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Get more developers reading Brainstorm!  
Written by DanteAshton the 19 Dec 09 at 15:42. Related project: ubuntu.com. Category: Developer feedback. New
In a recent offical document, this was stated;

I have yet to find anything interesting on Brainstorm. -
◦ Yes brainstrom is useless, the user doesnt know that though, so he posts
stuff or votes there and wonders why we never do anything

It's not exactly pleasnet to hear of this in a document, and communication to the community would of been helpful.
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Solution #1: Get more developers using Brainstorm.
Written by DanteAshton the 19 Dec 09 at 15:42.
I admit, not all of Brainstorm's ideas may be helpful, or even usable. However, it is the primary location for a user to suggest new things and improvements.
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Solution #2: Automate the transfer of Brainstorm ideas into feature-requests on bugtracker.
Written by DanteAshton the 19 Dec 09 at 16:52.
To make it easier on the devs, I beleive Brainstorm should serve as a way for the users to vote upon ideas, until a mod/automated program comes along and dumps popular ideas into the feature-request list of Bugtracker.

This would mean, in the long run, a remake of Brainstorm, turning it into a sort of wrapper for feature requests and improvments, rather then a seperate site.
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Solution #3: Make summary of ideas
Written by DrG the 20 Dec 09 at 05:55.
Ubuntu Developers periodically reads BrainStorm ideas and posts 'Developer comments' .
Some solutions are too long and contains good as well as bad ideas .
Make a group of 'Briefers' (Like 'Moderators') and display a brief summary of the relevant solution . This will be comfortable .
Make small icons besides each block of idea to vote for the user , who proposed that solution .

Also see - Better BrainStorming
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Solution #4: Highlighting techniques.
Written by DrG the 20 Dec 09 at 16:33.
Use more HTML capabilities in Brinstorm, which to represent ideas better.

1.Table
2.Flowcharts / Mind Maps
3.Text format - Text highlighting , bold , different font etc.
4.Animations / audio & presentations -( Should be limited - considering narrow band users )

These will help others to understand the idea better with ease and in minimal time.

Also see - Better BrainStorming
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Solution #5: Cross-reference Brainstorm ideas with project roadmaps
Written by Dataphile the 21 Dec 09 at 06:46.
Users want to see when their proposals might be implemented, and developers have to address dependency complexity in order to implement features that everyone wants. A beautiful crossroads here is the project roadmap, since it can be used to lay out dependencies and rough timelines.
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Solution #6: Send Alerts To The Launchpad Projects
Written by eld1e6o the 21 Dec 09 at 07:25.
Add the hability to interact with launchpad, when the user put the name of any related project in the brainstorm wich is hosted in launchpad (optionally, if is popular) send an alert to launchpad.
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Solution #7: Better and faster search capabilities
Written by stoffel the 21 Dec 09 at 21:24.
It should be easier for developers to find all ideas related to a *very* *specific* subject.

It also should be possible to (automatically) embed these *very* specific search results to blueprints, bug entries, forum entries, and so forth. Maybe there even can be an IRC bot that can suggest relevant brainstorm ideas during an ongoing discussion.
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Solution #8: Integrate instant messaging
Written by stoffel the 21 Dec 09 at 21:42.
Integrate real-time communication capabilities using XMPP to make it easier for developers to get additional instant feedback from idea contributors.
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Solution #9: Include a session devoted to the brainstorm ideas in the Ubuntu summits
Written by granadajose the 29 Dec 09 at 16:03.

Many new features that are to be included in Ubuntu are discussed in the Ubuntu summits, so it would be logical to include a session to offer an overview of the most important ideas to both developers and planners at the summit.
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Solution #10: Involve non english speaking people
Written by ikthus-fr the 30 Dec 09 at 02:15.
Creating brainstorm.es, .fr, .de to involve more people in brainstorming
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Solution #11: Make Brainstorm multilingual
Written by retimer the 30 Dec 09 at 17:37.
According to "The Ubuntu promise" to "provide the best translations and accessibility features that the free software community has to offer" there should be multilingual Brainstorm-sites to collect ideas from all the world. I suppose Canonical can afford it.
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Solution #12: Ask software development sites to display a message
Written by Afroman10496 the 31 Dec 09 at 05:43.
My solution is to ask open-source development sites like SourceForge.net and our own Launchpad.net to display a message (not an ad) to get developers to come over here. This would be a great way to attract many developers this way and notify people about Ubuntu Brainstorm and Ubuntu in general.
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Solution #13: Make idea views less biased and Brainstorm would be useful
Written by AndrewLuecke the 3 Jan 10 at 15:49.
Don't default to most popular as a page, or new ideas get no votes and stop showing people votes if they haven't voted on ideas.

