[lubuntu-devel] Lubuntu Next Default Applications

Wed Jul 5 22:45:06 UTC 2017

Qupzilla is a great browser. I can do just about everything with it. With flash I can watch Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Video. Great choice!

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> On Jul 5, 2017, at 3:39 PM, Simon Quigley <tsimonq2 at lubuntu.me> wrote:
> 
> 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
> 5C7A BEA2 0F86 3045 9CC8
> C8B5 E27F 2CF8 458C 2FA4
> 
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