[TYPO3-project-4-3] Install tool usability

[Dan Osipov]

I just had to install a new site from scratch, and ran into some 
usability issues. They're not a problem for me, but new users may become 
frustrated to the point of quitting.

1. Downloaded and extracted 4.3 alpha 3 source and dummy package. Loaded 
up the browser to go to the new site, and was greeted with a message 
that the "ENABLE_INSTALL_TOOL" file doesn't exist. Why isn't it part of 
the dummy package? There is a warning when you log in to the BE that the 
file should be deleted, so security conscientious users will delete the 
file after they're done installing.

2. After completing the information on step 1 I was given an error that 
localconf.php is not writable, with no other information. a) Shouldn't 
there be a check in step 1 to verify file permissions? b) Shouldn't the 
message be a bit more user-friendly? For example come up in the install 
tool template, and offer suggestions on correcting the problem?

3. After changing the file permissions, and going back to step 1, I was 
not able to connect to the DB, no matter what I did. Here is the error 
message:
There is no connection to the database!
(Username: , Password: , Host: ).

Go to Step 1 and enter a proper username/password!

I ended up writing the values in localconf.php myself, since I was not 
able to figure this out...

4. After successfully connecting to the DB, I moved on to step 2. I 
chose to create a new database, which is the recommended option. I typed 
in the name, clicked continue, and was greeted with another error:

There is no access to the database ()!
Go to Step 2 and select an accessible database!

Again, no steps for resolution given. I couldn't find the problem, so I 
exited the 123 mode and went into the classic install tool to finish the 
installation.

I believe the 1-2-3 installer is extremely important, as it gives users 
the first impression of TYPO3. As an old saying goes - I don't need to 
eat the entire fish to find that it is rotten - users experiencing these 
problems when installing their first TYPO3 instance will surely quit 
long before I did and go with a different system.

So next question is - how do we fix it?
-- 
Dan Osipov
Calkins Media
http://danosipov.com/blog/