Contributor farhadi - Ubuntu brainstorm

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The Ubuntu community has contributed 21986 ideas, 135057 comments, 2615221 votes

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Contributor farhadi

LiveUSB

Written by Taku the 28 Feb 08 at 14:35. Global category: System. Implemented

cdroms are slow, don't allow to modify their content easily, they are weak and not as easy to carry as USB keys.

It would be great to provide Ubuntu as a liveUSB just as Mandriva does. We should be able to carry our distribution on any computer, manage our preferred settings (do I want binary drivers enabled ? what is my preferred resolution ?), etc.

The thing is not to make something transportable, but really a nomad system that could be used just the best way as it could on any computer.

Developer comments

This was implemented by two separate projects! Both Usb-creator (see the blueprint) and Usblive (see its website) allow you to build a live USB system on Intrepid.
The first one is available on the repository, and usblive in this PPA.

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0
votes

See the 78 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 12 May 12 at 08:35) >>

Easy mounting of Images like ISO and CUE

Written by Nanotron the 28 Feb 08 at 20:17. Related project: Nautilus. Implemented

I'm a big fan of Images like .iso. However it is not very easy to mount these Images.

Developer comments

There is already right click->open with "archive mounter" in Gnome, however it currently has a major bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gvfs/+bug/299956

5716
votes

Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #194

Written by Nanotron the 28 Feb 08 at 20:17.

I feel there should be a Tool in Nautilus and Dolphin which allows mounting Images by double Click or something similar. (This feature exists int MacOS). Or with a right click on the I think that would be a very useful Tool for every one.
A good example for this is CDemu.

I know there are some other good programs, but I think that would be the easiest way

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Selected solution (#8): Okay, here it is :)

Written by r0g the 28 Oct 09 at 05:09.

In the form of a python script for nautilus actions.

http://www.technicalbloke.com/iso_mount.py

I don't have time to do the unmount command too but it should be easy to adapt if you know a little python, consider that homework & pls post me a copy :)

I think it would be nice if Ubuntu came with some more useful nautilus action scripts and a nicer way of adding/removing them. At the moment getting them in and out is more of a pain than it needs to be. It ought to be as easy as Firefox (if not easier!) to install plugins, maybe then people would make more.

Roger.

-44
votes

See the 65 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 12 May 12 at 08:13) >>

Power Management

Ubuntu

In :
Priority :	Low
Definition :	Pending Approval (Needs guidance)
Implementation :	Slow progress
Assignee :	Amit Kucheria

Written by jsmidt the 28 Feb 08 at 16:49. Global category: Others. In development

Ubuntu needs to go green. Powertop, Lesswatts and other tools have finally hit the Linux scene to pave the way for better power management. It needs to be said, "if you want your battery to last longest, or have your energy bill be the lowest, you better use Ubuntu Linux."

Merged from 18976:
Power management still isn't very effective in Linux and it still puts a lot of laptop users off Linux. While Linux has come on a long way thanks to the work of Intel with PowerTOP informing developers when their software breaks the idol state unnecessarily so they are doing their part as well as the kernel developers now we still have a long way to go to compete with Windows and I'm looking at ways for Ubuntu to do this.

One of the benefits of Linux is that is very easy to customise and a lot of its users love to tinker. Ubuntu should therefore use this to its advantage by allowing its power users to easily have access to the latest developments in Linux power efficiency. This would also be useful to Ubuntu as power users could submit results on what settings are most economical for specific hardware. This would give Ubuntu the chance to market itself on its power efficacy over other operating systems by it silently implementing these settings on the detected hardware setup for new users.

To give users these advantages Ubuntu should help more on Intels Lesswatts projects as these are Linux's best bet on beating windows power management. The problem is the solution to effective power management needs to simple enough that it works for a new user that wont even know its active but also very easy for power users to modify and test their own setups from one central tool.

http://www.lesswatts.org/

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Selected solution (#6): Develop/Intergrate WattOSPM (GUI laptop-mode/Powersaving) in2 Gnome-power-manger

Written by chappell101 the 1 Apr 09 at 15:16.

This is taking Solution #3 to prevent conflict and expanding to give Gnome-power-manger 2 modes, simple for average user and button to reveal an advance set of options for power users based off the options in WattOSPM and PowerTOP.

