CommonCustomizations

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  * installs multimedia codecs
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  * installs libdvdcss package
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  * this merely installs timidity, timidity-interfaces-extra and freepats: midi playback in the desktop still doesn't seem to work, but selecting a midi file in firefox will launch timidity in the background (Soren: i think there's some sort of integration between alsa and timidity available that emulates a midi playback device which in turn sends the midi stream to timidity.) dsilvers: Indeed there is, and it's documented in the timididy README.Debian so it needs to be made easier(default when there's no hardware midi device available?) perhaps?   * installs timidity, timidity-interfaces-extra and freepats: midi playback in the desktop still doesn't seem to work, but selecting a midi file in firefox will launch timidity in the background (Soren: i think there's some sort of integration between alsa and timidity available that emulates a midi playback device which in turn sends the midi stream to timidity.) dsilvers: Indeed there is, and it's documented in the timididy README.Debian so it needs to be made easier(default when there's no hardware midi device available?) perhaps?
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* Flash -- We already have flashplugin-nonfree -- do we need more?
  * already in g-a-i		 * Flash
  * We already have flashplugin-nonfree -- do we need more?
  * already in Gnome Application Installer (g-a-i)
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  * Sun java is available and easily installed via g-a-i, but only installs sun-java5-bin and not the (browser) plugin, which is only Suggested
  * Include an additional .desktop file for the browser plugin, or a bundle which installs both, or upgrade Suggests to Recommends
  * JSS libraries are needed to allow user certificates (and digital signatures) to work with firefox (allowing e-government processes). We have them packaged for guadalinex.
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 * RAR  * RAR (support for proprietary file compression format)
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 * ACE  * ACE (support for proprietary file compression format)
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 * nvidia  * nvidia video drivers
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 * ati  * ati video drives
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  * should add to gnome-app-install and automatically enabled
  * almost all users on the forums install the non-free videodrivers
  * I think that they want to install the latest driver mainly, since they are required by some games(users who don't plau much games also add the non-free videodrivers)
 * wengo - installs wengophone (free SIP phone universe)
  * How does it compare to ekiga?
  * i use ekiga on a daily basis. it works quite well on i386 but often crashes on powerpc
  * janimo: my experience with wengophone is that it's not as good as ekiga or skype (UI glitches, cannot find souncard)
 * wengo (free SIP phone)
  * installs package from Universe
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  * ekiga has actually gotten a lot better (at least with sip it seems) than when I've used it in the past as gnomemeeting.
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== Automatix ==

 * http://www.getautomatix.com/

 * No source packages in repository... (quality)
 * seems to be written in sh, though _i386, _amd64 and _powerpc debs are distributed?
 * the german version has some serious issues currently: removes its own files instead of using the packaging system. uses apt-get --force and --assume-yes

 * Acrobat reader
=== Automatix ===
Automatix is a community script, maintained at http://www.getautomatix.com/ It does not seem to have source packages in repository, and is written in sh. The german version has some serious issues currently: removes its own files instead of using the packaging system. uses apt-get --force and --assume-yes

It install most of the packages that EasyUbuntu offers as well as the following:

