FreeFlash

Revision 13 as of 2007-05-15 16:07:40

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Please check the status of this specification in Launchpad before editing it. If it is Approved, contact the Assignee or another knowledgeable person before making changes.

Summary

This specification outlines the proposition to include a free flashplayer in ubuntu default install.

Rationale

There are multiple Free Flash projects currently. This includes the [http://swfdec.freedesktop.org Swfdec] and [http://www.gnashdev.org Gnash] Flash players and web browser plugins. For generating Flash movies, [http://ming.sourceforge.net Ming] and [http://www.openlazlo.org OpenLazlo]. Ubuntu should communicate their needs to these projects and find out about their needs.

Use Cases

  • Scott wants to watch a [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2728972720932273543 video about Ubuntu]. He cannot see the video in his browser.

  • Stefan wants to use Edubuntu on his school's computer. Unfortunately a lot of the learning tools they use are done in Flash.
  • Sarah wants to watch flash-advertisements.

Scope

  • main, iso content
    • gnash or swfdec
    • with gstreamer backend
  • gnash, swfdec, nonfree-flashplayer packages need to provide alternative for global flash plugin.
  • easy codec installation for gnash/swfdec

Implementation

Step 1

Step 2

  • call for forum testing of swfdec
  • come up with comparision: swfdec vs. gnash
  • decide whether to try swfdec as default based on:
    • overall features: which plugin breaks more important sites
    • responsiveness of upstream on support requests
    • result of code-review

Outstanding Issues


Their are three Flash codecs, MP3, which is used for audio, FLV, which is used by YouTube and other sites, and the newer VP6, which is based on the ON2 codec. I believe all have patent issues, bug as far as anyone has determined, decoding these codecs isn't an infringing use, just encoding. The idea at the UDS meeting was to only ship the ffmpeg decoders. -- RobSavoye

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