Ubuntu Wiki

These are my personal notes about possible projects for EdgyEft and beyond. It is not a place for suggestions from others. For that, see CommunityEdgyIdeas.

• - MattZimmerman

Infrastructure

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/fix-mom Fix MOM]

• Localized CD images
• Delta updates for CD images via bsdiff or similar

• [done] Fix cdimage build to not overflow onto a second CD (ColinWatson/r1104)

• Soyuz build-from-accepted (don't wait for source to be published before building)
• Better facility for recording release validation test progress and results

• [done] [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/ubuntu-meta-from-bzr Fix metapackages to pull seeds directly from bzr]

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/seed-cleanup Clean up the seeds]

Features

• Bug reporting tools which talk to Malone
• Software installation via web browser
  • Metafile allows for locating the appropriate package for the user's system, preferring an official package over an unofficial one

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/boot-message-logging Logging of startup/shutdown messages] (bootlogd?)

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/larger-livefs Larger livefs for DVD]

  • All langpacks

  • [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/live-cd-stacked-filesystems Stacked file systems] is probably part of the solution for this - TollefFogHeen

• Usability review of non-desktop stuff (e.g., CD boot text, boot messages, etc.)

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/quieten-grub Quieten grub]

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/optimized-live-cd-layout-for-faster-boot Sort squashfs to optimize live CD performance]

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/common-customizations Review EasyUbuntu, automatix, ubuntuguide and see what can be incorporated]

  • Enable universe,multiverse by default
  • Suggest packages to support unknown file types
  • Extend Firefox plugin locator to find official packages of plugins

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/automated-problem-reports Automated problem reports]

• CD/DVD-based upgrades

• automount windows partitions on the live CD (http://launchpad.net/bugs/16356)

• GCC and kernel headers in default install
• Usplash
  • Higher resolution, more colors
  • Better font, smooth scrolling OR just disable the text entirely
• Deskbar applet by default

• NetworkManager (again)

• Avahi/ZeroConf out of the box

• Hibernation resume message: https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/initramfs-tools/+bug/41137

• Firefox Human theme

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/xen-enabled-kernel Xen]

• Review results of NCC desktop study and see what can be improved

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/gcc-ssp GCC SSP stack protection]

• Hardware database
  • Enhanced client

  • Data analysis (https://debconf6.debconf.org/comas/general/proposals/113)

• Include oo.o, firefoxe translations in langpacks
• Firefox session saving out of the box
• Enable totem firefox plugin by default
• Ubuntu counter - allow Ubuntu users to be voluntarily counted/surveyed
• Totally rad X configuration
  • Enable a wide range of modes by default, allow the user to drive their display at any mode via XRANDR
  • Use X driver modules to probe hardware
  • Install binary drivers by default for easier enabling (fix diversion madness)

• smart-notifier

• ubuntu-server metapackage
  • powernowd, for reduced power consumption, heat
  • Move evms, lvm, mdadm here

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/grub2 GRUB v2]

• SMART
  • Tracking and auto-removal of packages installed only indirectly (to satisfy dependencies)
  • Use in g-a-i to enable Add/Remove to clean up after itself, and allow for interesting metapackage bundles
  • translated package descriptions

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/dpkg-7zip 7zip compression for dpkg]

• i686 optimization experiment
• Desktop search (beagle)
• Fix gnome-screensaver to exclude GL modes if hardware acceleration is unavailable
• NX

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/xgl-compiz X server eye candy (Xgl/AIGLX/Composite/etc.)]

• Install to LVM by default and allow new storage to be easily merged into the root filesystem

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/sane-installer-keyboard Sane keymap handling (console vs. X)]

• Consider new apps for desktop
  • Tomboy
  • F-spot

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/teardown Fast/minimal shutdown] (eliminate stop actions where they aren't needed)

• [https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/replacement-init udev activation of lvm, evms, mdadm, bluez...]

• Merge -security and -updates?
• Display urgency information in update-manager
• Revisit polypaudio?
• kexec
  • crash analysis
  • swap new kernel onto live CD for updated hardware support?
• Review James' "fix my computer" launchers around the office and make them obsolete

• -686 kernel on live CD (AdamConrad will make this trivial change early in EdgyEft)

• [done] LAMP, server kernel on DVD (ColinWatson/r1105)

• Remove/rename server install mode on alternate CD
• Launchpad-assisted intelligent mirror selection
• Coalesce DVD images for derivatives (and/or architectures?) into one
• Language packs which aren't packages
  • Delta updates
  • Support for universe, multiverse
  • Implement for only universe first, as a test?
• Automatic network service detection and configuration
  • SMTP server
  • Proxy server
  • File server
  • Backup server?
  • Local bookmarks

Release Process

• Deadline for spec approvals
• Dapper release post-mortem

Testing

• Explicit milestone regression testing (early and often)
  • Test plans
  • Laptop testing team
• Incorporate multilingual testing
• Coalesce non-overlapping test cases (e.g., partitioner vs. OEM)
• Monitor testing progress regularly
• Adapt test case assignments for bandwidth as well as hardware
• Client-side application for guided and semi-automated testing

Community

• Forums
  • Involve more in formal testing efforts
  • QA of FAQ answers, etc.
• Formal process for gathering feature ideas from the community (currently random mixture of mailing lists, wiki pages, blueprint, etc.)