 * Acrobat reader (proprietary .pdf-reader which can be used with Firefox plugin (see below))
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  * Yes, we install it on our machines, researchers seem to find pdfs that
   do not display under free pdf readers all the time, however I've
   not yet unleashed evince/dapper on them. acroread also does a better job
   with high-vector documents, like systemwide bus maps. It shows the drawing
   in progress and does not render the entire page if only a zoomed in section
   is in view.IMHO most users like evince. Yes, evince is very good, its just
   not perfect. :) :-P (fun fact: The published ubuntu books available in PDF
   format are not viewable by evince)
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 * AMSN
  * installs package from universe (how does this compare to gaim?)
  * amsn is familiar for ex-msn users but it can't handle other protocols.(It does support webcam but I don't know how well)
  * More familiar interface for users who are accustomed to the Windows client
 * AMSN (a F/OSS chat program that copies the look and feel of MSN Messenger, for those users who are used to that)
  * installs package from universe
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 * aMule - installs package from universe Let's not recommend to install this one (by default)it almost has no legal use.
 * aMule (P2P application)
  * installs package from universe
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 * rar, unrar, ace
  * same as for EasyUbuntu
 * DVD
  * same as for EasyUbuntu
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  * I've used this before and found it to be rather primitive (mdz)
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 * bittorrent
* bittorrent clients
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  * both?seems overkill. also the default bittorrent that comes with Dapper has a far easier GUI so it's more useful for new users   * The default bittorrent that comes with Dapper has a far easier GUI so it's more useful for new users
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  * Umm, don't we have gnome-bittorrent anyway? (dsilvers)
  * does azureus work with free Java?
   * yeah. (on a side note the current azureus has a bug -> most/all? users can't hide/close warning messages: http://launchpad.net/bugs/41813)
   * it does work, not fully functional - may have changed with beta azureus?
  * Consider moving to main if it is confirmed to work well with current free Java in edgy
  * azureus would be a good option for advanced users (sdier)I agree. Definetely not suited for the new user / average desktop user.
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  * installs bum from universe
  * http://www.marzocca.net/linux/bum.html
 * Will this remain relevant with the hardware-based-boot idea? (dsilvers)		   * installs bum [http://www.marzocca.net/linux/bum.html] from universe
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  * Consider adding an option to services-admin to display a full list of services for power users
 * checkgmail
 * checkgmail (system tray application which notifies of new mail in gmail)
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  * system tray application which notifies of new mail in gmail
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  * Is this one better?
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  * Does nothing by default; why not this?   * This key-combination does nothing by default; why not this?
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 * DCPP
  * installs linuxdcpp (P2P client) by untarring in /opt
  * http://linuxdcpp.berlios.de/
* DCPP (P2P client) maintained at http://linuxdcpp.berlios.de/
  * installs linuxdcpp by untarring in /opt
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  * Consider for dapper-backports
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 * Frostwire
  * yet another P2P, installed by downloading third party .deb
* Frostwire (P2P client)
  * installed by downloading third party .deb
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  * should be packaged for universe and in g-a-i
 * gdesklets
 * gdesklets (desktop applets for GNOME)
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  * seems like mostly a toy
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  * comparison with Nautilus/Serpentine?
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  * how does this compare to Nautilus/Serpentine?
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  * installs ndiswrapper, ndis-gtk and network-manager-gnome
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  * possibly improve ndis-gtk integration - we could include it in g-a-i or by default   * ndis-gtk integration could be included it in g-a-i or by default
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  * jeff to check back in the archives about why gnome-ppp wasn't included upstream
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  * put it in universe
 * msttcorefonts
  * covered above
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   * primarily useful for dvd playback
   * should we put both in g-a-i?
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  * beep-media-player is in g-a-i (bmpx in future ? : http://bmpx.beep-media-player.org/site/About)
   * add bmp-docklet from http://www.fuckbirdflu.com/automatix/bmp-docklet_1.2-1_i386.deb		   * beep-media-player is in g-a-i
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  * nautilus-actions should be in g-a-i
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  * Downloads a pre-release rhythmbox .deb from ~seb128 and installs it
  * apply pressure to upstream to ship more regularly, possibly use backports		   * Downloads a pre-release rhythmbox .deb from people.ubuntu.com/~seb128 and installs it
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  * streamtuner: in g-a-i
  * xmms: g-a-i
 * Skype
  * Installs skype .deb from skype.com
  * Disables hangup sound?
  * include in commercial repository
  * Sun Java 1.5 JRE		   * streamtuner is in g-a-i
  * xmms is in g-a-i

 * Sun Java 1.5 JRE
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  * in g-a-i   * is in g-a-i
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  * in g-a-i   * is in g-a-i
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  * NOTFORUS   * Cannot be included in Ubuntu - see explanation below.
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  * should look at this package and see what differs from ours in universe
  * ours is in g-a-i		   * Ubuntu a version of Wine in g-a-i
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== consider dapper packages from plf. plf is a well known repository on the forums.

PLF ACCEPTS ONLY REFUSED BY Universe/Multiverse PACKAGES

Maybe some of them should be reconsidered because apparently they are popular if they aren't refused for patent reasons.


Information about plf :
http://wiki.ubuntu-fr.org/doc/plf
http://plf.zarb.org/		 === PLF Repositoty ===
A community repository that offers various controversial packages. Maintained at http://wiki.ubuntu-fr.org/doc/plf, http://plf.zarb.org/

Contains the following:
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We can't include any of this for copyright reasons (not patents).

