BasKet Note Pads Usability Survey

Users of BasKet Note Pads, an advanced notepad application for the KDE desktop, are called to participate in a usability survey. The survey is carried out by the recently launched BasKet Usability Project, a sponsored student project in the "Season of Usability" of OpenUsability.org.

About the BasKet Usability Project

The aim of the BasKet Usability Project is to improve the usability of the
BasKet Note Pads tool. Usability, as I (the project maintainer) see it, not only depends on the user interface, but also on the underlying assumptions that are made about the users and their context of use. So, knowledge of users, their contexts and claims are of vital importance for improving usability.

Also, the aim of the project is to also involve the users into the
development of BasKet. Besides the survey, in a few weeks users will be able to be co-authors of "scenarios" and "personas", stories about fictional users and their usage scenarios (both present and future). Look out for news on this.

To find out about further possibilities to participate, visit the
project homepage.

The BasKet Usability Project is part of a research project for a diploma thesis at the University of Hamburg, Germany.

Go to the survey

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Comments

by Michael (not verified)

I'd really like to use the new BasKet but it crashes like crazy. Crashes on close, crashes on menu and so on. I can hardly use it 10 seconds before it crashes. I tried the Edgy Package and I tried compiling it myself to no avail. Guess I have to wait until things have stabilized somewhat.

by wingsofdeath (not verified)

perhaps you should check your system - its perfectly stable. :)
It 100 percent a problem with your system - check compiler/libs !

by AJ (not verified)

Not sure, somethings wrong with the tooltips. As soon as you move your mouse over them, basket exits or crashes. This are some the crashes, but the bts are not useful. I tried to report it to bugs.kde.org but it seems to be down, will try again later. Sys is suse 10.2

Using host libthread_db library "/lib/libthread_db.so.1".
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[New Thread -1233877296 (LWP 8102)]
[KCrash handler]
#9 0x00050004 in ?? ()
#10 0xb700881c in qScrollEffect () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#11 0xb6fee25a in QTipManager::showTip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#12 0xb6fee63a in QTipManager::add () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#13 0xb6fee7f2 in QTipManager::add () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#14 0xb6fee8cf in QToolTip::tip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#15 0xb7dfd973 in Basket::maybeTip (this=0x8321828, pos=@0x80d2c54)
at basket.cpp:2843
#16 0xb6fed990 in QTipManager::showTip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#17 0xb6fee2ea in QTipManager::qt_invoke () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#18 0xb6eb53cd in QObject::activate_signal ()
from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#19 0xb6eb600d in QObject::activate_signal ()
from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#20 0xb71f12b9 in QTimer::timeout () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#21 0xb6ed8bdf in QTimer::event () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#22 0xb6e56647 in QApplication::internalNotify ()
from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#23 0xb6e574f9 in QApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#24 0xb759f1f2 in KApplication::notify () from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#25 0xb6e4b663 in QEventLoop::activateTimers ()
from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#26 0xb6e05bd0 in QEventLoop::processEvents ()
from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#27 0xb6e6d0e0 in QEventLoop::enterLoop () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#28 0xb6e6cf76 in QEventLoop::exec () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#29 0xb6e5600f in QApplication::exec () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#30 0x0804fc56 in main (argc=134970120, argv=0x21) at main.cpp:106

(gdb) run --nocrashhandler --nofork --debug
Starting program: /opt/kde3/bin/basket --nocrashhandler --nofork --debug
Failed to read a valid object file image from memory.
[Thread debugging using libthread_db enabled]
[New Thread -1234065712 (LWP 31540)]
Created the Undo/Redo actions!
basket is loading
basket is loading
basket: [static void StopWatch::check(uint)] Timer (0): 0.85 s

