FreeFlash
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Launchpad Entry: free-flash
Packages affected:
Summary
The Free software world needs free Flash tools so we don't become second class netizens.
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
- ffmpeg for video codecs
- gnash or swfdec
- possibly with gstreamer backend
* gnash, swfdec, nonfree-flashplayer packages need to provide alternative for global flash plugin.
Implementation
Step 1
- include gnash to the main archive
- ship ffmpeg in main
- setup alternative for global libflashplugin.so
- use standard priority for gnash libflashplugin.so
- use higher priority for non-default nonfree-flashplayer to ensure that user gets what he wants when installing nonfree-flashplayer without removing free alternative from computer
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
- ensure automatic codec install works for most important flash video codecs
- can ffmpeg source be split up to ship support for important flash codecs in a more minimalistic fashion?