== Multimedia howto on ubuntuforums by ubuntu_demon. more than 3000 reads. ==
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=186792

 * First stage : enable multiverse + universe and add cipherfunk (no need to explain that here)
 * Second stage :
  * Installing al bunch of codecs from universe/multiverse :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly mpg321 vorbis-tools gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-gl libxine-main1 libxine-extracodecs gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gstreamer0.10-pitfdll
}}}

 * install these codecs from cipherfunk (we probably shouldnt touch libdvdcss2 for this spec):
{{{
$sudo apt-get install w32codecs libdvdcss2
}}}

 * This command installs a couple of good players. I always use totem-gstreamer instead of totem-xine. Because I want to be able to try the gstreamer framework for playback. If a video doesn't run in any of these you might as well give up :{{{
$sudo apt-get install totem-gstreamer vlc mplayer xine-ui
}}}
 * I always use xine-ui so I don't need gxine. But if you want gxine :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install gxine
}}}
 * To be able to play videos in firefox you have two choices. You should try one at a time :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install totem-gstreamer-firefox-plugin
$sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer
}}}
 * If you want realplayer you have two options :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install realplay
$sudo apt-get install realplayer
}}}
 * dvd-related stuff :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install libdvdread3 regionset
}}}
 * To get flash :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree
$sudo update-flashplugin
}}}
 * To install java JRE from sun :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install sun-java5-bin sun-java5-plugin
$sudo update-alternatives --config java
}}}
 and choose the sun option (/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun/jre/bin/java)

 * Microsoft TrueType core fonts :
{{{
$sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts
}}}		 Ubuntu cannot include any of this for copyright reasons (not patents). For further explanation, see below.

=== Multimedia howto on ubuntuforums by ubuntu_demon ===
howto found at http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=186792

Contains instructions on how to install codecs, Java and Flash from multiverse, universe and cipherfunk repositories. Again, Ubuntu cannot include the codecs, Java and Flash is discussed above.
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 * Repositories -- as before, enables universe and plf(on a side note cipherphunk which is not installed by unbuntuguide has w32codecs AFAIK)		 Another community how-to. Offers instructions on how to enable universe and plf repositories and on how to install many of the above packages as well as the following:
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 * J2SE+firefox plugin
  * Installs sun-java5-jre from the plf repository (doesn't make sense anymore as we have sun java packages)
 * Flash
  * Installs flashplugin-nonfree from ubuntu
 * Acroread
  * Installs non-free acrobat packages including a mozilla plugin
 * Download manager for X
  * Installs d4x from universe
  * in gnome-app-install
 * gFTP
  * Again from universe
  * in gnome-app-install
 * DC++
  * Download and untar a built tree into /opt
  * manually create a .desktop in the /usr/share/applications tree
  covered above
 * Azureus
  * Having done J2SE as above, download and unpack tar into /opt
  * manually create a .desktop in /usr/share/applications
  covered above
 * P2P emule client
  * Installs amule from universe
 * Gnutella client (FrostWire)
  * Download and install deb from ~stubby on a bizarre random host
  both covered above
 * Skype
  * Add the skype repository to sources.list
  * Install the skype deb
  covered above
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Another community guide. Contains instructions to:
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 1. Changing the default editor from nano to vim  2. Changing the default editor from nano to vim
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 1. How to install packages
  * Suggests Synaptic and Adept -- not gnome-app-install?
 1. Sudo and gksudo		  3. How to install packages
  * Suggests Synaptic and Adept -- but not gnome-app-install?
 4. Sudo and gksudo
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 1. Add users to sudo  5. Add users to sudo
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 1. Adding a new desktop  6. Adding a new desktop
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 1. How to reconfigure X.org  7. How to reconfigure X.org
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  * Need a better way to recover from incorrect autodetection (https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/simple-x-mode-selection should solve most problems)
 1. How to configure autologin		  8. How to configure autologin
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 1. Compiling from source  9. Compiling from source
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 1. Installing an optimized kernel  10. Installing an optimized kernel
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== Implementation ==
The following

  * add an icon in gnome-app-install which installs timidity
* Sun java is available and easily installed via g-a-i, but only installs sun-java5-bin and not the (browser) plugin, which is only Suggested
  * Include an additional .desktop file for the browser plugin, or a bundle which installs both, or upgrade Suggests to Recommends
  * JSS libraries are needed to allow user certificates (and digital signatures) to work with firefox (allowing e-government processes). We have them packaged for guadalinex.



  * msttcorefonts - Description in gnome-app-install could be clarified (says "TrueType core fonts")

 * nvidia
  * installs non-free driver and correctly enables
  * should add to gnome-app-install and automatically enable

 * ati
  * installs non-free driver, doesn't seem to enable
  * should add to gnome-app-install and automatically enabled

 * skype - installs non-free package
  * Investigate adding skype to gnome-app-install

 * Consider moving Azareus to main if it is confirmed to work well with current free Java in edgy


 * boot-up manager
  * installs bum [http://www.marzocca.net/linux/bum.html] from universe
  * perl-gtk application to enable/disable services
  * We ship services-admin already, which provides a simpler interface
  * Consider adding an option to services-admin to display a full list of services for power users

 * ctrl-alt-del
  * configures GNOME shortcut for ctrl-alt-del to launch gnome-system-monitor (similar to Windows)
  * gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/run_command_9 "<Control><Alt>Delete" && gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/keybinding_commands/command_9 "gnome-system-monitor"
  * This key-combination does nothing by default; why not this?
  * Maybe more appropriate to open the logout dialog?