To stop average users completely breaking their system with the tool only include safe things to disable in the simple mode in an on/off switch manor such as the optical drives and sound chipsets which aren't necessary to all users on the go but still waste power, Also this is a feature possible in windows for a long time now! The advanced mode could log user results of all their changes and show on a graph similar to Gnomes current power chart and have the option to submit the best back to Ubuntu so they can be set as silent defaults values for specific hardware for less technical users.

WattOSPM is already an effective little python tray-bound GUI to enable fast changing of laptop-mode-tools, X-backlight, and Powersaving settings to optimise many parts of your system for battery consumption and performance. So it would be nice to see it assisted by Ubuntu developers to add more features while it is integrated into Gnome to give back to the whole Linux community. These changes could be those found in Rightmark CPU Clock Utility for Windows Eg.CPU performance states editor, Thermal throttling values, and CPU PLL lock time these could be accessed through the Gnome CPU Frequency Scaling Monitor applet in the tray if cpufreq-selector is installed by default.

[...]

Also get Ubuntu to look at some of the power/speed measures used in the Ubuntu derivative distribution WattOS and port them back to the main distribution where possible.

How to Install http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=6362540&postcount=103
Review http://www.raiden.net/?cat=2&aid=539

138
votes

Selected solution (#7): Write a simple GUI to control laptop-mode-tools.

Written by andrew.p the 19 Mar 09 at 22:03.

Here are some parameters of /etc/laptop-mode/laptop-mode.conf that sometimes should be customized not only by greatly experienced users: readahead size, disk spin down timeout, maximum time to keep data in memory, low battery level to write data to disk, whether to enable all of this on AC power. There IS a reason for it, for example optimal readahead can be very different on machines with different amount of RAM. Also, this is a way of locking some values (for example the tool should not allow to set readahead >RAM/50).
Also there should be a global Enable HDD Powersave Tools checkbox controlling /etc/default/acpi-support ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE.

And I also think there should be an option (with warning) to set hdparm -B to 254 in all modes (this fixes ustoppable spinning down on battery for some laptops).

18
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57
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Selected solution (#9): Expand the capabilities of gnome-power-manager

Written by brand0con the 12 Mar 09 at 01:27.

Gnome power manager is a great tool but I think it could use some expansion. Namely, I'd like to see it logging (and eventually graphing) the system's battery history over the long term (not just a session) to give a more accurate picture of how a user typically uses his or her machine battery-wise and to give a sense of the machine's capabilities.

Ideally, the app would mature and after a set interval of recording this data, it would be able to provide a few basic suggestions based on power related events as to how the user can get the most life out of their battery in the long and short term.

5
votes

Selected solution (#10): "Green Software" Logo

Written by MX the 27 Mar 09 at 12:44.

To increase visibility and to be supported by facts: e.g. increases battery life by x% on average (for notebooks) or reduces average energy consumption by x % (for Pc's).

From my experience proper, non-technical and business oriented communication is key to reach most users and convince them about the usp's of a product.

Thinking of a usp - energy efficiency has a high impact.

Appreciate your thoughts and keep going!

159
votes

85
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Selected solution (#12): Automatic charge/discharge

Written by Mondane the 9 Feb 09 at 14:26.

The user shouldn't be bothered checking his battery and/or removing the battery when on AC power. Make the OS drain the battery on intervals so the battery stays intelligent when the laptop is on AC power.

The user should have the option the interrupt and revert the draining if he knows he needs a full battery and is leaving in a short time.

25
votes

Selected solution (#13): Set the maximum battery charge on AC power

Written by mathieu the 5 Feb 09 at 18:36.

In order to preserve its battery's life, I would like to set the maximum percentage of charge (60% or 80% for example) when I'm not using it outdoor.

But if I have to use it outdoor, I want to release the limitation easily to get the maximum charge.
Finally, when I come back at home, I would like to use the battery power if the charge level is over the limitation setting, even if I have plugged the AC cable.

This trick will increase our Li-ion battery lifetime. Because if it is always completely charged when the laptop is running on AC power, its charging/discharging capacity will decrease quickly than if it is set on a lower value.

0
votes

See the 86 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Apr 12 at 16:26) >>

Include a graphical frontend to edit /boot/grub/menu.lst installed by default

Ubuntu

In :
Priority :	Undefined
Definition :	New (Needs guidance)
Implementation :	Unknown
Assignee :

Written by aysiu the 28 Feb 08 at 18:51. Global category: System. New

Right now, the most likely successful migrations to Ubuntu happen for *nix experts and total novices who have someone install Ubuntu for them, but the most likely people to try Ubuntu are Windows power users--those who like a lot of configuration options but who are also used to using the GUI for tweaking options and not manually editing a text configuration file.

