{{{#!IRC [03:00] Ok, I'm going to give it another minute or so, since DBO isn't around yet. [03:00] In the meantime feel free to familiarize yourself with Unity: [03:00] http://unity.ubuntu.com/ [03:01] and you can see other Unity questions people have been asking us over the past 4 months: http://askubuntu.com/questions/tagged/unity?sort=votes&pagesize=50 [03:01] I'll give it another minute and then I'll start to take questions, so smoke if you got em! [03:01] Logs for this session will be available at http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/01/30/%23ubuntu-classroom.html following the conclusion of the session. [03:02] Hi DBO! [03:02] howdy [03:02] we're just going to give it another minute before we begin [03:02] awesome [03:02] I gave people some links to familiarize themselves with Unity [03:02] and a link to the Unity tag [03:03] So for this hour we're going to do questions about Unity, and we have Jason Smith (DBO) here to answer your technical questions [03:03] then the last hour you can ask me about anything coming up in 11.04 in general [03:03] DBO: Ok let's start, introduce yourself! [03:04] my name is Jason Smith, I am a developer on the Unity project [03:04] I have worked largely on BAMF and the launcher aspects of unity [03:04] however I have a good high level view of all parts of the project [03:04] What other projects have you worked on? [03:05] panel, nux (the toolkit behind unity), compiz, mutter when we were using that, and quicklists [03:05] mhall119 asked: can we still use the 2-panel Gnome layout? I've heard that the global menu changes have broken it [03:06] I can field that one [03:06] yes, the GNOME 2.x desktop is actually our 2D fallback for 11.04 [03:06] in GDM there's a "Classic GNOME" session that you can select to get the same desktop you have today [03:07] to answer the other half of the question [03:07] DBO: and I believe we're doing something with detecting wether the driver can support unity or not and making a smart choice about that? [03:07] I am not aware of any conception break in the global menu for gnome 2.0 [03:07] however if there is one, we will fix it before release [03:08] sebsebseb asked: What is Canonical doing to help other distro's include Unity in their repo's? if anything? [03:08] i got this one :) [03:08] we are getting interest from several packagers involved with other distros [03:09] I know fedora and suse have shown interest recently [03:09] we communicate with them and help answer packaging questions [03:09] in a couple cases we have helped them either build unity without upstream patches or helped remove patches altogether [03:10] next :) [03:10] habeous asked: Is Unity going to completely replace GNOME? OR will they be shipped together? [03:10] got it [03:11] Unity is not a replacement of GNOME at all [03:11] GNOME is collection of applications and frameworks [03:11] among those things is a window manager and a "shell" (panel) [03:11] in Ubuntu we have not been defaulting to the GNOME window manager for some time, opting for Compiz instead [03:12] The only real change here is we will now also be replacing the GNOME Panel [03:12] everything else remains the same, GTK, EDS, menu framework [03:12] its all still GNOME :) just a new shell [03:12] sebsebseb asked: Why exactly was it decided to go with Unity for 11.04 desktop as well as netbook, instead of going with Gnome Shell by default? [03:13] This one is best answered by this article: [03:14] in which Mark is interviewed and explains on why we chose to go with Unity for 11.04: http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2010/10/shuttleworth-unity-shell-will-be-default-desktop-in-ubuntu-1104.ars [03:14] mhall119 asked: Is there any sharing going on with the GNOME Shell developers in terms of usability testing? [03:15] none that I know of but I know both the design team and the DX team look at what GNOME Shell does, both good and bad. We also publish our findings, so I figure they must do the same. [03:16] Sashin asked: What are the plans in regards to Unity post Natty Narwhal? [03:16] ooh, good question [03:16] tell us something cool DBO [03:17] Well from a developer standpoint this question is a bit tricky because its hard to tell sometimes when a feature will land, however! [03:17] Post natty we will see better web integration inside of unity [03:18] as well as standard design iterations and maintenance tasks [03:18] UDS is coming up in May, we'll have a better idea then -- we're not quiet about things we plan at UDS, so I guess stay tuned. [03:18] jmarsden asked: Are there perceived performance issues with Unity compared to "Classic GNOME" -- put another way, is there a minimum hardware recommendation (CPU? RAM? video card?) for using Unity without being annoyed by it seeming slow? [03:19] the Dell Mini 9 is our target bottom end machine for an optimal performance [03:19] currently we feel we are hitting that [03:20] * jcastro pops in with a subquestion: Does unity add any hardware requirements on top of normal compiz? [03:20] If I was running compiz fine before will I have problems I mean [03:20] Frame buffer objects are the only additional requirement [03:20] most video cards made after 1998 or so support this [03:21] so