 * GAIM beta
  * adds a people.ubuntu.com source to get beta GAIM .debs
  * for use as a msn replacement, more usable than gaim1.5 (offical MSN client has increased functionality)
  * Consider for dapper-backports

 * Firefox 1.5 plugins
  * installs Sun Java, Flash, msttcorefonts(?), mozilla-acroread, mozilla-mplayer
  * Sun Java, Flash and msttcorefonts are already in g-a-i
  * mozilla-acroread and mozilla-mplayer should be added

 * Frostwire (P2P client)
  * installed by downloading third party .deb
  * GPL
  * should be packaged for universe and in g-a-i

 * wifi-setup
  * ndis-gtk integration could be included it in g-a-i or by default

 * Gnome PPP
  * JeffWaugh to check back in the archives about why gnome-ppp wasn't included in GNOME upstream

 * listen media manager (http://listengnome.free.fr/)
  * installs third party deb of Listen
  * put it in universe

  * package realplayer in commercial
  * totem-xine is not in g-a-i (totem-gstreamer is)
   * should we put both in g-a-i?
 
* add bmp-docklet from http://www.fuckbirdflu.com/automatix/bmp-docklet_1.2-1_i386.deb

 * nautilus-scripts
  * nautilus-actions should be in g-a-i


 * Numlock ON
  * installs numlockx from universe
  * replaces /etc/X11/gdm/Init/Default with a version that runs numlockx
  * should really be part of gnome, in keyboard preferences or something

  * Opera should go in the commercial repo (that will handle all dependencies)

 * Rhythmbox
  * Downloads a pre-release rhythmbox .deb from people.ubuntu.com/~seb128 and installs it
  * apply pressure to upstream to ship more regularly, possibly use backports

 * Swiftfox Browser
  * Installs swiftfox (http://www.getswiftfox.com/, a binary firefox build) from a tarball
  * given compelling benchmarks, we would consider building our firefox for 686 instead

 * Wine
  * Adds wine.lowvoice.nl repository to sources.list and installs wine package from there
  * should look at this package and see what differs from ours in universe
  * ours is in g-a-i

 * Winpopup (linpopup)
  * Install linpopup from universe
  * Manually create a .desktop in /usr/share/applications
  * should have a .desktop file added to the package, will appear in g-a-i

7. How to reconfigure X.org
  * We don't cope automatically with hardware changes yet
  * Need a better way to recover from incorrect autodetection
  * Need a better way to recover from incorrect autodetection (https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/simple-x-mode-selection should solve most problems)


 * Clipboard daemon for GNOME
  * Download and unpack a tarball directly to /usr/bin (http://easylinux.info/uploads/gnome-clipboard-daemon-1.0.bin.tar.bz2)
  * chown and chmod it
  * run it.
  * Seems to recommend running gnome-clipboard-daemon in a crontab @reboot rule(?!)
  * Surely we can do better?
  * gnome includes a partial fix for this stuff, JeffWaugh will link to upstream discussion about this




=== Code ===

=== Data preservation and migration ===

== Outstanding issues ==

= Gobby dump =
== General ==

 * Planned enhancements to gnome-app-install will make finding many of these packages easier, as the most popular applications in its list will be sorted to the top
 * g-a-i relies on good keywords in package descriptions. We should study user behaviour to see what keywords they are using to find these applications, and make them easier to find
 good keywords would be: mp3, dvd (bring up gstreamer extra plugins), flash (bring up flash plugin) etc.
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I always advice people to install mplayer,totem-gstreamer xine-ui/gxine and vlc (and a bunch of codecs). That way there's (almost?)always a player which works (except for wmv10)
and real play video
you need realplayer for that yeah. But IMHO most users don't need it ;)
Try to listen to lugradio then ;)
doesnt it have an ogg podcast ?
should have, but sometimes mirrors are not available
Anyway, I'm quite happy with the bunch I have.


I have written a multimedia guide on the forums. It's in the howto section. It's intended for gnome.My nick is ubuntu_demon
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== Implementation ==


  * add an icon in gnome-app-install which installs timidity
* Sun java is available and easily installed via g-a-i, but only installs sun-java5-bin and not the (browser) plugin, which is only Suggested
  * Include an additional .desktop file for the browser plugin, or a bundle which installs both, or upgrade Suggests to Recommends
  * JSS libraries are needed to allow user certificates (and digital signatures) to work with firefox (allowing e-government processes). We have them packaged for guadalinex.