The most popular requests for editing the /boot/grub/menu.lst file involve changing the default boot option (to Windows instead of Ubuntu) and changing the timeout before a boot option is selected. The other less popular ones would be just bonus features, I guess.

2880
votes

71
votes

See the 36 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 27 Jan 12 at 15:27) >>

Restoring the bootloader by Ubuntu installation CD

Written by vinlos the 29 Feb 08 at 10:46. Global category: Installation. New

If I install Windows after Ubuntu, it's impossible to boot Ubuntu until I install again GRUB following several instructions.
My idea is adding the option "Restore bootloader" in the list which appears when Ubuntu installation CD start. The aim is to offer a simple way to restore GRUB without loading a live distribution, opening a terminal and following a long series of instructions

[Edit 06/03/2008]
In my opinion, the user SHOULDN'T boot the Ubuntu Live Distro. It would be an unuseful waste of time.
Instead, it should be possible to select a new option among those ones of the startup menu of the CD.

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Solution #5: Make a DUPLICATE of the mbr and place an option in boot.ini and vista bootmgr

Written by supermorph the 3 Apr 09 at 18:26.

as an option as WELL as placing grub into mbr , i would suggest Making a DUPLICATE of the mbr and place the mbr file in windows boot.ini and the vista bootmgr menu's (should windows be located in the install)

i had to re-do somebodys system, they was very dubious on linux (they had another distro and it didnt do wireless, so they over generalised and thought gnu/linux as a whole was not good) and i suggested to fix thier pc,
they left it with me, so i put thier media-centre xp first, all thier apps how they liked, installed a hidden user for me, and installed jaunty 9.04 at the end of the hdd, and made the users exactly like the xp, (both with firefox, and wine 4 ubuntu) i also took the liberty of extracting the installed mbr of ubuntu to a file "ubuntu.mbr" i called it, and placed it into thier xp partition (hidded,system applied) and added a menu "Ubuntu Linux" to thier boot.ini as the second option, i then proceeded to make a recovery image of this setup and put it to four dvd's with all of the dvd's bootable to a registered acronis 8 personal of myne, so if they restore it will ALWAYS work, and if they need whats on there they can remove the mbr and STILL use ubuntu (or put it back if they ask how to do it)

mabye this could be done, and add an option to restore this mbr file to the hdd in recovery mode on the live/alt disks?

sorry for the long post, but i think it will actually help because of the way i done things, theres no way ubuntu cannot be run in that configuration.

[...]

kind regards
supermorph

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Solution #12: App to install OS from inside of Ubuntu. . .

Written by LordHawke13 the 8 Feb 10 at 04:34.

I suggest an application that will run the contents of a boot disk either to an internal guest display (as in a Virtual Machine) or to an attached external display (like a second monitor) to install an operating system for dual booting. Since it can be done from inside the host OS, it can suppress the secondary OS' process of overwriting the MBR, preserving the primary bootloader, and optionally writing entries to the bootloader's boot menu for chainloading the secondary OS. Such an app would eliminate the need of a bootable LiveCD as the bootloader will be intact and in no need of restoration.

18
votes

Solution #13: Installer disc universal bootloader repair tool

Written by pfelelep the 15 Feb 10 at 07:40.

25 years ago today, I was able to simply change mac os 6 boot folder by just removing or adding the Finder file. That was useable.
25 years ago today I was able to repair most non booting DOS issues by just typing SYS C: That was almost useable.

What do we have in 2010 ? A OS that breaks its own bootloader when you try to update it. And that's when you managed to install it in the first place... And if you're to fix it (I guess most debuting users will just wipe their disk and start over again from here) you have to download 3 different discs to try from (live, alt, supergrub) . That's progress I guess ?

Grub is excellent software, but its useability and reliability need to be reinforced !

What I need on the install disc is a tool that lets me :
step 1 : describe partitions in my system. no installer or tool can guess that stuff in a mildly sophisticated system. there could also be an automatic mode for simple 1 or 2 partition setups. LVM should always be natively supported.
Step 2 : choose mbr or grub partition target
Step 3 : Click Fix and reboot !

20
votes

Solution #14: Whatever the solution is implemented, it should have its fair counterpart

Written by leorolla the 11 Mar 10 at 17:26.

