EpiphanyDefaultBrowser

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This page is an open discussion about whether or not to consider Epiphany as a default browser instead of Firefox.
This page has not to be considered before Breezy release, and is aimed at Breezy+1.		 ##(see the SpecSpec for an explanation)
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'''Note''': This page is not endorsed by any Ubuntu developper and is only an open discussion. There is no official plan to replace Firefox by Epiphany.  * '''Launchpad Entry''': https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/epiphany-default-browser
 * '''Created''': [[Date(2006-04-19T13:11:54Z)]] by LionelDricot
 * '''Contributors''': LionelDricot
 * '''Packages affected''':
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== What must be a default browser ? == == Summary ==
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A default browser must be simple enough and doesn't need a lot of features by default.
(to complete)		 This spec is intended to track wheter or not it is worth changing the default Ubuntu browser from Firefox to Epiphany and, if yes, what must be improved and/or changed in Epiphany.
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== Rationale ==
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== What think the average Joe user about Epihany or Firefox ? == As we ship GNOME, it seems logical, in order to have a more consistent environement, to ship GNOME browser, namely Epiphany.
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Most of average users don't care at all. In fact, they don't see any difference if you ask them. Having the default GNOME browser would simplify a lot of things in the long run : security, support, translation, desktop integration, artwork. Also, Epiphany is more or less independant of the backend engine. If, in a not so distant future, anyone release another html engine, Epiphany could be ported in order to use it.
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Given that now Epiphany can be compiled against XUL-runner and that Edgy is all about taking some risks, it's *the* release to test Epiphany as the default browser. If it's a disaster, we could always back to firefox on Edgy+1
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== In favor of Epiphany as the default ==
 * Epiphany is well integrated with the Gnome desktop and follow the global theme and global options (like displaying text beside buttons, Gnome proxy, etc)
 * Epiphany follows the gnome release schedule
 * Epiphanyy's tab handling is better than Firefox's (although this is set to change when Firefox 1.5 arrives, and is improved by some Firefox extensions)		 == Use cases ==
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 * Arthur has no computer experience. His friend installed Ubuntu and he want to "surf the web" like everyone is saying. He look for something named "surf the web". He expect it to be simple to learn and to use.
 * Zaphod has little Windows experience. He knows that internet is the little blue icon named explorer. His friend, who installed Ubuntu, told him that, in Ubuntu, it's called "browser". Zaphod want his browser as simple and easy as the old explorer.
 * Trillian is an advanced user. She likes to install Firefox on new Windows systems. She wants to install Firefox on her new Ubuntu system but she wants to do it herself because "Firefox is only for supreme power users like me and I like the feeling of installing it where average users don't even know about it !". This is also a good way to learn how to install software on Ubuntu.
 * Marvin is a non-technical user but he likes to surf the web. He doesn't want to learn technical thing but he heard about "extensions to block popups", "extensions to blocks ads", "rss syndication". He want to use that but without learning more than "where must I check the corresponding box ?".
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== In favor of Firefox as the default ==
 * Firefox is well known and "hype"
 * Firefox has some widely-installed extensions that Epiphany has no equivalent for (yet). The most commonly referred-to one is Adblock - although Epiphany has a plan for an equivalent http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany_2fAdBlockExtension
 * Having Firefox will help ease transition for users of Windows and MacOS, as Firefox is available on those platforms		 == Scope ==
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== General points ==
 * Firefox contains more "power user" features, which could be argued as a good point by both sides.
 * Firefox supports keywords in the address bar "google something", whereas in Epiphany "keymarks / smart bookmarks" appear as a dropdown menu		 This spec is only for Ubuntu and all Gnome Ubuntu derivatives.
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== Outstanding issues with Epiphany ==
 * Epiphany currently depends on Firefox, so in Firefox must be installed to have Epiphany. This could be dealt with by creating a seperate Gecko package, which Firefox, Epiphany, Galeon, Mozilla, et cetera depend on.		 == Design ==
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== Related Links ==
 * Epiphany-Firefox comparison on Epiphany site http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany_2fFirefoxComparision
 * "Should Firefox be the default Gnome browser"? http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany_2fFrequentlyAskedQuestions#head-ba622057b4fb0e671c16b6d9868912f8af22bec0		 == Implementation ==

=== Code ===

=== Data preservation and migration ===

 * If you are using Firefox in Dapper and you are upgrading to Edgy, will you be forced to use Epiphany unless you explicitely say it otherwise ? Or, a contrario, only fresh install of Edgy will show the difference.
 * There must be a simple way (druid ?) to import cookies, history, bookmarks, passwords from Firefox to Epiphany.

== Outstanding issues ==
 * Firefox has his own RSS managment. In epiphany we have two possibilities :
   1) not enable RSS plugin by default
   2) Enable RSS plugin and install an compatible RSS reader by default (liferea)

== BoF agenda and discussion ==

A lot of discussions is available here : https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EphiphanyDefaultBrowserThoughts
----
CategorySpec

Summary

This spec is intended to track wheter or not it is worth changing the default Ubuntu browser from Firefox to Epiphany and, if yes, what must be improved and/or changed in Epiphany.

Rationale

As we ship GNOME, it seems logical, in order to have a more consistent environement, to ship GNOME browser, namely Epiphany.

Having the default GNOME browser would simplify a lot of things in the long run : security, support, translation, desktop integration, artwork. Also, Epiphany is more or less independant of the backend engine. If, in a not so distant future, anyone release another html engine, Epiphany could be ported in order to use it.

Given that now Epiphany can be compiled against XUL-runner and that Edgy is all about taking some risks, it's *the* release to test Epiphany as the default browser. If it's a disaster, we could always back to firefox on Edgy+1

Use cases

  • Arthur has no computer experience. His friend installed Ubuntu and he want to "surf the web" like everyone is saying. He look for something named "surf the web". He expect it to be simple to learn and to use.
  • Zaphod has little Windows experience. He knows that internet is the little blue icon named explorer. His friend, who installed Ubuntu, told him that, in Ubuntu, it's called "browser". Zaphod want his browser as simple and easy as the old explorer.
  • Trillian is an advanced user. She likes to install Firefox on new Windows systems. She wants to install Firefox on her new Ubuntu system but she wants to do it herself because "Firefox is only for supreme power users like me and I like the feeling of installing it where average users don't even know about it !". This is also a good way to learn how to install software on Ubuntu.
  • Marvin is a non-technical user but he likes to surf the web. He doesn't want to learn technical thing but he heard about "extensions to block popups", "extensions to blocks ads", "rss syndication". He want to use that but without learning more than "where must I check the corresponding box ?".

Scope

This spec is only for Ubuntu and all Gnome Ubuntu derivatives.

Design

Implementation

Code

Data preservation and migration

  • If you are using Firefox in Dapper and you are upgrading to Edgy, will you be forced to use Epiphany unless you explicitely say it otherwise ? Or, a contrario, only fresh install of Edgy will show the difference.
  • There must be a simple way (druid ?) to import cookies, history, bookmarks, passwords from Firefox to Epiphany.

Outstanding issues

  • Firefox has his own RSS managment. In epiphany we have two possibilities :
    • 1) not enable RSS plugin by default 2) Enable RSS plugin and install an compatible RSS reader by default (liferea)

BoF agenda and discussion

A lot of discussions is available here : https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EphiphanyDefaultBrowserThoughts

CategorySpec

EpiphanyDefaultBrowser (last edited 2008-08-06 16:20:54 by localhost)