On Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:10:38 -0800, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> Perhaps, but I do agree with Chambers on this one - how many times have
>> we seen:
> 
> Sure. That's a little different from "Hey, I'm about to ask you to enter
> the root password now, because I need that to do what you asked, OK?" 
> It's not asking multiple times. It's telling you it got an error which
> it might be able to work around if it asks for the password.
> 
> It's the same as saying
> % rm xyz
> Permission denied
> % sudo rm xyz
> Password:

I think that's a little different than the scenario that was discussed, 
though - "I'm going to ask you for permission, OK?", followed by "I'm 
asking you for permission" is a little confusing.

It would be better for the second prompt to just explain about it rather 
than have an additional prompt.

> Suddenly, you have to ask twice, once by typing sudo, once by entering
> the password. Why wouldn't "rm xyz" just automatically prompt for the
> password?
> 
> Which is not to say it's perfect. But it's better than having something
> randomly pop up a security prompt without telling you what it's for.

The better design would be for the prompt to tell you at the time it 
comes up, not to warn you "I'm going to prompt you in a second for 
permission for this".  If it does that, it might as well also say "Oh, by 
the way, I just asked you for permission for this.  Did you see that 
prompt?" after it's asked for permission.  And then confirm that next 
dialog.  And so on. ;-)

Jim

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