[lubuntu-devel] Lubuntu Next Default Applications
Simon Quigley
tsimonq2 at lubuntu.me
Wed Jul 5 22:39:25 UTC 2017
Hello everyone!
A couple of days ago, I worked on sorting the Lubuntu Next blueprints in
Launchpad so that we can narrow down what still needs to be discussed
for default applications in Lubuntu Next.
Here is what I think are good choices (either by adoption already, or
it's a no-brainer of a choice):
* Core components: https://is.gd/8SAXUY
- We're using LXQt, not KDE in Lubuntu Next. That's already been
decided on.
* Display configuration application: https://is.gd/1NF0iy
- This is the application that configures monitors, etc.
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* File manager: https://is.gd/LeQetW
- PCManFM-Qt is already supported in the upstream LXQt project.
- Only option on the blueprint.
* Login/Greeter application: https://is.gd/IX3W9G
- SDDM is also used by Kubuntu, so we can work with them to support
it.
- We already have a theme for it (sddm-theme-lubuntu-chooser).
- It's lightweight and Qt-based.
- It's the only option on the blueprint.
* Input configuration application: https://is.gd/HBcdmM
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Look and feel (theme configuration, etc.): https://is.gd/vf5cfo
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Notification application: https://is.gd/KreAF4
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Panel: https://is.gd/VElO1H
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Power management: https://is.gd/BpV4PP
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Quit application: https://is.gd/8Tx714
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Terminal: https://is.gd/73VORG
- QTerminal is supported in upstream LXQt.
- QTerminal is a fully featured, lightweight terminal that in my
experience is top-notch.
* User management: https://is.gd/WlEY8f
- There's already one built into LXQt, we don't need to rely on an
external application for this.
* Window manager: https://is.gd/uNx916
- We already have theming for Openbox, and it does everything we need
it to.
- The only downside I can see is that if we ever decide to support
Wayland (*maybe* in the *distant* future), we would have to choose
a different window manager.
* Network management stack: https://is.gd/bKdlIp
- dhcpcd-ui has a Qt port we can use.
- The upside to that is we would have the same underlying stack as
stock Lubuntu.
* Web browser: https://is.gd/niZhiV
- Qupzilla is the best option at this time.
- We won't open this up for discussion because it could turn into an
endless flame war, and Qupzilla is good for what we need it to do.
Ultimately, people can install whatever web browser they wish.
As of right now, the applications above are final, and unless a core
team member has a concern (in which case we can discuss that, but I
don't think the above choices really should cause any controversy), they
will ship in the Lubuntu Next image.
The below blueprints still need some feedback and direction, but please
do NOT respond to this email, I don't want to create a never-ending
thread. If you have feedback on it, *please comment on the blueprint*.
* Language selection: https://is.gd/5HQhzd
- I believe something is built into lxqt-config, but
language-selector-kde is also on the blueprint.
- I only speak English (my Spanish isn't good enough yet), and I
don't switch languages regularly, so I would like some feedback
from someone who is bilingual and can test both of these
applications.
* Bluetooth management: https://is.gd/3xYnzx
- Do we have something like this built into LXQt?
- I don't personally use bluetooth enough to have a good opinion on
this.
- Are there any other good Qt applications besides bluedevil?
- Doesn't seem like bluedevil requires too many additional
dependencies...
* Update and Package Management: https://is.gd/i3yhOX
- Muon is currently our only option.
- If everyone is interested, we can keep with Muon for now, but work
on cute-updates with the hope that it will be ready within the next
year or two to ship by default. I think it is a promising project.
* Audio/video application: https://is.gd/dHPZ4L
- I personally like VLC, while Julien likes SMPlayer.
- VLC is extremely popular and will be a familiar application for
our users.
- Audacious has a Qt port that we can eventually get packaged.
- Right now we're between a couple of choices, we need to decide on
the best one.
* PDF application: https://is.gd/Us5JUF
- qpdfview is the only choice on the blueprint, and it seems like a
decent one, but it has not been updated in Debian for a while. I
have not received a response from the maintainer yet to see if it
will be updated.
- We could either work with Debian's processes to see if an upstream
version could be uploaded there, or just upload a new version to
Ubuntu. Or, we can decide on another application. I'm leaving this
one up to Julien to decide.
* Archive application: https://is.gd/MRmi9i
- We should see if there are any other possible solutions besides
the ones on the blueprint. Suggestions welcome.
* Instant messaging/communication: https://is.gd/6iq1Kc
- There are several individual clients for different things such as
IRC and VoIP, but there's not a Pidgin replacement on the
blueprint. Suggestions welcome.
* Image viewer: https://is.gd/IKx3U1
- LXImage-Qt seems like a good option, it's supported upstream, but
Nomacs is on the image now. I'd like some feedback from Julien and
the rest of the team as to which one we should include.
* Locking application: https://is.gd/Nzfnup
- xscreensaver seems like a good option, but is there anything else
we should consider?
- Can we theme xscreensaver to look a bit better?
* Office suite: https://is.gd/EGJD5M
- LibreOffice is extremely popular and is what is currently used on
the image.
- Leaving it open for any final feedback, otherwise we'll go with
that.
* Printer management: https://is.gd/tOtPFp
- There are no options here and I don't know what to pick.
* Scan application: https://is.gd/AbuRo8
- There are no options here and I don't know what to pick.
* Text editor: https://is.gd/lKv3BB
- Is there any progress on porting Juffed to Qt 5? I really don't
think we should have anything Qt 4-based on the ISO.
* Torrent application: https://is.gd/dxuj3y
- Transmission or qbittorrent?
* Email client: https://is.gd/VEsAoy
- It looks like Trojitá needs to be packaged, although that's pretty
easy to do. Is everyone OK with it?
* Other applications: https://is.gd/ROBRJT
- Calculator? Any other utilities that we should include by default?
* Notes application: https://is.gd/OJQgSQ
- Are there any non-KDE Qt 5 notes applications that we can use? I'm
not seeing any on the blueprint.
* CD/DVD burning/USB writing application: https://is.gd/GGTXlf
- I'm currently working with the new mkusb upstream to get that
packaged, maybe that's an option?
- This is something we still need, correct?
* Games: https://is.gd/KDGkeI
- 2048 is a fun game, I'd support keeping that.
- Are there any other fun games that we could include? Do we even
want to include 2048?
* Task manager: https://is.gd/IT5HwT
- qps seems like a decent task manager, although I'd like to make
sure there's no better alternative.
- I personally really like htop, although that doesn't have a GUI.
A goal of mine is to see a lot of these decided on by Alpha 2 (July
27th), and all of them decided on by Beta 1 (August 31st) so we can work
on documentation and polishing. I think these are achievable goals,
given that we can change any of these applications in the future if we
need to.
Any thoughts on this that is *not* bikeshedding? :)
--
Simon Quigley
tsimonq2 at lubuntu.me
tsimonq2 on freenode and OFTC
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