  * msttcorefonts - Description in gnome-app-install could be clarified (says "TrueType core fonts")

 * nvidia
  * installs non-free driver and correctly enables
  * should add to gnome-app-install and automatically enable















=== Code ===

=== Data preservation and migration ===

== Outstanding issues ==

= Gobby dump =
== General ==

 * Planned enhancements to gnome-app-install will make finding many of these packages easier, as the most popular applications in its list will be sorted to the top
 * g-a-i relies on good keywords in package descriptions. We should study user behaviour to see what keywords they are using to find these applications, and make them easier to find
 good keywords would be: mp3, dvd (bring up gstreamer extra plugins), flash (bring up flash plugin) etc.

Summary

Rationale

Use cases

Scope

Design

  • A list of what the scripts and guides actually do
  • A todo list for improvements we can make so that they aren't necessary
  • A set of instructions for the community about how to avoid these scripts and help us implement proper solutions
  • an explanation of the things we can't or won't adopt

Implementation

Code

Data preservation and migration

Outstanding issues

Dissection of community scripts and how-tos

EasyUbuntu

Easy Ubuntu is a community script, maintained at http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/ It uses a GUI to allow the user to choose to do the following:

  • Swapping totem-xine for totem-gstreamer
    • we believe this is now obsolete; totem-gstreamer should work as well and is more flexible
  • Freecodes
  • libdvdcss
    • installs libdvdcss package
    • cannot be adopted. See explanation below.

* midi

  • installs timidity, timidity-interfaces-extra and freepats: midi playback in the desktop still doesn't seem to work, but selecting a midi file in firefox will launch timidity in the background (Soren: i think there's some sort of integration between alsa and timidity available that emulates a midi playback device which in turn sends the midi stream to timidity.) dsilvers: Indeed there is, and it's documented in the timididy README.Debian so it needs to be made easier(default when there's no hardware midi device available?) perhaps?
  • too large to include on the CD
  • timidity already depends on freepats

* Flash

  • We already have flashplugin-nonfree -- do we need more?
  • already in Gnome Application Installer (g-a-i)
  • gnash is supposedly getting better support for newer SWF features -- may be useful for amd64 systems in the future
  • Java
    • Installs non-free Java
    • Is there a suitable free implementation?
    • We ship free java in main, but it isn't generally useful for running popular apps
  • Videos -- embedded into web pages
    • installs totem-gstreamer-firefox-plugin and kaffeine-mozilla
    • totem-gstreamer-firefox-plugin has proven unstable in the past, but is under consideration for Edgy already
    • mozilla-mplayer from multiverse (or something like that) is working quite nicely for some
  • RAR (support for proprietary file compression format)
    • installs non-free rar tools
  • ACE (support for proprietary file compression format)
    • the free version of rar doesn't even support listing the content of an archiveACE - installs unace from universe
    • file-roller doesn't seem to integrate with it, so only command-line support
  • Repository list
  • Fonts
    • installs msttcorefonts (non-free), gsfonts-x11 (free, but useful?), xfonts-intl-european (free, but useful?)
    • Expect that most users benefit from msttcorefonts and the others are noise. msttcorefonts cannot be added to Ubuntu - see explanation below.
    • the installation of the ms fonts is covered by the desktop guide and we also have got a virtual "application" for it in gnome-app-install
  • DMA - on Breezy, this installed a hardcoded hdparm.conf. On Dapper, it does nothing
    • The Dapper kernel now enables DMA where it is known-safe
  • nvidia video drivers
    • installs non-free driver and correctly enables
  • ati video drives
    • installs non-free driver, doesn't seem to enable
  • wengo (free SIP phone)
    • installs package from Universe
    • in gnome-app-install for those who want it
  • skype - installs non-free package
    • Investigate adding skype to gnome-app-install

Automatix

Automatix is a community script, maintained at http://www.getautomatix.com/ It does not seem to have source packages in repository, and is written in sh. The german version has some serious issues currently: removes its own files instead of using the packaging system. uses apt-get --force and --assume-yes

It install most of the packages that EasyUbuntu offers as well as the following:

