[Debconf-devel] Bug#955605: debconf should support custom order for multiselect (or new entry type)

[Julian Andres Klode]

On Fri, Apr 03, 2020 at 10:34:07AM +0200, Julian Andres Klode wrote:
> Package: debconf
> Version: 1.5.73
> Severity: wishlist
> 
> While working on adding support for installing grub to multiple ESPs in Ubuntu[1],
> I noticed that while debconf's multiselect type stores an ordered list, the
> selection screen does not provide the user the option to chose a custom order.
> 
> Now, in the use case of installing to multiple ESPs, this would be incredibly
> useful, as it allows you to specify the order of the ESPs that will be set
> in the bootorder (so that you can declare the order it falls back to different
> ESPs should some be broken).
> 
> I'm sure there are other examples.
> 
> Note that we don't really need a new debconf type, as the storage already
> is ordered, but like a flag to the frontend that gives the user the option
> to re-order entries would be enough (and not break frontends).

The easiest implementation for a frontend I guess is to present a list
you can order and a cut off entry, e.g.


	option I like
	another option I like
	---- put options you want above this line ---
	option I don't want

Then to move the option around (on the TUI):

(1) press enter to select, up/down to move; press enter/esc to release
(2) use pgup/pgdwn to move them around

Something like that would be decent.

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