ubuntu aims (Re: Idea for expanded support of some non-free software

[Eric Feliksik]

Philippe Landau wrote:
> Jeff Waugh wrote:
> 
>>> of these, multimedia is the one lacking most, so it would justify the 
>>> biggest attention.
>>
>> Sure, and we're working on it, but throwing in unsupportable 
>> proprietary software is not the right way to solve the problem. :-)
> 
> is there another way to solve the problem ?
> 

Well, it's tough because all those multimedia formats are so widely in 
use, but closed format. Even so closed the implementation often can't be 
distributed legally. Demanding canonical form doing it by default will
a) bring them in legal danger
b) distract them form making/supporting free (fertile) software
c) harm the philosophy of free software even more.

It is a really hard problem because when using the non-free software, 
you are giving up your freedom... but when not using it, you can't do a 
lot of stuff. Although making free alternatives is actually the best, 
it's so hard lot's of people (including me) use the non-free stuff 
anyway. But let's not make Ubuntu do that! That would really offend me.

What would be a way to solve the problem is making a script that 
installed the multimedia-stuff. If you make a dialog that asks which 
packages (audio codecs, video codecs, java, flash) the user wants to be 
installed (by checkboxes), and then install them, that would make things 
a lot easier. You'd have to do some logic on how the system looks (but 
as you make it for ubuntu it will be pretty always-te-same), and get the 
version form the distributor in the right way (not bypassing the "yes i 
agree to your flash license" dialog).

If you do it well, all help sites will link to your program, people 
don't have to bother, ubuntu stays free, and you'll look cool :)

Thanks,

Eric Feliksik