  • Acrobat reader (proprietary .pdf-reader which can be used with Firefox plugin (see below))
    • installs non-free package
    • Is available in gnome-app-install
  • AMSN (a F/OSS chat program that copies the look and feel of MSN Messenger, for those users who are used to that)
    • installs package from universe
    • Is available in gnome-app-install
  • aMule (P2P application)
    • installs package from universe
    • Is available in gnome-app-install
  • avidemux
    • installs package from universe
    • Is available in gnome-app-install
  • backup and restore
  • bittorrent clients
    • installs bittornado and azureus from universe
    • The default bittorrent that comes with Dapper has a far easier GUI so it's more useful for new users
    • azureus is in gnome-app-install
    • doesn't install the GUI for bittornado; what's the point?
  • boot-up manager
  • checkgmail (system tray application which notifies of new mail in gmail)
    • installs checkgmail by downloading hardcoded .debs from Debian (which will be synced to Ubuntu when syncing starts for Edgy...)
    • we already have gmail-notify and kcheckgmail in universe
  • ctrl-alt-del
    • configures GNOME shortcut for ctrl-alt-del to launch gnome-system-monitor (similar to Windows)

    • gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/run_command_9 "<Control><Alt>Delete" && gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/keybinding_commands/command_9 "gnome-system-monitor"

    • This key-combination does nothing by default; why not this?
    • Maybe more appropriate to open the logout dialog?

  • DCPP (P2P client) maintained at http://linuxdcpp.berlios.de/

  • Debian Menu
    • enables the Debian menu
    • we don't want this; packages should provide XDG .desktop files instead
  • DVD ripper
    • installs dvdrip (command-line program) from multiverse
  • Eject CD
    • disables tray locking on CD-ROM drive
    • We do better than this in Dapper; HAL sends a signal and the device is unmounted cleanly
  • GAIM beta
    • adds a people.ubuntu.com source to get beta GAIM .debs
    • for use as a msn replacement, more usable than gaim1.5 (offical MSN client has increased functionality)
  • Firefox 1.5 plugins
    • installs Sun Java, Flash, msttcorefonts(?), mozilla-acroread, mozilla-mplayer
    • Sun Java, Flash and msttcorefonts are already in g-a-i
    • mozilla-acroread and mozilla-mplayer should be added
  • Frostwire (P2P client)
    • installed by downloading third party .deb
    • GPL
  • gdesklets (desktop applets for GNOME)
    • installs gdesklets gdesklets-data from universe
    • gdesklets depends on gdesklets-data
    • available in gnome-app-install for those who want it
  • gftp
    • installs gftp from universe, which installs gftp-gtk and gftp-text
    • gftp-gtk is in main and available in gnome-app-install
  • gnomebaker
    • installs gnomebaker from universe
    • is available in gnome-app-install
    • how does this compare to Nautilus/Serpentine?
  • wifi-setup
  • gnomeppp
    • installs gnomeppp

  • listen media manager (http://listengnome.free.fr/)

    • installs third party deb of Listen
  • media players
    • package realplayer in commercial
    • totem-xine is not in g-a-i (totem-gstreamer is)
    • vlc is in g-a-i
    • beep-media-player is in g-a-i
  • nautilus-scripts
    • opens a root terminal in the correct directory
    • opens the selected file in gedit as user root
    • starts the gnome-search-tool with the current path
  • Numlock ON
    • installs numlockx from universe
    • replaces /etc/X11/gdm/Init/Default with a version that runs numlockx
    • should really be part of gnome, in keyboard preferences or something
  • Opera Browser
    • Installs the Sun JRE and other dependencies of Opera
    • Installs a third-party xlibs .deb(!)
    • Adds the Opera .deb repository to sources.list
    • Installs the opera .deb
    • Installs a custom .desktop file
    • Opera should go in the commercial repo (that will handle all dependencies)
  • Programming tools
    • Installs anjuta, bluefish, screem and nvu from universe
    • all of these are in g-a-i
  • Rhythmbox
    • Downloads a pre-release rhythmbox .deb from people.ubuntu.com/~seb128 and installs it
  • Ripper and Tuner
    • Installs streamripper, streamtuner, xmms from universe
    • streamripper: command line tool
    • streamtuner is in g-a-i
    • xmms is in g-a-i
  • Sun Java 1.5 JRE
    • Installs sun-java5-jre from multiverse
    • is in g-a-i
  • Sun Java 1.5 SDK
    • Installs sun-java5-sdk from multiverse
    • is in g-a-i
  • Swiftfox Browser

    • Installs swiftfox (http://www.getswiftfox.com/, a binary firefox build) from a tarball

