to use it directly on the websites. If it is too long we can also ask the docs team to write it in docs.fedoraproject.org, but I'd rather not use a wiki page. Docs already have a section which explains how to use ISOs, also for windows users.[[BR]] https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/23/html/Installation_Guide/sect-preparing-boot-media.html
The change to make FMW was postponed to F25 because of building and legal issues. But we still would like to make it the official tool for creating a bootable USB with Fedora like we had it before. So it'd be nice to have a note that Fedora Media Write is the official tested tool for it and that they would find more info at https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_create_and_use_Live_USB.
Fedora Media Writer for Linux, Windows, and Mac is pretty much ready (just ironing out details), Fedora release engineering is working on building the Windows and Mac port in Fedora infra, but we also need to work on the download website, to have it ready at least for F25 beta.
Mockups for the download page are here:
https://github.com/fedoradesign/nextweb-assets/tree/master/Mockups/Brochure%20Site
Mockups are here:
Initial (minimized, with OS auto-detection) view: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fedoradesign/nextweb-assets/master/Mockups/Brochure%20Site/workstation-media-writer-download_min.2.png
Maximized view when you click view all platforms: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fedoradesign/nextweb-assets/master/Mockups/Brochure%20Site/workstation-media-writer-download_max.2.png
Pre-release: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fedoradesign/nextweb-assets/master/Mockups/Brochure%20Site/workstation-media-writer-download_pre-release.png
We are going to use [Detctizr http://baris.aydinoglu.info/Detectizr] to detect the OS of our websites visitors. This also requires [Modernizr https://modernizr.com/]. We need to figure out how to implement it in our website build, how to use the information we get and how to display the right webpage with fallback for false detetcs or for those who have JS disabled.
Worst case, if we are not able to have it running in time for Beta, is to display at least the three options (Linux, Win and MacOS) without detecting the OS. Binaries are ready for the test day next week.
A good deal of the content done in the fmw-test branch: https://pagure.io/fedora-websites/branch/fmw-test
I think the remaining piece is the Detectizr/modernizr piece; but for Beta we should be able to just put the three-part per-OS blob in the workstation/prerelease page, right? That might cut down on confusion or missed instructions.
The Detectizr/modernizr piece is alredy there and working. The main download button detects your OS and puts the right binary in the link. Actually you can choose to view all versions, and then you will scroll down automatically to the three column thing.
We should find a way to hide them, and unhide the three columns only when requested by the user. Instructions are those on the website, I feel they are very clear already ;)
FMW is now even in production for F25. For any further issues please open a new ticket on pagure. Thanks.
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