UbuntuCommonHooker

Revision 4 as of 2006-04-25 11:26:48

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Summary

[:UbuntuCommonHooker: UbuntuCommonHooker] aims to provide an interface for unknown file extensions to automatically install a certain packages when it's called.

Rationale

New users will find it difficult to open a particular file, because there are no installed viewers for it.

Use cases

Eduard is a schizophrenic, however his only obession and a way to calm him down is listening to "Veronika Plays Piano, volume 1" which is encoded in MP3. Veronika is his friend who recently got a copy of Ubuntu Linux, and tried it on Eduard's computer. However, Eduard just find out that he can't play his MP3's.

Dr. Igor use ".rar" extension to compress his research, however, Villete decides to migrate to Ubuntu Linux. But when Dr. Igor tryies to open "Vitriol.rar, and Zedka.rar", it say's "Error cannot open file!"

Okonkwo tried Ubuntu Linux for the first time, however, when he tried to open "Wresting with Amalinze.mpg", he is prompted that "there are no codecs to view this file", However, Okonkwo's father Onuka had no problems opening .mpg files, but Okonkwo doesn't like to use Windows like his father did.

Scope

The software will support the following file input.

File Type

Description

Open With

ZIP, RAR, ARJ, ACE

Compressed Files

File-Roller

MP3, WMA, AAC, M4A

Audio Codecs

Rhythmbox (gstreamer)

RAM, RM

Real Media Codecs

Totem (gstreamer)

MPG, MOV

Video Files

Totem (gstreamer)

CBZ, CBR

Comics Files

Comix

CHM

Compiled Help Document

xCHM

It will automatically install the necessary applications to view those particular files.

Design

The software will be linked to those particular file extensions, (e.g. Open With), and will have a gnome-settings-default-applications icon.

attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-implimentation-0.1.png

Screenshots

Archives

attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-rar-0.1.png attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-arj-0.1.png

Music Audio Files

attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-mp3-0.1.png attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-aac-0.1.png

Video and Movie Files

attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-mov-0.1.png attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-mpg-0.1.png

Document Files

attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-cbr-0.1.png attachment:ubuntu-common-install-hooker-chm-0.1.png

Implementation

The software will determine a particular file by it's file extension, expected input is not case-sensitive, that means, .ZiP, .ZIP .zIP will automatically identified.

Code

The Code is written in Gtk+ 2.0, C, and sh as a backend script.

Source

attachment:ubuntu-common-hooker-0.1.tar.gz

Binary

attachment:ubuntu-common-hooker_0.1-1_i386.deb

Data preservation and migration

The original file will not be over written.

Outstanding issues

It will prompt the user to enable universe/multiverse repository, that will install non-free and commercial applications, a user will manually enable those repository, via software-properties.

== BoF agenda and discussion ==

  • Is this related to DesktopTeam/CommonInstallHook ? Is this intended to work from within applications? Eg If i try to play an mp3 in rhythmbox or watch flash in firefox.

  • Don't forget the documentation and the '? Help...' button in the dialog! It's quite important that we don't leave users wondering if "enabling repositories" is a dangerous thing or not. In some ways it actually is -- users leave the sphere of supported packages. UlrikSverdrup


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