Difference Between Automatix and EasyUbuntu (was Re: Newbie Wurkshop)

[Corey Burger]

On 11/14/06, Andrew Hunter <andy.hunter at rogers.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday 14 November 2006 02:37, Corey Burger wrote:
> > On 11/13/06, rbil <rbil at shaw.ca> wrote:
> > > On Mon, 2006-13-11 at 16:34 -0800, Corey Burger wrote:
> > > > On 11/12/06, Chris Blythe <cblythe at xris.ca> wrote:
> > > > > Hey!
> > > > >
> > > > > Last night's workshop was great! Thanks to everyone for their very
> > > > > valuable input regarding all things Ubuntu. Thanks to the LinuxCaffe
> > > > > for the great ambiance and good-stuff. And thanks to the Ubuntu.ca
> > > > > folks for pulling it all off! Well done.
> > > > >
> > > > > As the governer of California once said...  "I'll be back!"
> > > > >
> > > > > BTW - Automatix worked wonders with the multimedia codecs
> > > > > (www.getautomatix.com). But one note - I understand it's important to
> > > > > remember to use Automatix to remove anything installed by it, should
> > > > > the need arise.
> > > > >
> > > > > Xris
> > > >
> > > > Very cool. Glad to see this kind of thing take off. However, I do I
> > > > have one minor reservation: If you are going to use a script, consider
> > > > using EasyUbuntu over Automatix, as Automatix has the habit of
> > > > breaking things. A lot of the upgrade headaches from Dapper to Edgy
> > > > were caused by people using Automatix and such things.
> > > >
> > > >From what I've found out, IRC Ops have been banning people** who even
> > >
> > > mention the word "Automatix" within the #ubuntu IRC channel and this was
> > > well before anyone was even attempting to upgrade to Edgy! I don't know
> > > what it is about "Automatix" that has some of you guys in a knot? I know
> > > many many people that use "Automatix" without any problems whatsoever
> > > and only find it a blessing.
> > >
> > > >From the FAQ at Automatix's website:
> > >
> > > Is Automatix safe ? Folks in #ubuntu on IRC keep telling me it isn't
> > >       * Yes it is perfectly safe. Thousands of users worldwide use
> > >         Automatix every day without any issues.
> > >
> > > I think there are more serious problems with the upgrade to Edgy
> > > facility and solutions could probably be found if something like
> > > "Automatix" wasn't the scapegoat for these problems.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Rene
> >
> > Rene,
> >
> > Please, lets keep seperate the issue of IRC and Automatix. The larger
> > issue at hand is actually third party repos. If creators of those
> > repos are not careful, and most of them are not, they can easily mess
> > up a system when it tries to upgrade to the next version of Ubuntu.
> > For Feisty the dist-upgrader will try and work around some of these
> > situations, but not all of them can be done so. So please, consider
> > very wisely when you tell people to use any third party stuff. I say
> > use EasyUbuntu because of their devs are also MOTUs and thus have an
> > inside view of some of the breakage these third party repos have done/
> >
> > Corey
>
> Does EasyUbuntu use 3rd party repos, or does it just automate the process of
> installing things like codecs? If it just uses the Ubuntu repos, I would
> agree that is it would be safer in the long term (upgrades and all).

EasyUbuntu does use third party repos, but carefully vetted ones.

If you want more information, please see
http://www.lucas-nussbaum.net/blog/?p=218
http://soijabanaani.net/tmp/the_trevino_story
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevi55/296804891/

Corey