Asian language support problem

[CicadaSeventeen]

Some Asian languages (like Chinese, Japanese, Korean and so on) need input method so that it can be input correctly. But now in SpiralLinux there is no input method pre-installed even if I choose there languages as default. However, since Debian has good language support it is easy for old users to install input method they want.

But since SpiralLinux is for user-friendly I think we should talk about this problem. The problem is, distros like ubuntu or openSUSE pre-install input method once user choose these languages as default when installing, but it can also make things worth.

For example, to input Chinese, we have two major input method: ibus and fcitx5. ibus works very well on Gnome but fcitx5 works better on other desktop especially under wayland. We also have some out-of-date input method like fcitx and scim. Ubuntu chooses to pre-install fcitx for Chinese language and openSUSE pre-intsalls both ibus and fcitx. Although it provides out-of-box input experience but users will have to struggle if they want a better input method.

(BTW, Japanese sometimes prefer to use uim)

I think we had better think of such situation. I am thinking about making a script or program to guide users to choose input method. I would like to know your opinion here.

Besides, I find some options not translated maybe because you change them from vanilla Debian. I think I can actually help to provide some translation but there is not a promise, because I suffer from depression there years so that I may even have several months that cannot concentrate for any work.

[geckolinux]

Thanks for the suggestion.

If only fcitx or ibus is preinstalled the user would still have to install the specific language character set they need (Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, etc.) right? I understand the vanilla Debian and openSUSE provide this out-of-the-box, but with Calamares this is much more difficult, and plus it would require downloading packages during installation, which I try to avoid.

I'm thinking this would best be handled as a documentation improvement in the SpiralLinux wiki.

[CicadaSeventeen]

I do not know anything about Calamares. Sounds like it is just a tool to release system from tar? In theory we can provide a program to guide user to choose input method, or at least a bash script. Debian has a program to choose input method actually, but it can just used to choose input methods that have been installed on system. However, before that we can truly write a wiki. You can put wiki on default desktop just like opensuse's hello page. I can help you to write about input method installation in about one week, but only about Chinese and Japanese. For Vietnamese and Korean or other languages, neither can I speak it nor I can find someone using Linux speaking such languages.

[CicadaSeventeen]

Thanks for the suggestion.

If only fcitx or ibus is preinstalled the user would still have to install the specific language character set they need (Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, etc.) right? I understand the vanilla Debian and openSUSE provide this out-of-the-box, but with Calamares this is much more difficult, and plus it would require downloading packages during installation, which I try to avoid.

I'm thinking this would best be handled as a documentation improvement in the SpiralLinux wiki.

https://github.com/CicadaSeventeen/debian-input-method-guide This is the script. I do not do any grammar & spelling check and do not add links. Need you to check and edit it and put it in WIki. If any reports find mistakes, feel free to ask me and I will find out what is wrong.

[geckolinux]

Excellent, thank you very much. I added your guide to the documentation: https://github.com/SpiralLinux/SpiralLinux-project/wiki#how-to-install-non-english-input-methods