UserJS installation

UserJS installation

My next wish is to include automatic installation of UserJS in Opera. I would like to see installation of UserJS as easy as installation of widgets:

1) You click on link that hrefs to file with mime/type: application/x-opera-configuration-userjs
2) Opera asks you if you are sure that you want to install this JS and informs that it may be dangerous
3) If you click, Opera downloads file and place this in userjs directory

I belive UserJS is really powerfull tool but it needs some easy way of installation for newbies.

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+1 to make this easier!

And a list to enable/disable different pieces/packages of userjs.

Ideally, the devs should think about a more general system to add different kinds of modifications, and make userjs a part of that. Let's see what happens..

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it could be very helpfull for new users

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And automatic updates, too!

Originally posted by Zajec:

2) Opera asks you if you are sure that you want to install this JS and informs that it may be dangerous

It presents the information in the header.
It also automatically creates a userjsfolder if there isn't one in the user's profile directory.

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I agree, at the moment, installing UserJS is too much hassle for some people, having this would make it easier.

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Originally posted by Schneemann:

And a list to enable/disable different pieces/packages of userjs.

+1000000 in fact
I'm tired of having to copy, paste and delete user js files manually. Please Opera. This might be my number one wish right now.
Oh, and please scrap userjs.org and do a proper official Opera site, like userjs.opera.com, or a link under my.opera's customizations.

I'm putting this topic in my signature.

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+1 to all the ideas.

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Originally posted by Zajec:

My next wish is to include automatic installation of UserJS in Opera. I would like to see installation of UserJS as easy as installation of widgets:

1) You click on link that hrefs to file with mime/type: application/x-opera-configuration-userjs
2) Opera asks you if you are sure that you want to install this JS and informs that it may be dangerous
3) If you click, Opera downloads file and place this in userjs directory

I belive UserJS is really powerfull tool but it needs some easy way of installation for newbies.

Definitely +++1 idea and worth a consideration from opera.
In the same line, I have been asking for streamlining all opera add-ons/customizations in one place.
http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=165125

http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=165124

Another important thing I wrote about before was to highlight unofficial language also. Direct access to unofficial language files from opera during installation. This is important in the sense that many languages are not covered officially and opera can reach to those people by easy access to unofficial language. off topic to this thread but all comes to the main point of user friendliness.
Opera need to think about more.
I admire mozilla in this sense that whenever they do anything(like add on), they focused on easy access. From firefox and thunderbird, users can easily install extension and themes.

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Originally posted by operafan2006:

Another important thing I wrote about before was to highlight unofficial language also.

Language files, like UserJS can do some fairly nasty things if purposely or even inadvertently written to do so

Originally posted by operafan2006:

I admire mozilla in this sense that whenever they do anything(like add on), they focused on easy access. From firefox and thunderbird, users can easily install extension and themes.

I am not sure this is necessarily a good thing. I was very surprised to observe my mother use the internet, she clicks on EVERYTHING, popups, ads, whatever. If she gets warnings what does she do? Just clicks OK. She doesnt care what the warning is, she just wants it out of the way. While UserJS is somewhat limited in terms of the potential for misuse when compared with extensions and browser helper objects, that doesnt mean it cant or wont be misused.

Its a toss up, try to protect those who dont understand what can happen by making things a little bit more inconvenient for those who do.

That being said, wishes 1 and 3 in the OP can already be done. Some UI integrated management of UserJS could also be useful

average user might be a concern. but it might also be true that an average user will not even look for such add-on ? if the interface is somewhere inside (like current skin download), he/she may not even get to the preference window to download things.

For unofficial language file, it is even better. During installation, average user will keep clicking next and endup successful installation. He will not bother getting language file. During installation, if you keep a link for unofficial language, it will be clicked by average user, I believe.

So, I understand your concern but might be carefully designed. I don't use firefox but use thunderbird. I think getting extensions/themse for thunderbird is very easy and good installation option right fromt he program.

something to think about.

Our respective definitions of an average user may differ quite a bit. I would think my mum would be more representative of an 'average user' than any of the people who posted in this thread. Her level of computer literacy has not prevented, and probably even aided, her installation of spyware. Making something easier to install and then hiding the option to do so is not really a solution because you are just trading one inconvenience for another and as soon as a user does find it, odds are that it will get installed

Originally posted by operafan2006:

For unofficial language file, it is even better. During installation, average user will keep clicking next and endup successful installation. He will not bother getting language file. During installation, if you keep a link for unofficial language, it will be clicked by average user, I believe.

This is exactly my point, people click on dialog boxes without reading what they are about.

Originally posted by operafan2006:

I think getting extensions/themse for thunderbird is very easy and good installation option right fromt he program.

Im not sure how that works but I doubt it would be an unmoderated list of extensions, which gives some level of safety. Similarly, userjs.org was a good idea

Some sort of reorganization of things required for easier access to user. At this moment userjs.org is not that updated I believe and also I think this can be easily placed along with skins/setups etc to some sort of add-on kind of page. then hat can be accessed fro browser and installed readily.
For example, someone switching from fire fox looking for some extension in opera. What we do? either give him link to rjk's page, or tell him that it can be doone by user js(which he will find hard to find sometimes) or tell him it is available out of the box. Now, if we had our unified add-on page, interested new user would visit that page in the first place. if there is link from opera window, then this would be even easier for him to get info.

At the sametime, yours point is valid too. Check and balance required. user might be warned that use of some userjs might create problems in some other functions etc.

I can understand why some people and even the people at Opera may have concerns about the ‘average user’ downloading and installing dodgy or false extensions / add-ons that can screw the browser and / or pc.

So, would it make sense for Opera to create a official add-on / extension site that’s part of the my.opera community just like these forums are? It would mean that anyone can create the scripts but they would have to be checked and vetted by the moderators / software people at Opera before being allowed to be hosted here at Opera as official pieces of the Opera software just like the skins are?

I think they could be viewed / downloaded and installed in the same way as the skins are.

sounds like a good idea. But will opera give that time?

Diego1981's right. Everyone go back to posting +1s!

Great idea! +1

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;-)

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well before it gets 'buried' in a mound of '+1's, how about making a **clear & concise** thread title???

somewhat based on this....

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Agree with this wish.

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