Installing a compiler by default

[Brent Larsen]

there is all this talk about "sort of" installing the compiler by 
default, and this and that.  I think this is a really annoying idea.  It 
is annoying to the folks who have to build and troubleshoot a "semi" 
compiler, and it is annoying to the guy who needs to use a compiler to 
complete his ubuntu install.

there is no reason to ask if they want a compiler during install (maybe 
expert could/should).  Either having the compiler there is a good idea, 
or not having it is a good idea.  but "sort of" having it installed is 
just annoying.

I have only heard one decent argument against having it: space on the 
user's hard drive.  which we decided was about 20 MB.

having it would be incredibly convenient to folks who want to install 
apps and drivers from a tarball.  in many of the howto's on the forums, 
the hardest part about installing some cool feature is getting a 
compiler installed.  Installing it by default "just works" for all those 
people.  and it doesn't create a problem for anyone else.  If you dont 
know its there, it isnt hurting you.

Either 20MB is too much, or it isnt.  I personally would remove open 
office in favor of abiword and gnumeric, and remove evolution and gaim 
before I would leave out a compiler.  Installing those applications from 
the "add remove programs" area is really really easy.  adding a 
compiler... not so easy.  
-that's my two cents
-Brent