    • given compelling benchmarks, we would consider building our firefox for 686 instead
  • Swiftfox plugins
    • Installs sun-java5-plugin msttcorefonts acroread mozilla-acroread mplayer-386 mplayer-fonts mozilla-mplayer from multiverse
    • Clobbers totem firefox plugin if it is installed
    • Cannot be included in Ubuntu - see explanation below.
  • Thunderbird 1.5
    • Installs mozilla-thunderbird from main
    • in g-a-i
  • Wine
    • Adds wine.lowvoice.nl repository to sources.list and installs wine package from there
    • Ubuntu a version of Wine in g-a-i
  • XChat
    • Installs xchat, xchat-systray from universe
    • xchat-gnome is rumoured to do what xchat-systray does
  • NVIDIA Cards
    • If a PCI device in a hardcoded list is present:
    • Installs nvidia-glx and l-r-m
    • Runs nvidia-xconfig (which is the wrong thing to do)
    • nvidia-glx should automagically configure itself upon installation
  • Laptop-wifi
    • Installs ndisgtk (a GTK configuration thing for ndiswrapper)
    • Installs network-manager-{gnome,kde} depending on which env you're in when running it.
    • as above

PLF Repositoty

A community repository that offers various controversial packages. Maintained at http://wiki.ubuntu-fr.org/doc/plf, http://plf.zarb.org/

Contains the following:

  • "free" component
    • deCSS
  • "non-free" component
    • realplayer
    • w32codecs

Ubuntu cannot include any of this for copyright reasons (not patents). For further explanation, see below.

Multimedia howto on ubuntuforums by ubuntu_demon

howto found at http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=186792

Contains instructions on how to install codecs, Java and Flash from multiverse, universe and cipherfunk repositories. Again, Ubuntu cannot include the codecs, Java and Flash is discussed above.

Ubuntu Guide

Another community how-to. Offers instructions on how to enable universe and plf repositories and on how to install many of the above packages as well as the following:

  • Clipboard daemon for GNOME
  • Winpopup (linpopup)
    • Install linpopup from universe
    • Manually create a .desktop in /usr/share/applications
    • should have a .desktop file added to the package, will appear in g-a-i
  • Multimedia codecs
    • installs all the gstreamer plugin packages from Ubuntu
    • these are in g-a-i
  • DVD support
    • install libdvdread3 from main
    • Run the install-css.sh
    • Install totem-xine
  • Multimedia player (xine-ui)
    • installs xine-ui from universe
    • Bodges the autoplay_dvd_command to run xine
    • Futzes the default app from totem to xine in /usr/share/applications

Joe Brockmeier's 10 Ubuntu tips

Another community guide. Contains instructions to:

  1. Getting multimedia to work
    • Should be adequately addressed above
  2. Changing the default editor from nano to vim
    • ???
  3. How to install packages
    • Suggests Synaptic and Adept -- but not gnome-app-install?
  4. Sudo and gksudo
    • Documentation issue, covered by existing docs
  5. Add users to sudo
    • Documentation issue
  6. Adding a new desktop
    • Introduction to -desktop metapackages; not necessarily a good idea for most users
  7. How to reconfigure X.org
    • We don't cope automatically with hardware changes yet
  8. How to configure autologin
    • Documentation issue
  9. Compiling from source
    • gcc and build-essential -- mdz supports installing these by default
    • checkinstall (not recommended for quality reasons)
  10. Installing an optimized kernel
    • Done automatically on the DVD
    • No space for it on the CD

Implementation

The following

  • add an icon in gnome-app-install which installs timidity

* Sun java is available and easily installed via g-a-i, but only installs sun-java5-bin and not the (browser) plugin, which is only Suggested

  • Include an additional .desktop file for the browser plugin, or a bundle which installs both, or upgrade Suggests to Recommends
  • JSS libraries are needed to allow user certificates (and digital signatures) to work with firefox (allowing e-government processes). We have them packaged for guadalinex.

  • msttcorefonts - Description in gnome-app-install could be clarified (says "TrueType core fonts")

  • nvidia
    • installs non-free driver and correctly enables
    • should add to gnome-app-install and automatically enable
  • ati
    • installs non-free driver, doesn't seem to enable
    • should add to gnome-app-install and automatically enabled
  • skype - installs non-free package
    • Investigate adding skype to gnome-app-install
  • Consider moving Azareus to main if it is confirmed to work well with current free Java in edgy
  • boot-up manager

    • installs bum [http://www.marzocca.net/linux/bum.html] from universe

    • perl-gtk application to enable/disable services
    • We ship services-admin already, which provides a simpler interface
    • Consider adding an option to services-admin to display a full list of services for power users
  • ctrl-alt-del
    • configures GNOME shortcut for ctrl-alt-del to launch gnome-system-monitor (similar to Windows)

    • gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/global_keybindings/run_command_9 "<Control><Alt>Delete" && gconftool-2 -t str --set /apps/metacity/keybinding_commands/command_9 "gnome-system-monitor"