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
[Switching to Thread -1234065712 (LWP 31540)]
0xb6848261 in main_arena () from /lib/libc.so.6
(gdb) bt
#0 0xb6848261 in main_arena () from /lib/libc.so.6
#1 0x08351730 in ?? ()
#2 0x0000039e in ?? ()
#3 0x00000079 in ?? ()
#4 0xb6e2823e in QApplication::desktop () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#5 0xb6fc025a in QTipManager::showTip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#6 0xb6fc063a in QTipManager::add () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#7 0xb6fc07f2 in QTipManager::add () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#8 0xb6fc08cf in QToolTip::tip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#9 0xb7dcd0a5 in Basket::maybeTip (this=0x8343ad0, pos=@0x80d347c) at basket.cpp:2843
#10 0xb6fbf990 in QTipManager::showTip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#11 0xb6fc02ea in QTipManager::qt_invoke () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#12 0xb6e873cd in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#13 0xb6e8800d in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#14 0xb71c32b9 in QTimer::timeout () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#15 0xb6eaabdf in QTimer::event () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#16 0xb6e28647 in QApplication::internalNotify () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#17 0xb6e294f9 in QApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#18 0xb75711f2 in KApplication::notify () from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdecore.so.4
#19 0xb6e1d663 in QEventLoop::activateTimers () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#20 0xb6dd7bd0 in QEventLoop::processEvents () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#21 0xb6e3f0e0 in QEventLoop::enterLoop () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#22 0xb6e3ef76 in QEventLoop::exec () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#23 0xb6e2800f in QApplication::exec () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
#24 0x0804fc56 in main (argc=0, argv=0x101) at main.cpp:106
(gdb) bt full
#0 0xb6848261 in main_arena () from /lib/libc.so.6
No symbol table info available.
#1 0x08351730 in ?? ()
No symbol table info available.
#2 0x0000039e in ?? ()
No symbol table info available.
#3 0x00000079 in ?? ()
No symbol table info available.
#4 0xb6e2823e in QApplication::desktop () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#5 0xb6fc025a in QTipManager::showTip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#6 0xb6fc063a in QTipManager::add () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#7 0xb6fc07f2 in QTipManager::add () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#8 0xb6fc08cf in QToolTip::tip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#9 0xb7dcd0a5 in Basket::maybeTip (this=0x8343ad0, pos=@0x80d347c) at basket.cpp:2843
message = {static null = {static null = , d = 0x80570c0, static shared_null = 0x80570c0},
d = 0x81b10d0, static shared_null = 0x80570c0}
rect = {x1 = 34, y1 = 237, x2 = 335, y2 = 255}
contentPos = {xp = 121, yp = 243}
note = (Note *) 0x836f818
#10 0xb6fbf990 in QTipManager::showTip () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#11 0xb6fc02ea in QTipManager::qt_invoke () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#12 0xb6e873cd in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#13 0xb6e8800d in QObject::activate_signal () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#14 0xb71c32b9 in QTimer::timeout () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#15 0xb6eaabdf in QTimer::event () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#16 0xb6e28647 in QApplication::internalNotify () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#17 0xb6e294f9 in QApplication::notify () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#18 0xb75711f2 in KApplication::notify () from /opt/kde3/lib/libkdecore.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#19 0xb6e1d663 in QEventLoop::activateTimers () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#20 0xb6dd7bd0 in QEventLoop::processEvents () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#21 0xb6e3f0e0 in QEventLoop::enterLoop () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#22 0xb6e3ef76 in QEventLoop::exec () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#23 0xb6e2800f in QApplication::exec () from /usr/lib/qt3/lib/libqt-mt.so.3
No symbol table info available.
#24 0x0804fc56 in main (argc=0, argv=0x101) at main.cpp:106
app = {<> = {}, }
win = (class MainWindow *) 0x80b8408
result = -1232834572
(gdb)

by Separator (not verified)

I get the same one. Can someone check is this happens with the 32bit version too? I have no partition left so I cannot try it myself.
Looking at the backtrace I suppose it is more a qt problem than a basket one.

by Sébastien Laoût (not verified)

I checked the code pointed by the backtrace.
This is a Qt bug.
I've got several reports of this one but it seams unresolvable.