People who try Ubuntu for one day (perhaps because a friend insisted) and then decide to wipe it out, find themselves desperate when they realize that their computer is not working at all.
And they say that it's Ubuntu's fault!
And they are right!
In fact it is the installation of Ubuntu that has just broken the user's system.

If this or that OS is crap, it will be obvious from the facts. It is for the user, and only for the user, to come up with that conclusion.

What Ubuntu has to do is to be as good as it can, and other OS's won't provide equivalent tools.
As for today, they don't come even close, but who knows...

If an Ubuntu application will propose the user to "fix" the MBR, it should propose to "fix" the MBR in both directions: to replace the current MBR by Grub, or to replace it by another OS's bootloader.

No matter if it will do it at the Live CD, a Desktop application or an application to be run inside other OS's, it should offer both possibilities.

This would make Ubuntu inarguably superior.

[...]

If the user chooses to fix the MBR using another OS's bootloader, and the application can still detect that some Linux partition, then it should implement an ingenious procedure to chainload Grub from the other OS (as described at Solution #5, for the case of Windows).

5
votes

Solution #15: Make Grub Die Hard

Written by checoimg the 1 Feb 11 at 03:06.

Auto restoring option on grub (don't tell me if it is posible or not).
Make Grub Reinstall itself until you enter Ubuntu and change that option, so after any change grub will overwrite the new loader and persist to be the used loader. Of course updating the list of OS and maybe add on Gparted a detct OS option in case of problems detecting new OS installed on same Hard Disk

See the 43 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 21 Dec 11 at 04:15) >>

Customizable installation and all desktops in one DVD

Ubuntu

In :
Priority :	Undefined
Definition :	New (Needs guidance)
Implementation :	Unknown
Assignee :

Written by l0rdraiden the 28 Feb 08 at 20:12. Global category: Installation. Won't implement

1) A customizable installation (with checkboxes o something similar) you will be able to choose what packages do you want. You will can select or unselect the programs that ubuntu install as a default, if you dont need an email client you will can unselect it...

2) Integrate in 1 DVD unbuntu, kubuntu, xubuntu... you need only select what desktop do you want and what packages (see nº1)

"Ubuntu should be available as a live/install DVD that comes with Gnome, KDE, Xfce, and perhaps other desktop environments. Ideally, it would have equal priority to the CDs that only come with one, which would include being released at the same times. When booting from the disk, users should have an option of which environment to use. When installing, users should be able to chose which environments to install, and have options for installing additional packages designed for those environments (like the gnome and kde packages).

This would allow multiple people who prefer different environments to use the same installation disk. It would be more convenient for people who want to have e.g. both KDE and Gnome. It would make it easier for people new to Linux to learn which environment they prefer. It would make it easier for lesser used environments to gain new users. It would put all supported desktop environments on a more equal ground, rather than sanctioning one as the only "real" and "official" desktop environment for Ubuntu."

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/7151/

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Solution #4: Offer to seek out wider packages/drivers

Written by jamesisin the 14 Apr 09 at 18:18.

One problem that I have run into in installing Ubuntu is that sometimes I would like to install the desktop software onto (former) server hardware. That is often not possible due to differing drivers being included on the desktop version and the server version.

Selection between different desktop environments could be part of this process. Kernel selection (desktop/server/older) should also be available.

Could it be possible to have the installer carry a wider array of drivers to cover more installation types and then be able to download other necessary drivers during its installation process?

I think we could still offer a very trim CD which could do all of this, but it may be beneficial to also offer a DVD which contained a lot of the optional packages.

7
votes

Solution #5: cd alternitive

Written by nloewen the 28 Jun 09 at 18:53.

keep a slimed down version of the install with only base features to fit on cds and smaller flash drives for people without a dvd drive. On the first boot it could install the extra unnecessary stuff that didn't fit on the cd. The cd would include enough to keep it functional so that if you didn't have an internet connection you wouldn't have to worry.

25
votes

Solution #6: Multi-buntu DVD

Written by nq6 the 28 Aug 09 at 15:13.

The DVD included with this issue lets you sample a selection of the most popular Ubuntu variants. Boot
the disk to a Live version of Ubuntu 9.04 “Jaunty Jackalope,” or install a permanent version of Jaunty on
your hard drive.

When you are ready for a taste of some other flavors, double-click the VirtualBox icon on your Ubuntu
desktop to launch any of the following:

Kubuntu: Ubuntu for the KDE desktop.

