EpiphanyDefaultBrowser

Revision 57 as of 2006-04-19 13:11:54

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Summary

This spec is intended to track wheter or not it worth changing the default Ubuntu browser from Firefox to Epiphany and, if yes, what must be improved a/o 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 is new to computer. His friend installed Ubuntu and he want to "surf the web" like everyone is saying. He look for something named "web browser" that acts like the rest of the desktop.
  • 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.
  • Marvin is a teenager who like computer. He like to install Firefox on a new Windows. He want to install Firefox on his whole new Ubuntu but he want to do it itself 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 !"

Scope

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

Design

Implementation

Code

Data preservation and migration

Outstanding issues

BoF agenda and discussion

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


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