yeah, if you can run compiz, you should be able to run Unity [03:21] mhall119 asked: I want to get involved with Unity development, but I'm not a C/C++ developer, what are my options? [03:21] well we have some projects that are in Vala, which might be even more obscure for you [03:21] well, we could always use help triaging bugs [03:21] oh yeah, that too! [03:22] also, by merely building and testing unity you can help report bugs [03:22] either by running natty or running a daily build on top of natty [03:22] some of the best contributors to the project are guys who build trunk, report bugs and get us awesome stack traces [03:22] and since now Unity can run in Virtualbox 4.0 that's an easy way to get started [03:23] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Unity/InstallationGuideFromSource [03:23] those who test our patches... we cant help but love that :) [03:23] ^ here are the instructions on how to build unity from source [03:23] https://launchpad.net/~unity/+archive/daily [03:23] or you can fire up some of those daily builds if you are crazy [03:24] Sashin asked: Will the full screen dash and application menu make an appearance on netbooks again? Will there be any distinguishing between Desktop and Netbook in Unity? [03:24] the only difference between netbook and desktop unity is the default options [03:24] otherwise they are the exact same code [03:25] the full screen dash will be back however (as an option in some form) [03:25] mhall119 asked: follow-up, anything for a Python developer to do? [03:26] you can make plugins as places using python [03:26] https://wiki.ubuntu.org/Unity/Places [03:26] places aren't ready yet, expect me to make a bunch of noise about places after Alpha 2 [03:26] you'll be able to make your own Dash things we call Places [03:26] it is worth noting the API for places wont change between maverick and natty [03:27] there will be tons of places you could make, they'll be similar to things like Firefox search extension things, except system wide and they'll be able to talk to zeitgeist [03:27] so you can do "super key" + "batman" and the imdb place would return movies into the dash, etc. [03:28] but we'll need people like you to make them! [03:28] sebsebseb asked: Have any of the developers of other distros contributed any Unity code yet? Or is it still mainly Canonical and the Ubuntu Community making it? [03:28] I dont know if we have had code contributions yet from other distro developers [03:29] I don't think so, but I could be wrong [03:29] Omega asked: Are there any plans for a merge between Unity-2D and Unity-3D? What is the relationship between the two? [03:29] I know a fedora guy found some missing header licenses for us [03:29] No :) The 2D version is simply a 2D realization of the 3D version [03:30] its simply designed to be identical to the 3D version minus 3D :) [03:30] (You can find the 2d version here: https://launchpad.net/~unity-2d-team/+archive/unity-2d-daily) [03:30] it's pretty nice for older laptops, I have this old junky laptop with a crap graphics card and 2d unity runs great on it [03:31] charlie-tca asked: Is there a list of keyboard shortcuts used in Unity? [03:31] evil answer: currently no [03:32] less-evil answer: you can look in ccsm [03:32] better answer: we need to make a wiki page :) [03:32] right now the super key invokes the launcher [03:32] and you guys are bringing back the super-1, super-2, etc shortcuts right? [03:32] yes [03:33] mhall119: making a wiki page of the shortcut keys would be a good place for a non-C++ programmer to start ... :) [03:33] I'll start on a page on Monday I think, this would be quite useful [03:33] Sashin asked: What's happening with the proposed unity people's place? [03:34] I think Seif Lofty has written the code for this already [03:34] http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/unity-ppl.png [03:34] ideally this will be packaged and placed in Universe repositories [03:34] yep, he's been working on that [03:35] mhall119 asked: What's the status of accessibility in Unity? [03:35] Pendulum: want to field that one? I am totally in the dark on a11y [03:35] The current status is "it's being worked on" [03:36] They're hoping to get the initial bits of the framework into alpha2, but I'm not sure if it'll happen or not [03:36] ok, thanks [03:36] I do believe, however, (and charlie-tca can correct me in chat if I'm wrong about this) that the accessible installer works, but that's about it [03:36] otherwise we need the documentation on keyboard control ;) [03:36] DBO: while we wait for more questions can you fill us in on what we can expect in the launcher over the next coming weeks? [03:37] Pendulum: I'll get on a wiki page on monday, that shouldn't been too hard to set up [03:37] Drag and Drop support is the biggest work item coming soom [03:37] we are also getting some edge scrolling effects, and quite a few stability fixes [03:37] drag and drop like applications and stuff into the launcher? [03:37] correct [03:38] how about folders and whatnot? or things like my favorite document I am working on or something? [03:38] so you could say drag a file onto the launcher and launch an application with that file as an argument [03:38] finally. :) [03:38] Im not