But, THERE IS A WORKAROUND:

Start BasKet Note Pads, don't move the mouse over any basket and go to the menu "Settings -> Configure BasKet Note Pads... -> Baskets" and uncheck "Show tooltips in baskets".

This will prevent the crashy code to be executed.

by AJ (not verified)

If it's a Qt bug, how much would it be to bribe the trolls into squashing it? Or is it already fixed? The workaround does well, but it's kinda silly, since you can't see when a note was added anymore, which is one of the most important aspects of basket.

by Quique (not verified)

I downloaded the .deb package (v0.6.0) for Kubuntu Dapper from the Basket site, and it crashes almost instantly :-(

by Michael (not verified)

Please take some time to read your post and dont write such nonsense in the future.

by Guillaume Laurent (not verified)

basket works for me (kubuntu 6.10 and the deb package distributed from basket's website), but the survey crashes :-) :

Warning: Division by zero in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php on line 381

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php:381) in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/common.php on line 984

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php:381) in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/common.php on line 985

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php:381) in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/common.php on line 986

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php:381) in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/common.php on line 987

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php:381) in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/common.php on line 988

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/index.php:381) in /srv/www/basket.openusability.org/survey/common.php on line 989

etc...

by suseu (not verified)

i spent about 15 minutes clicking this huge set of responses to get some error at the end? never gonna take a survey again...

by Cyrille Berger (not verified)

It seems it is fixed, at least I didn't get any error.

by gerd (not verified)

no

by Frank Ploss (not verified)

I'm sorry your answers were lost, this seems to be a bug in the survey app (phpsurveyor). I fixed the problem with a workaround because I couldn't reproduce it. Seems to be dependent on specific constellation of answers.

This should not happen any more (in your case, the progress bar won't work any more, but this does not influence the result).

I would be happy if you tried it again!

Frank

by Evil Eddie (not verified)

You should add a notice concerning the need for having Javascript enabled before starting the survey. Otherwise you only see the next button and no questions.

by Frank Ploss (not verified)

Thanks for the suggestion, I added that note.

by Kamesh (not verified)

1) I collect a lot of quotes from webpages. I think copying and pasting things from webpages is a tedious task. A firefox and Konqueror extension would greatly reduce this pain.

2) People would want to access their todo lists, baskets from what ever computer they are on. So I guess implementing some kind of a system which uploads the baskets onto the google notebook for example would be a killer.

I have participated in the survey and has given the above comments.

Thanks for such a wonderful app :-).

Kamesh.

by Karolus (not verified)

google notebook integration is a MUST_HAVE option for me. Usually I note something at work/school and then read/rework at home.

by Steve Warsnap (not verified)

speaking of usability, how about making the "ok", "cancel" and "apply" buttons the same size?

by logixoul (not verified)

It'd make them more similar, which is bad for recognition. For example people get so used to clicking 'the small button' for 'OK' that they mostly don't read the text or look at the icon. This is a Good Thing.

by Hasso Tepper (not verified)

... which makes it look like crap for my (very personal) eyes.

Anyway, it's the issue widget style deals with. "OK", "Cancel" and "Apply" have same size in Light v3 I'm using.

by renoX (not verified)

> For example people get so used to clicking 'the small button' for 'OK' that they mostly don't read the text or look at the icon.
> This is a Good Thing.

So, you find a good thing that the most used button is also the *smaller* one??
You follow the 'sadistic user interface' guidelines?
;-)

by logixoul (not verified)

Hmm, good point.

by Frank Ploss (not verified)

The BasKet usability survey was closed on January 2nd.

In two weeks, we collected 233 responses to the survey! That's quite a lot considering the two weeks only the survey was online, and that not everyone who uses BasKet got to hear about the survey.

A first look at the data reveals that there's quite a variety of users who filled out the questionnaire. This means we collected very valuable data to go further.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Look out for further chances to join the BasKet Usability Project on http://basket.openusability.org !