    • This key-combination does nothing by default; why not this?
    • Maybe more appropriate to open the logout dialog?
  • GAIM beta
    • adds a people.ubuntu.com source to get beta GAIM .debs
    • for use as a msn replacement, more usable than gaim1.5 (offical MSN client has increased functionality)
    • Consider for dapper-backports
  • Firefox 1.5 plugins
    • installs Sun Java, Flash, msttcorefonts(?), mozilla-acroread, mozilla-mplayer
    • Sun Java, Flash and msttcorefonts are already in g-a-i
    • mozilla-acroread and mozilla-mplayer should be added
  • Frostwire (P2P client)
    • installed by downloading third party .deb
    • GPL
    • should be packaged for universe and in g-a-i
  • wifi-setup
    • ndis-gtk integration could be included it in g-a-i or by default
  • Gnome PPP

    • JeffWaugh to check back in the archives about why gnome-ppp wasn't included in GNOME upstream

  • listen media manager (http://listengnome.free.fr/)

    • installs third party deb of Listen
    • put it in universe
    • package realplayer in commercial
    • totem-xine is not in g-a-i (totem-gstreamer is)
      • should we put both in g-a-i?

* add bmp-docklet from http://www.fuckbirdflu.com/automatix/bmp-docklet_1.2-1_i386.deb

  • nautilus-scripts
    • nautilus-actions should be in g-a-i
  • Numlock ON
    • installs numlockx from universe
    • replaces /etc/X11/gdm/Init/Default with a version that runs numlockx
    • should really be part of gnome, in keyboard preferences or something
    • Opera should go in the commercial repo (that will handle all dependencies)
  • Rhythmbox
    • Downloads a pre-release rhythmbox .deb from people.ubuntu.com/~seb128 and installs it
    • apply pressure to upstream to ship more regularly, possibly use backports
  • Swiftfox Browser

    • Installs swiftfox (http://www.getswiftfox.com/, a binary firefox build) from a tarball

    • given compelling benchmarks, we would consider building our firefox for 686 instead
  • Wine
    • Adds wine.lowvoice.nl repository to sources.list and installs wine package from there
    • should look at this package and see what differs from ours in universe
    • ours is in g-a-i
  • Winpopup (linpopup)
    • Install linpopup from universe
    • Manually create a .desktop in /usr/share/applications
    • should have a .desktop file added to the package, will appear in g-a-i

7. How to reconfigure X.org

Code

Data preservation and migration

Outstanding issues

Gobby dump

General

  • Planned enhancements to gnome-app-install will make finding many of these packages easier, as the most popular applications in its list will be sorted to the top
  • g-a-i relies on good keywords in package descriptions. We should study user behaviour to see what keywords they are using to find these applications, and make them easier to find good keywords would be: mp3, dvd (bring up gstreamer extra plugins), flash (bring up flash plugin) etc.

IMHO all average desktop users benefit by having universe and multiverse enabled by default. But this is not useful for corporate use. as long as the ui continues to indicate main vs. universe/multiverse when installing packages through synaptic/smart/etc in the future. I agree. also in enterprise use if the selection packages is centrally deployed they can take care to avoid universe when necessary. We still install lots of universe packages at umn.

needed : firefox totem plugin installed byu deault (or mplayer or something else) its nice to use totem for playback because it follows gstreamer preferences, but mplayer seems to have the highest success of playback. in my personal experiences mplayer and totem-gstreamer are almost equal .. some videos don't play using totem and other don't play using mplayer. but therefor totem-gstreamer is probably the better choice How does totem-gstreamer handle non-free win32 dlls these days -- it seemed to be difficult to configure. It does some magic with ffmpeg, I think. It seems to kind of work.. sometimes theres some package on cipherpunk .. pitfdll or something. i think it works for most wmv's except the newest ones(wmv 10 doesnt work at all AFAIK) it appears pitfdll is in dapper at least.great! I know I'm jumping in late, but what about VLC?

extra artwork

  • gnome-themes-extras nice Smile :)

  • ubuntu-calendar AFAIK it doesn't get used very much by users but it can't hurt Smile :)

compiz/aiglx/xgl currently needs a warning

  • ((I tried it on a geforce 3 when Dapper was still in development I stopped trying after a bit of time though))
  • compiz.net -forums for aiglx/xgl/compiz howtos for ubuntu (and other distros) * xgl.compiz.info repositories contain cvs debs of compiz, aiglx, xgl and
    • associated xlibs, as well as patched parts of gnome to make compiz function
    • many users report sucess
  • aiglx/compiz/i810 has wacky breakages in it like password dialogs don't draw right and sustpend is broken. must make sure users understand that this has a

CategorySpec

CommonCustomizations (last edited 2008-08-06 17:01:22 by localhost)