sure if we are going to allow storing files on the launcher itself yet [03:38] I hope so... but I have my doubts :P [03:38] Sashin asked: What's multimonitor support like in unity? Does the top panel extend across both monitors? Is it one virtual desktop per monitor? [03:39] I can field this one as I use unity in twinview [03:39] right now there are 2 annoying issues, first is the top panel still isn't multimonitor aware, so it streches across [03:39] though neil tells me he's working on that [03:40] and the second is if one monitor is larger than the other the launcher gets confused, but alex launi (our QA/testing dude for Unity) has a grasp on that one [03:40] the multiple workspaces are just like how they used to be pre-unity [03:40] that is when I move around both panels switch to a new workspace [03:40] maybe someday we'll get independant workspaces per panel (that would be sweet) [03:41] dream big [03:41] :P [03:41] so what else are you guys going to put in the dash? [03:42] I see the search field there but it's not working right now [03:42] can you explain a bit how search will work? [03:42] search is a "live search" [03:42] so as you type, the results will update [03:42] there is a really cool cross fade blur animation planed for that, I dont envy the GL programmers job for that... [03:43] how many GL programmers on the team? [03:43] results will be organized in much the same way they are in the maverick version [03:43] 3 GL gurus, 2 more GL competent [03:43] Sashin asked: Are you going to reduce the Icon to tile ratio to make it like Maverick Unity? ( I think it looks cleaner with more spacing) [03:44] Nope :) [03:44] can you explain what he means? [03:44] yeah [03:44] he means the size of the icons inside the little tile things right? [03:44] so there are two parts of the tile [03:44] there is a "tile" and an "icon" part [03:45] the tile part in maverick is 48x48 and the icon is 32x32 [03:45] in natty the tile is 52x52 and the icon is 48x48 [03:46] Omega asked: Will Ubuntu Light still be powered by Unity? Can you tell us a little more about that? [03:46] Ubuntu Light isn't really part of my pervu, but as far as I know it will remain unity based [03:46] thats all I really know :/ [03:47] me either, but basically Ubuntu Light = Unity + Normal Ubuntu customized for specific hardware [03:47] DBO: I hear we support icon sets in the launcher now [03:47] yeah we more or less follow whatever the selection icon set is [03:47] so people can make all sorts of crazy icon sets for the thing right? [03:48] yeah I guess they could [03:48] * DBO fears the results [03:48] (about 10 minutes left for questions folks, keep them coming) [03:49] Omega asked: Some people have been making Unity mockups, have you guys taken a look at those? link: http://www.techdrivein.com/2011/01/4-beautiful-ubuntu-unity-ui.html [03:49] I can say with 100% certainty the whole team looks at them, sometimes we oggle, sometimes we giggle [03:49] I love that the community is making mockups [03:49] you guys come up with some great ideas [03:50] those mockups remind me of a question [03:50] for 11.04 will we be able to switch to a light theme like Radiance? [03:50] probably not [03:51] if not in 11.04, for sure in 11.10 [03:51] Sashin asked: Why is the menubar hidden without mouseover? [03:51] There are 10 minutes remaining in the current session. [03:51] DBO: your favorite question! [03:51] I wont lie to you [03:52] I have absolutely no idea, I dont like it myself [03:52] http://askubuntu.com/q/22486/235 [03:52] im not really a designer however [03:52] Mark answers that specific question himself ^ [03:52] awesome [03:52] now you don't have to. :) [03:52] whew, close call [03:53] We have time for like 2-3 more questions [03:53] is there a session with Otto or John Lea? [03:53] nope [03:53] sweet [03:53] Sashin asked: What significant changes will come to the unity interface by final release? [03:54] The dash will undergo major visual changes (as well as become functional) [03:54] it currently does not reflect our design goals [03:54] And we'll have places [03:54] https://wiki.ubuntu.org/Unity/Places/Ideas [03:54] here are some ideas for places we have ^ [03:55] the BFB will also have some design changes [03:55] what's the bfb? [03:55] the Big Friendly Button [03:56] the button with the ubuntu logo you mean? [03:56] what kind of changes? [03:56] yeah that one :) [03:56] There are 5 minutes remaining in the current session. [03:56] when the dash is open it will have a visual appearance similar to it being integrated with the launcher [03:56] its cool looking [03:56] i don't suppose you have a teaser screenshot? [03:56] I do not :) [03:56] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Unity/Places/Ideas <-- correct URL from before, sorry [03:57] ok welll, thanks Jason for joining us [03:57] we'll take a short break [03:57] sure :) [03:57] and then you guys can Q+A me on the rest of 11.04 for another hour [03:57] cheers! [03:57] Bitesize Bugs you can help with: http://goo.gl/i1WA1 and http://goo.gl/tiheb [03:57] ^^ For those of you who want to dive in and help with Unity! [04:01] ok, taking a quick break to go to the bathroom, chill out for a few, mingle amonst yourselves, and then we'll begin! }}}