Notices

That would only be possible if we had a system restore point app on the N900, so yes a very valid point!.

But also realise that some of the apps do in fact mess with init and the very reason we need some kind of un-install procedure implemented for every app AND/OR a system restore app written especially for the N900.

Here's one interview of btrfs' inventor, Chris Mason, with background information and some useful visual aids:

A short history of btrfs

It's quite brilliant, and with the big fish backing its development it looks set to become the mainstream next generation file system for open systems.

abill_uk: You are utterly wrong here. There are a couple of way to uninstall programs completely. There is no need for extra set of programs for that task. You already have the choice to just uninstall the executable or both executable and config files. What els do you need? Do you even know a program that don't get's fully uninstalled and are not in testing or devel.

The programs in testing and devel though are under development and unfinished. There are a lot of warnings for installing programs from there.

are you sure you want red sir? it does mean we'd have to change the light bulb!

No way am i wrong because the very problem is the app does not un-install completely in some cases as it has already done its damage to the os, hence why sometimes the reboot makes the loop and brick situation happen.
Extra set of programes?? just a COMPLETE uninstall would be sufficient and remember the goal is to get back the os as it was prior to install.
If you know anything about windows and i am sure you do why do we have regedit? your comments are not founded i am sorry to say.

abill_uk:
there are thousands of cellphones available - one of them is the n900.

the n900 is officially unlocked and open for installation of any kind of applications. there are no restrictions. this means for example that we have full access to the hardware - incl 3dacceleration gpu, camera (tweaks and codecs (how about a theoretic 720p mjpeg recorder with dyn focus), phone applications (how about mms), usb (maybe even host) and dual boot possibilities... they even made it possible to overclock the cpu (!)
...AND the best of it all is that it doesnt require any jailbreaking or other ugly methods... we have official allowance from nokia to do whatever we want with our phone. they only supply the hardware with a os setup, and we take responsibility about the software. that makes this phone unique.

this is why i bought the n900... this is THE feature most of us have been waiting for which convinced us to buy the n900.

if a newbie buys the most advanced phone in the market without understanding how/ and that they should make proper backups - then thats just plain stupidity.
as long as its possible to unbrick the phone with certain methods there is actually no problem at all - its the same scenario with any advanced PC.

one phone in the market have been enginered exclusivly for us who wants the most extreme, advanced and raw computer experience, and you want to take that away from us.

people like u have other advanced but more restricted systems like android or symbian as an alternative, or just dont enable devel and testing, and there you go.

What apps... either provide a service to this forum by listing these apps or STFU with this useless warning. Why not just post:

WARNING! If you don't tie your shoes you may trip and this could cause serious damage to your device if you fall on it.

Dude... You yourself said you do not have this problem. So you are spreading Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt based on what?

What could happen?

You said it. Now provide the links. Show us these files and apps you speak of.
I do not doubt that this can happen. I know how it could happen.

I doubt however that you can point to even one app on this forum that will "seriously damage the os".

If you can, then report it in that thread please and save us all from viewing this FUD.

Your friend,

Sir Yo of Dude.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but what he wants is, that everytime you are going to install an app from extras-devel, the n900 should ask you at least 5 times if you are sure, type a confirmation code, sound an alarm informing you that your phone may (or may not) be damaged if you install, AND, before installing it, require the handwritten signature of at least 5 members of the maemo.org forums, accepting an agreement that you won't create a post on the forums in the case your phone gets damaged (annoying abill_uk) asking how to fix it.

Seriously, these kind of threads are more annoying than the ussual "i hate nokia" "nokia sucks" "n900 sucks" threads around.

"Some applications available on this forum". Avoid weasel words.

Please provide a list of applications and the problems they are causing (what files/settings are affected, can this be reliably reproduced, etc..), and then report bugs against each one of them, and help providing any information necessary to fix problems (steps to reproduce, file and command output as requested by the developer).

I believe that many users coming from a non-open source background are not aware that they can report bugs and that these bug reports will be taken seriously and that these reports will improve the quality of the software once the bug is dealt with. Check out the bug reporting guidelines and then file a new bug report after a search for the bug report hasn't turned up any existing reports.