Xubuntu: small and light on resources – optimized for legacy hardware.

Easy Peasy: tooled for netbook systems. Also included on this DVD is a bootable disc image of Ubuntu Studio – an Ubuntu alternative for high-end audio recording studios and multimedia configurations. Plus you’ll find packages for Edubuntu – Ubuntu for schools and other classroom settings. See the Installation guide on page 60 for more on the Ubuntu User multi-buntu DVD.

15
votes

Solution #7: Multibuntu DVD distribition

Written by mitcoes the 5 Sep 09 at 12:20.

Not only a recopilation, a distro where you can install all packages and choose what X to run each time you star o restartX.

All Gnome, KDE, Fluxbox, Xfce and more, are not a lot for actual HDDs.

OPTIONAL: And if it can be implemented a multi Xorg.conf, one for each Desktop Manager, it would be very useful if you have problems with any upgrade or update.

3
votes

Solution #9: Full DVD version + CD upgreadable via "first launch" screen

Written by teraxas the 10 May 11 at 16:29.

The best way, in my opinion, would be to create two sepparate instalation images:
1)4.5GB DVD with all the features, codecs or anything "Canonical" wants to put inside.
2)700MB CD with basic features. This version should have a "first launch" screen with:
short presentation of Ubuntu's features AND
a button for upgrading to full version. This, when selected, would start downloading all the missing software from the DVD version.

This way, you can forget the size limit of CD and keep people with small USB keys or CD-ROMs interested.

This was already used by Linux Mint team. I think it's the optimal solution.

P.S. sorry for my English. I hope I will be heard.

0
votes

See the 29 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 25 Sep 11 at 01:48) >>

Unmount resolution

Written by Vivien the 28 Feb 08 at 16:35. Global category: System. Not an idea

When someone wants to unmount a volume and the mount point is used, he gets a message telling him that the volume can't be unmounted because an application uses it. The user has no idea which application is actually using it and can't remove the device.

I propose that the popup tells him which application(s) is(are) using the device and propose to terminate them (that list should be kept up to date when the app. dies).

Developer comments

Upstream bug (GNOME #528559) has a patch in discussion. Volunteering to work on it.

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35
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Solution #2: Unmount timer

Written by Aphoxema the 23 Sep 08 at 15:26.

Since mounting and unmounting a filesystem over and over again is less hazardous than removing an unmounted filesystem, wouldn't it be as simple as having USB devices unmount automatically after so many minutes without use?

Unmounting any USB drives after, say, 5 minutes without use (by default that is, the option to change it should be available somewhere) would make accidental unplugging less of a risk. It would protect the user, it wouldn't make it all that difficult to mount the filesystem again when it was needed, and it's just damn easy to implement.

See the 42 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 31 Jul 11 at 01:37) >>

Ubuntu Developer Network

Written by JReagan1990 the 17 Feb 09 at 16:19. Related project: ubuntu.com. Implemented

Just like Microsoft has MSDN, Sun has SDN, why not have a UDN? :)

We have MOTU, but still the wiki pages are scattered and not exactly the best guides on how to begin programming. Beginners would find it troubling on how to begin. Creating a developer community around Ubuntu would be extremely beneficial.

446
votes

Selected solution (#1): CREATE UDN!

Written by JReagan1990 the 17 Feb 09 at 16:19.

A page could be created on the main ubuntu.com site, and would include sections for "beginners", "experienced developers", etc. This page would have all the resources (or links to wiki pages) to get started developing applications for Ubuntu. Let's face it -- there is no easy guide to creating a simple package for beginning programmers, or guides that might be suitable for such a task. The page could also embed videos from the Ubuntu Developer's channel, and even host the Ubuntu Developer News (the weekly news for ubuntu devs).

It would certainly help improve the image of Ubuntu's development process and show that it is very active. The site would also make it more visible to mainstream developers (game companies, etc.), and it would also help to create a standard around Ubuntu.

Update - added a mockup (screenshot) over on my blog with a more complete writeup:

http://jonreagan.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/ubuntu-developer-network/

You can read the official plan here:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfdw2zz6_155gdk646df

[...]

You can also read the blueprint here:

https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/ubuntu-developer-network

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Selected solution (#4): Make a learn on your own style course

Written by asdlkf the 2 Mar 09 at 14:53.

While many people that develop for linux/ubuntu have formal education in programming, etc...