I've been here since Brainstorm started. These problems have been known since the beginning. Yet, they have never been addressed. Even worse, the situation has gotten worse.

Developers wont use brainstorm because the votes don't mean anything.. Especially since there is also no way to mark ideas/problems as stating incorrect facts.

Seriously, I can write anything in my ideas, and provided it sounds plausible enough, since nobody looks at the comments it will be voted for. Seen plenty of solutions which are incorrect, and got treated like kings..

The admins know what the problems are, but I wonder if they are bothered enough to fix them.
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Solution #14: publicity
Written by bergginu the 8 Jan 10 at 00:27.
It's simple to solve:
You only accurate to a more direct channel to invite users and developers, most of them do not have this system.
You can for example, insert the call message, which appears during the final part of the installation and the pages that refer to the links to download the Ubuntu LiveCD's.

See the 10 comments or propose a solution >>

Ubuntu Software Center does not notify its actions  
Written by Menti the 11 Dec 09 at 14:44. Global category: Usability. New
When I use Synaptic or Update manager, the opening and closing of popup windows lets me know that installing/uninstalling of packages has started or finished, even if I am seeing other windows. It is annoying, in fact, like a lot of popups, but I know what's happening.

On the other hand, if I leave Ubuntu Software Center doing something and open another program, the only way I can know if USC has finished is focusing on its window again.
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Solution #1: Notify OSD could provide notifications on Unbuntu Software Center's actions
Written by Menti the 11 Dec 09 at 14:44.
Integrating the Ubuntu-created notification system with the Ubuntu-created Software Center sounds logical.

The event that should trigger a notification would be the end of all installation/uninstallation jobs in progress.

The notification could list all software installed/uninstalled, something like this:

__________________________________________________________

Ubuntu Software Center has uninstalled the following items from your system:
Application 1, Application 2, Application 3
__________________________________________________________

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Solution #2: Offer to launch newly installed applications
Written by mdhunn the 12 Dec 09 at 07:06.
Offer to launch newly installed applications and notify on errors like the old add/remove tool. I've missed that.
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Solution #3: Black and white pop-up notifacations
Written by Afroman10496 the 31 Dec 09 at 23:31.
Make a black and white pop-up (like the battery notifacation one) telling the user that his/her selected apps have finished downloading and installing.
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Solution #4: Add a recently installed section to the Applications menu.
Written by mdhunn the 6 Jan 10 at 04:55.
Inspired by molecule-eye's comment.

Add a recently installed section to the Applications menu in the panel. Make the menu configurable as to the number of days/weeks history displayed or allow the user to have it broken down into sub menus for today, yesterday and the last month like a web browser's history. Highlight the Applications menu icon with a check or other badge when applications have been successfully installed in case the user stepped out while the new programs were installing. The check should clear once the new programs have been launched or the user opts to clear it. Provide a tool tip showing where the new programs are normally located in the menu, in case a program was expected to show up under office but went into accessories for example.

See the 10 comments or propose a solution >>

openning a new tabs is mach faster and intuative if you see a little '+' butto  
Written by arkashkin the 14 Dec 09 at 19:43. Related project: Nautilus. New
Opening alot of terminal windows is really confusing and the same for alot of Nautilus windows.
Opening a new tab is not very fast task because you need to choose an option from a menu.
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Solution #1: Adding tabs with a '+' button like in Firefox.
Written by arkashkin the 14 Dec 09 at 19:43.
In firefox there is a little '+' sign button wich opens a new tab where you press it. Both Nautilus and Terminal support tabs, but it is really anoying to open them throught a menu.
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Solution #2: Unify tab-interfaces across the OS
Written by Otus the 15 Dec 09 at 09:17.
There are also other important differences:

In Firefox and Nautilus you can open a new tab with Ctrl+T, in Gnome Terminal you need to use Ctrl+Shift+T, while in gedit you use Ctrl+N. In Firefox you can close tabs by middle clicking them, in Nautilus, gedit or terminal you cannot.

Tabs should be both visually and functionally similar across the OS.

Copy the tab behavior of Firefox (familiar to most) to Nautilus, gedit and terminal as well as any other default apps that use tabs. Push for a shared tabbing library or create guidelines for tab use to developers.
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Solution #3: Solution #2, but minus a few applications
Written by sephthir the 15 Dec 09 at 23:47.
I agree that a unified tab-interface style across the OS would be useful, but there are some technical difficulties to certain programs, such as gnome-terminal. The reason that it is ctrl-shift-t to open a new tab is because a terminal application may handle ctrl-t already. Past a few apps like this, it would be useful.

