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Idea #6441: Linux Applications Framework



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Written by krevuru the 5 Apr 08 at 13:06. Category: Accessibility.
Related to: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Description
Hello,
UBUNTU has been superlative in putting LINUX into a average user's desktop.
But when it comes to installing applications, it is confusing to a great extent. It is definitely great to have open source applications, but it leaves a user totally confused as to which application to use. For example, for a simple audio player there are about 10-12 applications each having a specialty feature missing in the rest.
That leaves a user ...
I believe UBUNTU should set up a platform of preferred applications for each category with a default blessed application and:
1. Either urging the open-source developers to offer their application as a plugin to this blessed application.
2. Or offering a mechanism to use it as a plugin to their blessed application.
This has been a successful approach adopted by Mozilla Firefox and Eclipse.
That way a user will at least be assured that a blessed application meets the UBUNTU standards. The extensions/plugins can be at his discretion.
That will instill confidence in an UBUNTU user.
Thanks
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vexorian wrote on the 5 Apr 08 at 15:23
Choice is good, sure it confuses the user that comes
from a world with less freedom in this regard, but once he gets used to it, he will like having all those options.

The repos got an ubuntu logo for apps that are supported correctly.

FranciscoPadillaGarcia wrote on the 5 Apr 08 at 18:29
The problem is that we lose many users who are busy people and don't have the time to review all the options. Not everyone is an Ubuntu fan and most people just want things to work.

"Just works."

rs3york wrote on the 10 Apr 08 at 00:59
Where exactly is this a problem?
The "blessed apps" are the defaults.
For audio players like in the description: Rhythmbox in Gnome, Amarok in KDE.

There's no reason why Ubuntu/Canonical should try and push OSS developers to change their apps to be plugins for someone else's application. Even in the case of voluntary plugins like Firefox, the user still has to seek out the extension or plugin for whatever task is at hand.

The second choice isn't even a solution, as it would require the installation of all the extra apps anyway.

I don't see how you can reasonably want some niche feature but lack the time to review the options. That like saying you want a big trunk in your new car but don't have time to check...so instead of putting in even a little bit of time, instead you should be able to buy any automobile and still get what you want.

If the feature matters to you that much, you should make the time to ensure you get it.


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