We can not expect users who do not know how to make a hello world program to contribute to bug fixing or creation of new content.

Far more work needs to be put into creating an organized, prerequisites-basted, comprehensive, and motivating site/videos/etc. Call it ubuntu classroom or something. Maybe it could be part of edubuntu or just in some way related.

EVERY topic should be touched on and there needs to be quality control and granularity to the subjects included.

A very tree-like structure should be used.

"How to program for ubuntu"
"How to Program for ubuntu in C"
"How to Program in C"
"For loops in C"
"If-then control structures in C"
"binary tree searching in C"
"Basics of data structures"

[...]

"Basics of data types"
"How to define data types"
"How to program for ubuntu in php"
"How to program for ubuntu in ..."
"How to port programs to ubuntu from Windows"
"How to port programs to ubuntu from windows in C"
"How to package your program for use with ubuntu"
"How to compile the program for use in a package"
"How to compile the program"
"How to configure an IDE"
"How to obtain/select an IDE"
"How to locate include'ed source packages"
"Settings to use for generic distribution"
"Where to submit completed packages"
"How to get help with your program(ing)"
"Where you can go to find help"
"Where you can go to find help online"
"Where you can go to find help IRL"
"Where you can go to find help in class"
"How to decipher compile errors"
"How to troubleshoot logic errors"
"etc... etc... etc..."
"etc... etc... etc..."

Obviously this list could be 1000's of lines long. But the basic structure should be:
Item
-List of items which [Item] is dependant on
-Information on where/what/how to use [Item]
-List of items which depend on [Item]

This way, when people link to a tutorial "oh, just go here and see how to program in C", they are also linking to all of the tutorial information someone would need to know how to program in C reguardless of prerequisite knowledge.

By providing a complete framework for getting started at ANY point, anyone with any level of educational background could say "I want to learn how to make a program in C and package it for use in ubuntu". Then find how to program in C. Then read how to use data types/control structures/GUI's/etc..

It might take them a few days/weeks/whatever to read up to speed, but in the end, they could do it, for free, open.

-- Chris

While many people that develop for linux/ubuntu have formal education in programming, etc...

We can not expect users who do not know how to make a hello world program to contribute to bug fixing or creation of new content.

Far more work needs to be put into creating an organized, prerequisites-basted, comprehensive, and motivating site/videos/etc. Call it ubuntu classroom or something. Maybe it could be part of edubuntu or just in some way related.

EVERY topic should be touched on and there needs to be quality control and granularity to the subjects included.

A very tree-like structure should be used.

"How to program for ubuntu"
 "How to Program for ubuntu in C"
  "How to Program in C"
   "For loops in C"
   "If-then control structures in C"
    "binary tree searching in C"
     "Basics of data structures"
      "Basics of data types"
       "How to define data types"
 "How to program for ubuntu in php"
 "How to program for ubuntu in ..."
  "How to port programs to ubuntu from Windows"
  "How to port programs to ubuntu from windows in C"
 "How to package your program for use with ubuntu"
  "How to compile the program for use in a package"
   "How to compile the program"
    "How to configure an IDE"
     "How to obtain/select an IDE"
    "How to locate include'ed source packages"
   "Settings to use for generic distribution"
  "Where to submit completed packages"
 "How to get help with your program(ing)"
  "Where you can go to find help"
   "Where you can go to find help online"
   "Where you can go to find help IRL"
   "Where you can go to find help in class"
  "How to decipher compile errors"
  "How to troubleshoot logic errors"
  "etc... etc... etc..."
 "etc... etc... etc..."

Obviously this list could be 1000's of lines long. But the basic structure should be:
Item
 -List of items which [Item] is dependant on
 -Information on where/what/how to use [Item]
 -List of items which depend on [Item]

This way, when people link to a tutorial "oh, just go here and see how to program in C", they are also linking to all of the tutorial information someone would need to know how to program in C reguardless of prerequisite knowledge.

By providing a complete framework for getting started at ANY point, anyone with any level of educational background could say "I want to learn how to make a program in C and package it for use in ubuntu".  Then find how to program in C. Then read how to use data types/control structures/GUI's/etc..

It might take them a few days/weeks/whatever to read up to speed, but in the end, they could do it, for free, open.

-- Chris

25
votes

6
votes

Selected solution (#6): Like Solution #1 and #4 but also with mentors

Written by trumbun the 22 Apr 09 at 15:01.

Sometimes new programmer would like to help but it is difficult to find a project to help in it.