Also unified should be the ctrl-tab (next tab), ctrl-shift-tab (prev. tab), and alt-# (go to tab number #) shortcuts, as they are quite helpful but not all applications support them.
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Solution #4: Implement tabs in the window manager
Written by saftaplan the 21 Dec 09 at 22:35.
... and remove them from the applications. No more implementing tabs (badly) over and over again in every application. Tabs are useful in most multiple document applications. And yeah, add a little plus.

See the 1 comments or propose a solution >>

It's important that 3rd party repositories can be added with 1 click  
Written by Almindor the 2 Jan 10 at 11:56. Global category: Usability. New
Nowadays Ubuntu is popular enough so that many 3rd party vendors (OSS or not) provide their own repositories for applications which need to be up to date all the time (online games, communication software etc.). Ubuntu is based on the premise of stable 6 month releases and their repositories do not provide new versions of software as it becomes available.

This is a good practice for most applications but some programs require latest versions to function properly (games, online programs etc.).

Currently it is very tedious to add a new repository, you need to add it to the list, import the key etc. It's a multi-step process.
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Solution #1: Create a "add repository" file format and GUI
Written by Almindor the 2 Jan 10 at 11:56.
Create a (XML) file format which would hold all the required information for a repository addition (the url, the GPG key etc.) which can be handled by a GDebi-like simple GUI for adding new sources (existing apps can be changed for this too). This way people can come to a app web site (say an online MMORPG game site) and just 1 click a repository with the question of installing a "default" package from it (this would be an optional functional addition).

The GUI app should check for conflicts and other problems beforehand by attempting to scan said repository and warn the user should a system problem occur if the repository is added (say a dependency paradox). If there are duplicate packages the user should get a warning as well.
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Solution #2: And never forgot to show the appropriate warning.
Written by Ssdg the 2 Jan 10 at 15:12.
Relying on a 3rd party repository means relying on it's manager for the very stability and safety of your system. because package installation allows full access to the core of your system (kernel, network, filesystems, MBR,...) and to replace already installed packages (including libraries. I might be a good thing, or not.)

Everytime a new repository is set, you allow a new organisation/person to gain this access.

Those facts should be stated to the user in order for him to take the right decision.
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Solution #3: Use Deb packages instead
Written by TwistedLincoln the 5 Jan 10 at 19:34.
It's already possible for 3rd party vendors to create .deb files that add their repo info and GPG key. We should just encourage this rather than design a new system.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution >>

Tweak Gnome System Monitor to eat less resources when running  
Written by AFarris01 the 27 Dec 09 at 09:52. Related project: Gnome. New
gnome-system-monitor (System > Administration > System Monitor) is a fairly powerful tool, and enables users to conveniently view information about, and manage, processes running on their computers. The look and feel is also similar enough to tools available on other platforms that new converted users can feel reasonably comfortable using the tool.

The problem is that gnome-system-monitor is a terrible resource hog. Here on a reasonably fast computer (2.9ghz dual core, 4GB RAM, 64-bit) running system monitor means that I can't do anything else, until I close the program. It runs eating up a constant 70% CPU when doing absolutely nothing, clicking anything in the window results in unreasonably long wait times (if it responds at all), and keeping it open for any length of time results in tremendous amounts of RAM usage (RAM usage increases by about 50kiB/s so long as the window is open). This is all on default settings.

This problem is by no means new either. gnome-system-monitor has been broken in this way for the 3 years I've been using gnome, both on 32 and 64 bit systems, new and old hardware.
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Solution #1: rework gnome-system-monitor to be more conservative with resource usage
Written by AFarris01 the 27 Dec 09 at 09:52.
a quick look at some of the source for gnome-system-monitor indicates that the program should have some sort of resource-limiting features, but they don't seem to work very well. My thinking is that gnome-system-monitor should be restructured internally to utilize less resources when running.
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Solution #2: File a bug report
Written by Otus the 28 Dec 09 at 14:18.
This sounds like a bug in the app, instead of a new feature idea. For me it takes only ~10% of a core running at 800 MHz in power saving mode, and doesn't seem to leak memory. Report a bug (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs) instead.

