[Oneiric-Topic] Byobu

[D'nalkrik Nit-sud]

I'd like to raise the (biannual) proposition that we consider
launching Byobu by default on Ubuntu Server installs for at least part
of the Oneiric cycle.  As an LTS-1 release, this provides an ideal
opportunity (Alpha1-3?) to innovate and differentiate, while still
allowing for recalibration and reconsideration ahead of the subsequent
stability-focused LTS cycle.

Byobu has come a long way in the last 2.5 years, having addressed many
of the early concerns about functionality, stability, and usability.
New features, such as horizontal and vertical splitting, and
traditional ones such as convenient keybindings and dozens of
real-time monitors provide a rich, unique command line experience for
many Ubuntu users.  Byobu has won the praise of numerous users,
bloggers, and magazines, with many people swearing by its utility.

That praise is not unanimous, of course (though what is unanimous in
Ubuntu these days?).  So such a change would be easily overridden by
the following preseed parameter (and could even be a single question
in the installer):
 byobu byobu/launch-by-default boolean false

At login, the user would be clearly informed that this is brand new
behavior which can be trivially and permanently reverted with the
command:
 $ byobu-disable

Furthermore, derivative distributions should be able to cleanly and
easily opt in or out of this change.

At the very least, I suggest that we consider enabling Byobu by
default for our cloud images that necessarily run detached and
"elsewhere" -- which is really where Byobu shines!  Byobu provides
some distinct advantages over numerous indistinguishable cloud images
on the market.  Shall we take a risk and innovate a bit here?  At
least for a couple of non-LTS Alpha releases?  Or perhaps localized to
our cloud images?

--
D'nalkrik Nit-sud
Registered Byobu user #00000001

Okay, okay ... it's really Dustin Kirkland, of course.