Automatix Alert! [was: Re: Security]

[Mario Vukelic]

On Fri, 2008-12-05 at 18:00 -0500, steve wrote:
> Really? I dont know, ive been using ubuntu ultimate for close to 3
> years!  never any problems here. All it is is a fork of ubuntu

Look, please don't mistake this for an argument (and did you /read/ the
links I provided?). I just will not help with it, and I consider
questions about it to ubuntu-users misdirected. I do not run the
software, how am I supposed to help with it?

Even though I do not run UE, it is enough to know that these seem to be
the same guys as Ultamatix, or that they at least advocate or even just
advertise it. You can take it up with Matthew Garrett if you don't
believe him about their code quality. I, however, will simply accept
that he knows a million more things about software, and Ubuntu in
particular, than I do, and follow his advice. And anyway, you can follow
the links I gave and read the analyses and code snippets yourself. 

Again quoting Matthew [1]: "Don't install this package. Don't let anyone
else install this package. If you see anyone advocating the installation
of this package, call them a fool. There's absolutely no excuse
whatsoever for the existence of this kind of crap."

If that is not enough, here is Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter #116:
"Occasionally, programs appear that would be better left undone for the
good of everyone. Ultamatix is such a program. It's roots come from
Automatix, a program most in the Ubuntu community shudder at
remembering. Ultamatix is supposed to install applications and fixes to
assist the "New User" experience with Ubuntu. A transitional tool. The
bottom line is that, it does this in a dangerous, and potentially
damaging way. Matthew Garrett was a nay sayer of Automatix, and after
taking a closer look at the Ultamatix code, it became clear to him that
it too has big problems. Any user, new or seasoned should bypass this
application in favor of learning the proper way to install, and
configure their system. Quick fixes aren't better, smart fixes are." [2]


[1] http://mjg59.livejournal.com/99905.html
[2] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue116#Ultamatix