See the 7 comments or propose a solution >>

Make it possible to exit misbehaving game.  
Written by Andre-K the 1 Jan 10 at 19:23. Related project: Gnome. New
An example: Nexuiz stops working during exit (yes it happens sometimes)
new user is stuck, cannot release mouse from the game or recover to desktop.
experienced user can CTRL-ALT-F1, log on, and type killall nexuiz -s KILL
This is not good enogh, does not feels user-friendly.
54
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Solution #1: Bind a keyboard combination that works even with fullscreen game...
Written by Andre-K the 1 Jan 10 at 19:23.
make it possible to bind a key (sysreq?)or combo to leave any fullscreen game, and release the mouse+keyboard.
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Solution #2: Add key to release mouse and keyboard only.
Written by Lachu the 1 Jan 10 at 22:16.
Super key should exit all grabs of mouse and keyboard(only key grabs of window manager are still active). By pressing super key we can move mouse cursor, using alt+tab, etc.
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Solution #3: Add key to show desktop manager(login screen).
Written by Lachu the 1 Jan 10 at 22:21.
There should be key, that switch active console to desktop manager/login screen console. I think, that this should be CTRL+ALT+F1(or some think similar). Display manager could also have possibility to show task manager of selected user, while there's not locked session of this user.
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Solution #4: Prevent fullscreen applications from stealing global hotkeys.
Written by Darwin Survivor the 2 Jan 10 at 09:37.
There are some, if not all, global hotkeys that should ALWAYS be available. These include
-volume control
-music player control (next, pause, etc)
-switch application (alt+tab)
-close application (alt+f4)
-switch desktop (ctrl+alt+left/right). seriously, having a fullscreen game on it's own desktop would be amazing.

So far, the only buttons I've found on my keyboard that fullscreen apps to not steal are the brightness controls (if you're lucky), HW enable/dissable buttons (wifi, bluetooth, etc) and the power button.
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Solution #5: Allow to use rules allowing to stealing global hotkeys
Written by Lachu the 2 Jan 10 at 15:54.
There should be special API, that telling application this hotkey are also used by Window Manager. Also all situations, when global application couldn't register global hotkey should been reported(action, game name, default hotkey). User will only change hotkey.

This idea have rights to exist on Ubuntu, because repositories.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution >>

Auto-generated Ubuntu Laptop compatibility DB  
Written by zartocle the 15 Dec 09 at 10:41. Global category: Hardware support. New
Laptop compatibility is increasingly becoming vital for every OS that aims to be competitive nowadays. I never had great troubles with Ubuntu but we don't live in a perfect world; there is still some uncertainty when somebody comes to decide to buy a new PC.
Yes, there are online databases like www.ubuntuhcl.org , but users have to manually and purposely register there and write down reviews; I think that process could be automated, at least partially.
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Solution #1: Tweak System Testing to request laptop model
Written by zartocle the 15 Dec 09 at 10:41.
I think it'd be very useful a tweak to System Testing prompting the user to insert his laptop name, after the test has been completed: that could be used to automatically compile a table listing the results of the test for every laptop which was tested. This could be made partnering with www.ubuntuhcl.org or by creating a "Laptop DB" into Launchpad: something simple, just a table showing model and test report for every hardware part. The maximum result with the minimum effort...

Thank you for reading. Have a nice day! :-)
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Solution #2: Engage big companies to help!
Written by Andaril the 16 Dec 09 at 00:51.
Ask help in testing laptops, hardware and creating drivers.

Even if driver for special keys will be proprietary it will be more comfortable wait for free one having working one already.
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Solution #3: Open Hardware
Written by Andaril the 16 Dec 09 at 00:59.
To make open hardware became true is need protect business that will manufacture it. If all world will make only one open hardware part I think it will be more then possible to make open PC in near future.
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Solution #4: Compatibility DB for single hardware components
Written by hlippek the 29 Dec 09 at 09:16.
I think, it would make sense having a compatibility-DB of the several HW components that are used in Laptop models (e.g. for network, wifi, sound, graphics, ...). Many Laptop-models use same HW components.

The DB should include information about the state of driver support for Linux, drivers in Ubuntu repository, propritary/open-source.
A Laptop-Model shoud be seen as a combination of many hardware components. With that DB you can create some kind of Rating or percentage of compatibility for each Laptop Model.
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Solution #5: Tweak System Testing to request desktop models as well
Written by mattmyers83 the 2 Jan 10 at 20:52.
I like solution #1 but I think desktop model requests should be included as well.

See the 5 comments or propose a solution >>

Make the notification area consistent!  
Written by rtyb the 26 Dec 09 at 23:34. Related project: Gnome. New
The DEFAULT (volume, battery, connections) are always switching places.

I go to the connections applet in the tray to connect to my wireless network.. oops.
I clicked my battery! It comes out that my 'connections' switched places with my 'battery'.