Their should be a page with projects that Ubuntu developers help in.

A subscription page for new programmers that wish to help with their knowledge (like a CV)

When a project is assigned to the programmer he/she can talk to a mentor using voice chat to help out.

See the 14 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Jul 11 at 16:51) >>

Making the GNOME panel better

Written by baldurpet the 14 Feb 09 at 18:11. Related project: Gnome. Won't implement

There are a couple of things related to the panel which could/should be improved. Keep in mind that this isn't some huge problem, but rather something which could be made better: (I'm going to add the problems as solutions)

567
votes

Solution #1: Improve transparency of the panel

Written by baldurpet the 14 Feb 09 at 18:11.

When you make the panel transparent (Properties > Background > Solid colour, and then making the "style" transparent) the little things at each end of the panel don't become transparent (when the panel isn't expanded), nor does the background of the Workspace switcher).

A simple solution would just be to make the things at the end and the workspace switcher transparent as well.

410
votes

398
votes

Solution #3: Adding a small gloss to the panel

Written by baldurpet the 14 Feb 09 at 18:35.

Adding a small gloss feature to the panel?
An effect like this would be too resource heavy, and could really add some 'bling' I guess. Just something as simple as this; a really classy ivory white panel.

Again, this would be something you could enable and disable from the properties window.

Edit: I noticed something really cool by accident. I looked at my lower panel, saw this

and thought "wow, gnome has that effect?" (I'm talking about the real subtle glow on the top), but then I saw that it was just the watermark of my wallpaper (the screenshot of my desktop also shows the problem in solution one). I don't see why this couldn't be added without making GNOME bloated.

346
votes

Solution #4: Adding a few simple themes to the panel

Written by baldurpet the 15 Feb 09 at 05:21.

I think the panel looks (and especially) feels way too boxy. It's like in bad animations, you don't expect the animation to become flashy because it doesn't give you a reason to. When ever I think of the GNOME panel I think of a monotonous box, because quite frankly that's what it is.

You can change between themes in the appearance preferences, well why isn't there an option like that for the panel? Themes could include something like this, this, akin to the KDE kicker (something like a less childish version of this) or even this (yaya Vista, I dislike the company Microsoft for a lot of reasons, and I think Vista looks way too gaudy in general but I do like the way the panel looks).

273
votes

Solution #5: Allowing extra options for the menu button

Written by baldurpet the 15 Feb 09 at 05:32.

Seriously, I don't know why changing something as simple as the picture of the menu button isn't possible (well, of course it's possible- but John Doe can't do neither do it easily nor from the panel's properties screen).

What I was thinking about would be to both allow a simple change of the picture in the menu button, and also to add ways to change it's look (again like Vista, and both these and this one look particularly sleek).

Also something like this, damn that looks good.

186
votes

Solution #6: Saving preferences

Written by baldurpet the 15 Feb 09 at 05:58.

I'm sorry for posting so many solutions, only each time I'm thinking about a problem I keep thinking about new things which could be implemented.

I was just thinking about something straight forward like being able to save the settings for your panel (they could even be included in the appearance preferences?

I'm maybe thinking about if you want to change your computer's theme to "winter-snow white" then you would want your panel to be white, and glossy- maybe with round edges. And then when you want to try the snow panel again you could just select it from a list with pictures.

91
votes

121
votes

195
votes

-62
votes

70
votes

123
votes

47
votes

251
votes

29
votes

167
votes

-95
votes

91
votes

Solution #19: Add support for multi-row applets

Written by stetzen the 1 Mar 09 at 01:21.

At the moment, panel applets can be placed only in one row (with extremely rare exceptions, like window list applet), so that changing the size of the panel changes only the size of the applet (if doing anything at all). It will be great to add possibility of putting applets in more than one row.

Possible way of doing in is to create an applet called container, which has customizable size and can be divided in a few lines. Other applets can be added to these lines like they are added to the regular panel.

82
votes

-17
votes

23
votes

0
votes

105
votes

Solution #24: Dynamic Applet Spacing

Written by chappell101 the 28 Mar 09 at 23:42.

The mock up shown below is from Hylke's Home Blog and shows how just by perfectly sorting the spacing of the applet icons to match a grid and using a more typographic date/time a more professional appearance can be achieved. The icons spacing dynamically increases as the taskbar is increased in size to match visually! The subtle colour pallet grid also helps separate the content for legibility!

http://www.bomahy.nl/hylke/blog/ugly-notification-area-in-gnome/

20
votes

27
votes

Solution #26: Option to "Lock All" / "Unlock All" Applets on the Panel

Written by phoenix the 21 May 09 at 10:21.

