[Bug 75017] SRU request: remove /.hidden file

[Luka Renko]

Public bug reported:

Binary package hint: kubuntu-default-settings

Kubuntu Edgy has introduced new "feature": by default, all directories
in / are hidden, beside /home and /media. Main reason was to hide stuff
that would typically not be needed by typical user. This was implemented
as part of media:/ simplifications (media:/ was major issue in dapper).

More details: 
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KubuntuKDEMedia
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KubuntuHiddenFiles

During the beta cycles, there was no complaints that this might be an issue (or people were willing to accept this "simplification"), but after the release of Edgy, when most of existing Kubuntu user base has upgraded, we were faced by several bugs (bug 68719, 67582, 67314) and several heated discussions on IRC and Ubuntu mailing list:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kubuntu-users/2006-October/010173.html
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kubuntu-users/2006-October/010191.html
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kubuntu-users/2006-November/010842.html
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kubuntu-users/2006-November/010852.html
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kubuntu-users/2006-November/010498.html
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2006-October/021460.html

Note: this also impacts GNOME users with kubuntu-desktop installed as
GNOME file dialogs/browser also respect .hidden file.

Since we had Celeste Lyn Paul from KDE Usability on UDS MtView, this feature was reviewed again and it was decided that hiding files in / is really not so good idea, as it may confuse current Linux users as well as complicate support for new Linux users. For example when users are asked by bug triage/support/irc to provide some file from /etc or /var/log and they cannot browse there with Konqueror or regular file open dialog (to attach the file). 
This is why it was decided that the "feature" should be dropped for Feisty (and is already in Feisty):
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KubuntuFeistyDefaultSettingsReview

Since we still get new complaints from Edgy users, we have discussed
this on Kubuntu meeting on Dec 7 and it was agreed it would make sense
to backport this to Edgy. This "bug" may not be seen immediately as
complying with requirements set in StableReleaseUpdates, but we think
that it is seen as severe regression by our users (even though that
workarounds exists) and complicates support.

** Affects: kubuntu-default-settings (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Unconfirmed

-- 
SRU request: remove /.hidden file
https://launchpad.net/bugs/75017