You know how annoying can that get after a while?

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Solution #1: Lock them.
Written by rtyb the 26 Dec 09 at 23:34.
Order them, then lock them. Stop them from switching places.

It could be in this kind of order: Battery (if unplugged on a laptop) then Volume then Connections.

This is just a recommendation, I'm not telling you developers to forcefully make it like that.

But please, stop them from switching places.
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Solution #2: Alphabetical by default, but let user choose.
Written by lvxferre the 27 Dec 09 at 04:44.
It should be nice let the user define, right-clicking in the tray and a "preferences" menu. However, it would need a default; so, I suggest alphabetical (by application name).
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Solution #3: Save the position after the first start, but keep them moveable
Written by xfuser4 the 29 Dec 09 at 13:22.
It should be sufficient, to save the position of the icon after the first start of an application. This will lock all icons to a fixed position.

After that, they could be moved by pressing ALT or CTRL during the move of an icon (similar to the icons in the MacOS menu bar).
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Solution #4: Have a persistant order for some, then allow others to be moved
Written by krisdouglas the 2 Jan 10 at 14:57.
Have the system default icons, network, sound, power, etc. in a fixed position, then have a separate one for other applications, and have a priority for them if they have recently caused notification/ are blinking, i.e update manager.

2
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Solution #5: Option in preferences to configure application order
Written by lavinog the 5 Jan 10 at 14:05.
Add a tab to the notification area preferences for maintaining the order of previous icons.
If an application adds an icon to the notification area, and it is not in the list, it should be added to the list in the left most position.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution >>

Recent Documents a useless feature.  
Written by euxneks the 31 Dec 09 at 04:59. Global category: Usability. New
Hello.

I hate recent documents. I've never used it. I don't know of anyone in Windows who's used it, I don't know anyone in Mac who's used it. It seems a useless feature that no one uses...?

I think we should have the option of removing that sort of thing from the menu. It's there, and it's annoying me because I cannot remove it. I can disable it, but it's a hack and it's still there in the menu, taunting me.

Below are some suggested solutions.
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Solution #1: Add an option to eliminate Recent documents.
Written by euxneks the 31 Dec 09 at 04:59.
Put it in the gconf editor if you don't want people to find it, but give me the option of disabling it.
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Solution #2: Replace recent documents with Zeitgeist
Written by euxneks the 31 Dec 09 at 05:00.
Remove recent documents, then use zeitgeist:
http://live.gnome.org/GnomeZeitgeist

At least that way, I have the option of uninstalling it if I want.
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Solution #3: Don't have recent documents
Written by pererik87 the 3 Jan 10 at 22:52.
Don't have recent documents. Most people don't know its there, and even less uses it. The task of Ubuntu is to provide software that fits the need of an average user. Rather have the option to toggle it so it don't use resources for users that doesn't know its there.(minimalist)
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Solution #4: Improve the feature in such a way it meets its purpose
Written by erlendoos the 6 Jan 10 at 20:54.
I admit that the recent documents 'list' as it is now is of little use.

If it would be more like a time line, it would make finding recently touched documents better, which I believe this feature is about.

But... how hard can it be to write a program that
- scan the harddisk
- collect files and access date
- Make a nice chart
- Integrate with the OS to directly open the file with the appropriate application

Or apply a daemon that tracks which application is doing something with any file in a specific directory?
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Solution #5: Use it through GNOME DO
Written by ahmad598 the 8 Jan 10 at 04:15.
i use to work with GNOME DO, so I think that it`s good to have a plugin for it to list you recent documents.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution >>

Speeding up suspend 2 disk  
Written by xfuser4 the 15 Dec 09 at 13:12. Global category: System. New
If you "close" your MacBook, MacOS X normally does two things:

- It stores the system state to the disk
- It switches to suspend2ram mode

If the battery fails, the system can then easily restored. But if there is still battery power available, the restore of the system would be fast.

This is still not possible with Linux, since suspend2disk is incredible slow. There are different posibilities to improve the performance, but it will require a bigger development effort.
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Solution #1: Invest in speeding up suspend2disk
Written by xfuser4 the 15 Dec 09 at 13:12.
There are probably ways to speed suspend2disk up. It would be good, to coordinate an investment into this technology inside the kernel groups.
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Solution #2: But keep a way to suspend and power off
Written by Ssdg the 15 Dec 09 at 21:07.
Suspend to disk doesn't use any power once data on disk. So laptops don't run out of battery power. This should be preserved.

See the 3 comments or propose a solution >>

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