MX Linux Forum

fehlix wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 4:04 pm We just could redefine by a simple changing of an option within a polikit-rule, that a user would not need to enter a password for USB-formating.

I wouldn't recommend this. Here's a scenario:

Father sits at his computer showing his son how to use MX Linux. Phone rings. Father leaves room. Son decides to poke around. "What does the USB formatter do?" Click, click. "Oops." The family photo album has been wiped..

A few seconds typing a password could prevent a lifetime of frustration.

colin_b wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:13 pm

fehlix wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 4:04 pm We just could redefine by a simple changing of an option within a polikit-rule, that a user would not need to enter a password for USB-formating.

I wouldn't recommend this. Here's a scenario:

Father sits at his computer showing his son how to use MX Linux. Phone rings. Father leaves room. Son decides to poke around. "What does the USB formatter do?" Click, click. "Oops." Shortly afterwards it is discovered a lifetime of photos have disappeared.

A few seconds typing a password could prevent a lifetime of frustration.

That's why you make sure the phone is right buy the computer and you keep the require password function.

colin_b wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 6:13 pm

fehlix wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 4:04 pm We just could redefine by a simple changing of an option within a polikit-rule, that a user would not need to enter a password for USB-formating.

I wouldn't recommend this. Here's a scenario:

Father sits at his computer showing his son how to use MX Linux. Phone rings. Father leaves room. Son decides to poke around. "What does the USB formatter do?" Click, click. "Oops." The family photo album has been wiped..

A few seconds typing a password could prevent a lifetime of frustration.

Thats on the data-level e.g. simialr to 2 clicks : rightclick your pictures folder and click delete.
usb-stick-formater are 3 clicks : open, select, confirm
Might be a settings the user can choose. either optional, enable/disable, or Or time-out, like e.g sudo on the cli does also has time-out.

fehlix wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:19 pm usb-stick-formater are 3 clicks : open, select, confirm

Oops, I was a click short

fehlix wrote: Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:19 pm Might be a settings the user can choose. either optional, enable/disable, or Or time-out, like e.g sudo on the cli does also has time-out.

I would personally leave the password enabled as a safety net, but options might be useful for some.

Just caught up on this thread, keep the password, pure idiocy to remove it because a user would poke the finger saying "you (MX) broke this....", but if a password is required, then they have been satiated with all the notifications and warnings, therefore their actions are completely in their own control. Be as wise as a serpent, but as harmless as a dove. Let's not ruin the security and safety aspect of MX with a foolish and rash decision.

The 'USB Stick Formatter' on Mint contains a password demand to make the user think 'is this the correct drive I want to format?'

Why fiddle about and remove it just for the reason of making it slightly different?

It just works, don't bugger about with it!

Just wondering ...

Can the (Mint) USB Stick Formatter be improved to add the format choice of exFAT?

exFAT is supposedly optimized for flash drives, doesn't have the 4GB file size limitation of FAT32, and is read/write by PCs & Macs out of the box. Further, unlike some (many?) Linux distros exfat-utils and exfat-fuse are installed by default in MX 17.1.

Antediluvian wrote: Sun Jun 24, 2018 4:03 am Just wondering ...

Can the (Mint) USB Stick Formatter be improved to add the format choice of exFAT?

exFAT is supposedly optimized for flash drives, doesn't have the 4GB file size limitation of FAT32, and is read/write by PCs & Macs out of the box. Further, unlike some (many?) Linux distros exfat-utils and exfat-fuse are installed by default in MX 17.1.

https://github.com/linuxmint/mintstick

Antediluvian wrote: Sun Jun 24, 2018 4:03 am
Can the (Mint) USB Stick Formatter be improved to add the format choice of exFAT?

exFAT is supposedly optimized for flash drives, doesn't have the 4GB file size limitation of FAT32, and is read/write by PCs & Macs out of the box. Further, unlike some (many?) Linux distros exfat-utils and exfat-fuse are installed by default in MX 17.1.

Yes. We just need a small adjustment to add this option during build of the tool for MXPI
to provide exFAT, as I have done with my installation. I will provide instructions
for our packageing team, as I've already included this option:

fehlix wrote: Sun Jun 24, 2018 5:34 am

Antediluvian wrote: Sun Jun 24, 2018 4:03 am
Can the (Mint) USB Stick Formatter be improved to add the format choice of exFAT?

exFAT is supposedly optimized for flash drives, doesn't have the 4GB file size limitation of FAT32, and is read/write by PCs & Macs out of the box. Further, unlike some (many?) Linux distros exfat-utils and exfat-fuse are installed by default in MX 17.1.

Yes. We just need a small adjustment to add this option during build of the tool for MXPI
to provide exFAT, as I have done with my installation. I will provide instructions
for our packageing team, as I've already included this option:
ubs-formatore-exfat.png

make sure to submit the change upstream to the mintstick folks!