Upcoming interview about next Kubuntu release, and KF5/Plasma5

[Valorie Zimmerman]

Replying to myself, I guess. Here are my notes - please correct any
inaccuracies, omissions, etc.

notes for interview

Created and supported by community: http://www.kubuntu.org/support
Professional support for users: http://kubuntu.emerge-open.com/buy
Support by Blue Systems to some developers & projects:
http://www.blue-systems.com/ http://www.blue-systems.com/projects/
Infrastructure support by Ubuntu, KDE, Blue Systems and Debian
Governance: Kubuntu Council https://launchpad.net/~kubuntu-council

How to contact us: kubuntu.org, freenode irc: #kubuntu (-devel),
kubuntu-user list, kubuntu-devel list, kubuntuforum
  - http://kubuntu.org
  - http://webchat.freenode.net/
  - https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/kubuntu-users
  - https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/kubuntu-devel
  - https://www.kubuntuforums.net
  - Documentation on KDE userbase: http://userbase.kde.org/Kubuntu
  - Kubuntu in the news: http://wire.kubuntu.org/

* our "upstream* KDE is also making big changes, starting by splitting
kdelibs into the Frameworks, and basing them on Qt5
  - that work is largely done, although of course each library is
being improved as time goes along. Releases monthly.
  - We're writing a KDE Frameworks book; more about that at books.kde.org
  - Developers: apidox at api.kde.org

* KDE has now released Plasma 5, based on those new frameworks
  - that is nearly done, and 5.1 was released 15 Oct.
https://www.kde.org/announcements/plasma-5.1/
  - lots of excitement around that, because it looks and works really
elegant, smooth and modern
  - still some stuff missing of course

* finally, applications will be ported as well - some are done, some remain
  - so our upstream is up to lots of new wonderful stuff, including
using CI too.
  - CI is continuous integration with automated testing

* meanwhile, bugfixes continue on KDE4:
https://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.14.2.php

* Our base for 14.10 (codename Utopic Unicorn) is that stable KDE platform.
* At the same time, we are releasing weekly ISOs of Plasma 5, to make
it easy for people to test
  - http://apachelog.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/plasma-5-weekly-iso-revisited/

* we're following along to KDE's CI effort, and doing that with our packages
  - see #kubuntu-ci IRC channel for the reports as they are generated

* Our new packaging is now in Debian git, so we can share packaging
with them when possible
  - as time goes on, all our packaging files will be there
  - tooling such as packaging scripts are being updated
  - debian and kubuntu packagers will both save time which they can
use to improve quality more

* moving to SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager), KDE/Qt default
graphical login program
  - LightDM requires a Contributor License Agreement assigning all
rights to Canonical, which many KDE devels can't/won't
  - in contrast, KDE e.V. offers optional FLA: https://ev.kde.org/rules/fla.php
  -- Fiduciary Licensing Agreement for assigning copyright to KDE e.V.

* moving to systemd replacing upstart along with Debian and Ubuntu

* moving to Wayland *when it is ready* along with KDE (Kwin) - now on
xorg windowing system
  - will not use Ubuntu's Mir

* Testing until release (please!) on the 23rd:
  - http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/milestones/325/builds/82050/testcases
  - http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/milestones/325/builds/82052/testcases

* Testing Plasma 5:
http://apachelog.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/plasma-5-weekly-iso-revisited/
(fresh install)
  - https://community.kde.org/Plasma/Packages#Kubuntu (upgrading)

* Another way we stay close to KDE is that since Ubuntu stopped
inviting community members to participate in face-to-face meetings, we
have a Kubuntu Day with Akademy, KDE's annual meeting. Thanks to the
Ubuntu Contributors who paid the travel costs for some of us to attend

Qt Free: http://qt-project.org/wiki/The_Qt_Governance_Model

On Sat, Oct 11, 2014 at 3:10 AM, Valorie Zimmerman
<valorie.zimmerman at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi folks, the nice people at Jupiter Radio are going to interview me
> in a few weeks about what we're up to, because "Kubuntu seems the most
> exciting thing out there right now."
>
> I'd like to get some notes together before then, so I have something
> to consult during the conversation. It will be live via Mumble, or
> face to face if that works better, since one of the guys lives about 2
> miles away from me.
>
> They will show up at the install fest that is happening next week:
> http://www.meetup.com/KDE-Users-Seattle/events/208207812/ (called Lets
> talk KDE and play with nightly development builds) and probably get
> some quotes from the people attending there.
>
> I think the notes could be useful for some of our release promo as
> well. When I mentioned our CI, Erich was really interested, so I'll
> read up on all of Harald's emails about that.
>
> I suppose most of what I need to say is already in our release notes
> for the alpha and beta release announcements.
>
> http://jblive.tv Tuesday, 21 Oct.
> http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/release-calendar/ with Erich
> Eickmeyer.
>
> Valorie
> --
> http://about.me/valoriez



-- 
http://about.me/valoriez