To the developers

[vishnumrao]

A few suggestions to the Ubuntu developers.

1.Allow uinstalling packages like firefox without uninstalling the ubuntu-desktop meta package. While upgrading from Fiesty, my upgrade failed because the ubuntu-desktop package had been uninstalled, because I had removed firefox earlier.

2.Do not install uninstalled software during upgrades. For example: I had removed evolution because I use Thunderbird. But installing Ubuntu-deskop package for the above mentioned reason, Evolution was again installed. It would be nice if the removed software were not installed again, while installing the meta packages, unless they were libraries etc.

I have uninstalled evolution and tracker. Hope I will not be forced to install them during my upgrade to Hardy Heron.

3.Support for webcams. Would be nice to see some webcam support on Ubuntu, maybe like the plug'n'play support for printers in Gutsy.

These aside kudos to the developers for such a nice release. Thanks very much for Gutsy.

Vishnu Rao.

[kahping]

1.Allow uinstalling packages like firefox without uninstalling the ubuntu-desktop meta package. While upgrading from Fiesty, my upgrade failed because the ubuntu-desktop package had been uninstalled, because I had removed firefox earlier.

2.Do not install uninstalled software during upgrades. For example: I had removed evolution because I use Thunderbird. But installing Ubuntu-deskop package for the above mentioned reason, Evolution was again installed. It would be nice if the removed software were not installed again, while installing the meta packages, unless they were libraries etc.

I have uninstalled evolution and tracker. Hope I will not be forced to install them during my upgrade to Hardy Heron.

That doesn't seem workable because of the way apt dependencies work.
3.Support for webcams. Would be nice to see some webcam support on Ubuntu, maybe like the plug'n'play support for printers in Gutsy.

Sounds good :)

[Hobbsee]

1&2 are already fixed - at least for most of the packages, in that ubuntu-desktop does not get removed when firefox is, anymore.

3...it just depends on the webcam. Might be a good project for you to start helping out with.

[kahping]

1&2 are already fixed - at least for most of the packages, in that ubuntu-desktop does not get removed when firefox is, anymore.

I stand corrected :-P

[vishnumrao]

=Hobbsee;3644514]1&2 are already fixed - at least for most of the packages, in that ubuntu-desktop does not get removed when firefox is, anymore.

Trying to remove firefox on my machine:

vishnumrao@vishnumrao-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get remove firefox
[sudo] password for vishnumrao:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
firefox firefox-gnome-support gnome-user-guide mozilla-mplayer ubufox
ubuntu-desktop ubuntu-docs yelp
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 8 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0B of archives.
After unpacking 102MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?


Does not seem to be fixed!

3...it just depends on the webcam. Might be a good project for you to start helping out with.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been thinking of some project that I could help on. But have not been able to come to a decision on one.

[DizzyTech]

Yeah, it is definitely not fixed. Yelp needs to depend on an internal Gecko engine, and ubuntu-desktop needs to treat ubufox and firefox like it does ekiga (installs by default, but can be removed w/o problems).

[Hobbsee]

ah, this is because yelp depends on firefox. I guess the help system could be recommended, and therefore removable, if you so desired - but why would you want it to be?

[23meg]

Hobbsee, must ubuntu-desktop still absolutely exist beforehand for upgrades to succeed?

[aamukahvi]

Hobbsee, must ubuntu-desktop still absolutely exist beforehand for upgrades to succeed?
The Update Manager checks that u-d is present and installs it if this is not the case... IIRC.

[23meg]

That's my impression too, due to lack of mention of it in any of the official upgrade docs and release notes since Feisty. If this is the case, its removal is a non-issue.

[DizzyTech]

Yes, but if the update-manager installs ubuntu-desktop or your respective metapackage, all your uninstallation is for naught. This could strain space problems on somebody's computer (e.g., why do I have four browsers installed?), waste bandwidth, and waste installation time.

Is there any way for Yelp to depend on something else? I prefer having the help system enabled by default.

[RAOF]

For Hardy, firefox & all the other Gecko consumers are finally getting built against an external libxul/xulrunner. This should mean that applications using Gecko will no longer depend on firefox, so the world will be filled with mountains of delicious candy.

[tubasoldier]

I agree with the point of this post.

I don't think having a *ubuntu-desktop meta package should be required to upgrade to the next distro. The update-manager should be able to take note of what is currently installed and update only those applications.

[smartboyathome]

I agree with the point of this post.

I don't think having a *ubuntu-desktop meta package should be required to upgrade to the next distro. The update-manager should be able to take note of what is currently installed and update only those applications.

The only problem with that is that it doesn't install the new features. This is what the ubuntu-desktop is supposed to do (in my mind).