Re: Gnome-Shell adoption issues

[Shane Fagan <shanepatrickfagan ubuntu com>]

On Sat, 2010-04-10 at 00:34 +0100, Clive Wagenaar wrote:
> On Sat, 2010-04-10 at 00:25 +0100, Shane Fagan wrote:
> > On Sat, 2010-04-10 at 00:20 +0100, Clive Wagenaar wrote:
> > > On Fri, 2010-04-09 at 23:49 +0100, Shane Fagan wrote:
> > > > Hey all, 
> > > > 
> > > > Ive been thinking a bit about what could cause problems when adopting
> > > > Gnome-Shell in the distros. The main problem I see is the hardware
> > > > requirements (I know this has been mentioned before but I mean this in a
> > > > different way). The hardware that Shell needs requires acceleration and
> > > > some open source drivers nouveau for instance dont work with Shell. I
> > > > tested nouveau and Shell started up but the writing on the screen was in
> > > > blocks and not legible. I know this is a problem with nouveau more than
> > > > Shell and can be fixed by using the nvidia drivers but on the CD we only
> > > > ship open source drivers. Is there any way to get Shell working when
> > > > this kind of situation happens? 
> > > > 
> > > > Regards
> > > > Shane Fagan
> > > > 
> > > > PS: its really starting to come together keep up the good work
> > > 
> > > 
> > > I am not sure what is legal under the GPL and what not, but I can see a
> > > time coming, maybe due to this exact problem, where during the booting
> > > of the live-cd and/or during the install process one will be asked if
> > > the want to use the proprietary drives/ restricted drives.
> > > If the user says yes, then those repos are enable and the drivers is
> > > installed from 'the cloud'. (A bit like Ubuntu one using proprietary
> > > bits in the cloud like Ubuntu-one storage. So freedom loving people dont
> > > like it, but it is legal so they can do it. Why not A-Gpl Ubuntu? ;) ).
> > > 
> > > So the proprietary drivers are not distributed on the install dvd/cd's,
> > > but downloaded in real-time when booting the live-cd or as option during
> > > the install process
> > > 
> > > So if this is legal under GPL, then that is the way Ubuntu will proceed,
> > > imo. (I am not saying this is moral or not, just saying what I think
> > > could be technically do-able.
> > > 
> > > I am just a end user, so this may in fact BS?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > Actually thinking about it you are spot on. That would work :) Jocky
> > already picks up that those drivers are available so it could be
> > installed as part of the installer. The problem still remains for the
> > live cd but at least its installable. 
> > 
> > Regards
> > -fagan
> > 
> 
> Hi Shane
> (Ps I am also in Ireland :) )
> 
> It will come down to a policy change. to one like Mandriva, that I have
> not used for a long while, but do remember them enabling the Nvidia
> driver on the live-cd.. (Pclinuxos 2010 beta 2 does as well, on livecd)
> 
> http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/Mandriva-Review-113434.shtml
> 
> 
> We've decided to go with the "One" 
> 
> edition, in order to have an out-of-the-box experience. Moreover, "One"
> is offered by default for download on Mandriva's homepage.
> 
> Loading the Live environment from the CD is not what we can call a
> lightning fast process, but it's no slouch either, so no complaints
> here. What we really liked was the fact that the Nvidia drivers were
> automatically installed and enabled so we had a 3D-enabled desktop
> before even installing the system. The thing that we appreciated was the
> smoothness of said effects, much more noticeable than on any other Linux
> distributions: no tearing, no choppiness, just fluid animations
> 
> Any way...
> Maybe download the latest Mandriva one and see how it works with
> propriety drivers. This will maybe end up being more controversial than
> moving the buttons to the left, but Mark S does not seem to be afraid of
> a good fight from time to time. Enabling the drivers will be a
> philosophical problem not a technical one.
> 
That makes a lot of sense id say ill wait to have a chat with the Ubuntu
release teams about what we should do but there shouldnt be a problem
distributing the software as long as its not automatically installed. I
suppose the other alternative is making the open source drivers
better... Anyhow that answers my question but it would be nice to have
Shell working under most of the open source drivers, if we cant at least
it wont block the release. 

-fagan