Feature #15855

Notify that Tor Browser is Starting

Added by huertanix 2018-08-27 22:10:30 . Updated 2019-09-17 08:57:45 .

Status:
Resolved
Priority:
Normal
Assignee:
huertanix
Category:
Target version:
Start date:
2018-08-27
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Feature Branch:
Type of work:
Code
Blueprint:

Starter:
Affected tool:
Browser
Deliverable for:

Description

In trainings with journalists in NYC, many launch Tor Browser but assume it didn’t work or broke because it didn’t instantly open, so they’ll mercilessly and impatiently try again until their mouse wears out; They’re not used to applications being slow because they’ve never ran an operating system from outside their fast built-in SSD drives.

UX Recommendation:

  • Create a Gnome notification letting the user know that the Tor Browser is starting up. This will be enough to let them know that at least the attempt at launching Tor Browser is working so they can chill while they wait for it to open.

Subtasks

Related issues

Related to Tails - Bug #15101: Add feedback when opening desktop launchers Resolved 2017-12-25

History

#1 Updated by intrigeri 2018-08-28 04:44:11

  • Assignee set to huertanix
  • QA Check set to Info Needed

Could you please test 3.9~rc1 (or 3.9 if it’s already out)? They’re doing better in this respect :)

#2 Updated by huertanix 2018-08-29 20:27:57

intrigeri wrote:
> Could you please test 3.9~rc1 (or 3.9 if it’s already out)? They’re doing better in this respect :)

Thanks, I just took a look in 3.9 RC1 and the spinning wheel is definitely an improvement. Once 3.9 is out and I have another training session, I’ll circle back if trainees are still extra-clicking.

#3 Updated by intrigeri 2018-08-30 03:59:14

  • Status changed from New to In Progress
  • QA Check changed from Info Needed to Ready for QA

Great, thank you!

#4 Updated by intrigeri 2019-06-02 14:42:56

  • Status changed from In Progress to Needs Validation

#5 Updated by huertanix 2019-08-19 20:20:00

A quick update: Neither a spinning wheel or even the application name appear anywhere in the top or bottom bar when Tor Browser is launched from a desktop shortcut in Tails 3.15. Since according to Bug #16283, desktop shortcuts are here to stay, launching Tor Browser from a desktop shortcut should have as much indication that something is happening as launching Tor Browser from a menu currently does.

#6 Updated by intrigeri 2019-08-30 18:17:19

  • related to Bug #15101: Add feedback when opening desktop launchers added

#7 Updated by intrigeri 2019-08-30 18:23:40

Hi huertanix!

> A quick update: Neither a spinning wheel or even the application name appear anywhere in the top or bottom bar when Tor Browser is launched from a desktop shortcut in Tails 3.15.

Could you please clarify what desktop shortcut you’re talking about?

If it is the existing, default ones (“Report an error”, etc.):

  • This was supposed to be fixed in Bug #15101.
  • “Report an error” gives me a spinning wheel. But it takes a few seconds before “Tor Browser” appears in the top bar.
  • “Tails documentation” gives me a spinning wheel and I see “Tails documentation” in the top bar immediately.

If you’re talking about a desktop shortcut that you manually added, then I’d like to know how exactly you added it :)

#8 Updated by huertanix 2019-09-17 00:09:40

intrigeri wrote:
>
> Could you please clarify what desktop shortcut you’re talking about?

In this case, not the existing default ones but custom shortcuts for .onion sites created when installing SecureDrop.

> If you’re talking about a desktop shortcut that you manually added, then I’d like to know how exactly you added it :)

It’s via Python, the actual code doing it is here: https://github.com/freedomofpress/securedrop/blob/develop/install_files/ansible-base/roles/tails-config/files/securedrop_init.py and the bits defining the shortcut name and .onion addresses are here: https://github.com/freedomofpress/securedrop/tree/develop/install_files/ansible-base/roles/tails-config/templates

#9 Updated by eloquence 2019-09-17 00:38:09

I believe this is because the SecureDrop shortcuts lack the `StartupNotify=true` setting, we should be able to fix that on our end. :)

#10 Updated by intrigeri 2019-09-17 08:57:45

  • Status changed from Needs Validation to Resolved

Hi,

> I believe this is because the SecureDrop shortcuts lack the `StartupNotify=true` setting, we should be able to fix that on our end. :)

This makes sense to me. So I’m closing this bug:

  • the Tails side of it has been fixed
  • the remaining bug is not in Tails itself, but in the SecureDrop overlay/delta, so it should be tracked elsewhere than in the Tails bug tracker

Thank you all!