{"id":148,"date":"2007-09-19T13:05:55","date_gmt":"2007-09-19T17:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.n1zyy.com\/n1zyy\/2007\/09\/19\/errors\/"},"modified":"2007-09-19T13:05:55","modified_gmt":"2007-09-19T17:05:55","slug":"errors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.n1zyy.com\/n1zyy\/2007\/09\/19\/errors\/","title":{"rendered":"Errors"},"content":{"rendered":"

I think I’ve mentioned that I’m running experimental software for my desktop environment. So every now and then it crashes. And the first time I log back in after my desktop environment crashes, I get this bizarre error: “Nautilus can’t be used now due to an unexpected error.”<\/p>\n

I<\/em> know that Nautilus is GNOME’s file manager, but I bet not everyone does. So imagine that your computer randomly locks up and, when you come back, the only thing you get is this message that a program you’ve never heard of can’t start for unknown reasons.<\/p>\n

Of course, knowing what Nautilus is<\/em> doesn’t help. Why is it starting a file manager? Well, apparently, because it draws the icons on my desktop.<\/p>\n

But there’s a little “Show more details” box. (Kudos on this, BTW: it’s a good way to accommodate both the technical and the non-technical people.) Here’s what it says, verbatim<\/p>\n

Nautilus can’t be used now, due to an unexpected error from Bonobo while attempting to locate the factory.Killing bonobo-activation-server and restarting Nautilus may help fix the problem.<\/blockquote>\n

And what does that mean? What factory is Nautilus looking for (is that even a technical term?)? What does Bonobo have to do with it? Why is there no space between “factory” and “Killing,” making it look like it’s looking or a file called factory.Killing?<\/p>\n

I like the idea of having a simple error with the option to see the technical explanation. That’s a really good idea, and a great usability enhancement. But some notes:<\/p>\n