When I want to rearrange the applets on the panel, I find myself having to unlock each applet (including separators), move things around and then lock everything again.

With a default of 5-7 applets on the standard panel this is a bit cumbersome.

It would be convenient to right-click on any empty space on the panel and get an option to "Unlock All Applets" / "Lock All Applets".

8
votes

Solution #28: more independent and innovative applet behavior.

Written by yzarc the 10 Jun 09 at 15:05.

The only reason for I still need a panel fixed on my desktop is because i need put gnome applets there. There are some applet that I need to have always on my view (clock, system monitor, notification area, launchers, network, etc).

I'm suggest to a totally new behavior for gnome applet, they should be tread as gadgets that can be fix on a panel, on the desktop and ON THE BOARDS.

In the fist case they will work like they already work today. in the second case, they should work like gadgets. But in the last case they should work in an innovative way. Due my English limitation I will try to explain by mockups.

once on board is used to store an applet, one tine space of that board is reserved to show the miniaturization of that applet. As shown the mini-applet should be composed by only icons in such way that the user can get some information just look at it. the reserved space should be customizable.

Photobucket

here some idea of how the clock and system monitor could look like in the mini form.

Photobucket

[...]

on mouse hover or click the get the expanded form. the dimensions could be customized determining the amount of information display for some applet.

Photobucket

Here the system monitor, also the possibility to fix the applet in the expanded form could be gave.

11
votes

6
votes

0
votes

5
votes

1
votes

Solution #33: Custom option regarding trancparency, color, animation and gradient

Written by jekristiansen the 22 Jan 10 at 23:13.

The panel should really have some option to choose from.
What i have in mind is multiple gradient color with support for tranparency on each one of them.
It should also have support for animations, and how about support for screensavers?
Glass effects would be something too?
This way, anyone can make their choice in how they want to customize the panel, and it could even overcome the KDE panels
Here is a mockup of how it "could" look
http://www.4shared.com/file/206213772/5fde7b97/Ubuntu_Mockup.html

2
votes

-2
votes

1
votes

See the 19 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 7 Jul 11 at 18:19) >>

Professional-looking bootloader

Ubuntu

In :
Priority :	Undefined
Definition :	New (Needs guidance)
Implementation :	Unknown
Assignee :

Mentorship is available if you want to fix this bug.

Written by Murrquan the 28 Feb 08 at 14:42. Global category: Look and Feel. Implemented

Ubuntu's bootloader is a stark black and white screen, filled with confusing options. It gives newbies a moment of indecision, as they try to figure out if they are supposed to choose something, and wonder why there are three or four Ubuntus listed. Then the timer finishes counting down (starting from 10), and the newb begins to feel like he's getting in over his head as his PC boots into Ubuntu.

Too much information up front, stark text-only display, painfully long countdown timer.

5944
votes

524
votes

Selected solution (#2): Use Plymouth and the latest GDM for a faster and smoother boot up.

Written by vs8 the 14 Jan 09 at 15:59.

openSUSE and Fedora 10 feature more elaborate art than Ubuntu, I'm not talking about the colors they choose, because I like the Ubuntu colors, it's the art style.

One thing they got right is the boot up. Those distros boot very smooth and they look professional, Ubuntu looks rushed, plain and ugly.

I've seen Fedora boot, and the new plymouth thing rocks, Ubuntu should use it too. It's way better than the actual ugly usplash.

The other thing is the GDM, Ubuntu uses a very old GDM, which is slow. At least on my PC (AMD Phenon 9600 Quad Core, 4gb RAM). The new GDM is smoother, faster and it works fine.

In short, Ubuntu needs eye candy, from boot up to shut down it will attract more people, I guarantee it.

What is Plymouth?

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=fedora_plymouth&num=1

[...]

Screen:

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Image:Tours_Fedora10_012_Plymouth_Boot.png

openSUSE art:

http://www.opensuse.org/screenshots.php

New GDM login screen:

https://fedoraproject.org/w/uploads/9/94/Tours_Fedora10_018_Login_Screen.png

Thank you.

0
votes

330
votes

9
votes

516
votes

-80
votes

47
votes

See the 122 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 5 May 11 at 11:30) >>

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