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Fedora includes an extremely large number of application launchers by default. Many of these are confusing, unnecessary and irrelevant to the majority of users. Problems caused by these issues: | Fedora includes an extremely large number of application launchers by default. Many of these are confusing, unnecessary and irrelevant to the majority of users. Problems caused by these issues: | ||
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! Name !! Command (package, if different) !! Bugs !! Action !! Notes !! Status | ! Name !! Command (package, if different) !! Bugs !! Action !! Notes !! Status | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Authentication || system-config-authentication (authconfig-gtk) || || Don't depend on it, then don't install by default || Required by firstboot, but then first boot [https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/InitialExperience should be going away for | | Authentication || system-config-authentication (authconfig-gtk) || || Don't depend on it, then don't install by default || Required by firstboot, but then first boot [https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/InitialExperience should be going away for F19]. ||style="background-color:#f57900;"| In progress | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Desktop Sharing Preferences || vino-preferences (vino) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id= | | Desktop Sharing Preferences || vino-preferences (vino) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=692480 GNOME Bug 692480] || || Integrated into GNOME Control Center ||style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |||
| Eekboard || eekboard || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=847500 Fedora Bug 847500] || Don't install? || ||style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Firewall || system-config-firewall || || Don't install? || || TBD | | Firewall || system-config-firewall || || Don't install? || || TBD | ||
|- | |- | ||
| IBus Hangul Preferences || ibus-setup-hangul || [ | | IBus Hangul Preferences || ibus-setup-hangul || [http://code.google.com/p/ibus/issues/detail?id=1495 iBus Bug 1495] || Integrate into System Settings, then hide launcher || iBus integration is being tracked in [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662489 GNOME Bug 662489] ||style="background-color:#f57900;"| In progress | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Input Method Selector || ibus-setup || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662489 GNOME Bug 662489] | | Input Method Selector || ibus-setup || [http://code.google.com/p/ibus/issues/detail?id=1494 iBus Bug 1494] || Integrate into System Settings || iBus integration is being tracked in [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662489 GNOME Bug 662489] || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Messaging and VoIP Accounts || empathy-accounts (empathy) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662986 GNOME Bug 662489] || Remove the desktop file || ||style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | | Messaging and VoIP Accounts || empathy-accounts (empathy) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=662986 GNOME Bug 662489] || Remove the desktop file || ||style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Network Connections || nm-connection-editor || || Hide launcher || GNOME Control Center currently uses nm-connection-editor for settings dialogs ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | | Network Connections || nm-connection-editor || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=682456 GNOME Bug 682456] || Hide launcher? || GNOME Control Center currently uses nm-connection-editor for settings dialogs ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Power Statistics || gnome-power-statistics (gnome-power-manager) || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846287 Fedora Bug 846287] || Don't install || Part of gnome-power-manager - this can be dropped from the desktop spin (nothing else depends on it right now) || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | | Power Statistics || gnome-power-statistics (gnome-power-manager) || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846287 Fedora Bug 846287] || Don't install || Part of gnome-power-manager - this can be dropped from the desktop spin (nothing else depends on it right now) || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
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| Printing || system-config-printer || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846290 Fedora Bug 846290] || Don't install || ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | | Printing || system-config-printer || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846290 Fedora Bug 846290] || Don't install || ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Release Notes || xdg-open file:///usr/share/doc/HTML/fedora-release-notes/index.html || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846316 Fedora Bug 846316] || Remove the launcher || | | Release Notes || xdg-open file:///usr/share/doc/HTML/fedora-release-notes/index.html || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846316 Fedora Bug 846316] || Remove the launcher || Add to the Firefox bookmarks ([https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=847459 Fedora Bug 847459]) and default homepage ([https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=847461 Fedora Bug 847461]) instead ||style="background-color:#729fcf;"| On Ice | ||
|- | |||
| Screenshot || gnome-screenshot || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=681844 GNOME Bug 681844] || || Integrate screenshots into GNOME 3, then don't include the app by default ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Search for Files... || gnome-search-tool || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846278 Fedora Bug 846278] || Don't install || Might need some improvements to searching in Nautilus ||style="background-color:# | | Search for Files... || gnome-search-tool || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846278 Fedora Bug 846278] || Don't install || Might need some improvements to searching in Nautilus || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| SELinux Troubleshooter || sealert || || Nothing for now || Provides access to logs, which means that we can't hide the launcher; in the long run this needs replacing by a generic desktop logging/error reporting app ||style="background-color:#729fcf;"| On ice | | SELinux Troubleshooter || sealert || || Nothing for now || Provides access to logs, which means that we can't hide the launcher; in the long run this needs replacing by a generic desktop logging/error reporting app ||style="background-color:#729fcf;"| On ice | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Software Settings || gpk-prefs (gnome-packagekit) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=676445 GNOME Bug 676445] || | | Software Settings || gpk-prefs (gnome-packagekit) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=676445 GNOME Bug 676445] || Remove launcher (can be accessed via Add/Remove Software (which needs a better name)) || ||style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Software Updates || gpk-update-viewer (gnome-packagekit) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=676445 GNOME Bug 676445] || | | Software Updates || gpk-update-viewer (gnome-packagekit) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=676445 GNOME Bug 676445] || Remove launcher (needs to be accessible via Add/Remove Software (which needs a better name)) || ||style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| System-Config-Date || system-config-date || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=803833 Fedora Bug 803833] || Don't depend on it, then don't install by default || Required by anaconda, firstboot and system-config-kickstart. ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | | System-Config-Date || system-config-date || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=803833 Fedora Bug 803833] || Don't depend on it, then don't install by default || Required by anaconda, firstboot and system-config-kickstart. ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | ||
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! scope="row" colspan="6" | Games | ! scope="row" colspan="6" | Games | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Freecell Solitaire || sol --freecell (aisleriot) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=681645 GNOME Bug 681645] || Remove the desktop file || | | Freecell Solitaire || sol --freecell (aisleriot) || [https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=681645 GNOME Bug 681645] || Remove the desktop file || The package has been fixed upstream and Guile has now been updated (see [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=678238 Fedora Bug 678238]). We just need a new package rolling. ||style="background-color:#ef2929;"| Incomplete | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Iagno || iagno (gnome-games) || || Don't install || Could be a nice game, but it needs a lot of polish ||style="background-color:# | | Iagno || iagno (gnome-games) || || Don't install || Could be a nice game, but it needs a lot of polish || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Mines || gnomine (gnome-games) || || Don't install || Feels very Windows 95; might be better not to include ||style="background-color:# | | Mines || gnomine (gnome-games) || || Don't install || Feels very Windows 95; might be better not to include || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | It should be possible to individually add and remove games || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846274 Fedora Bug 846274] || Split games | | colspan="2" | It should be possible to individually add and remove games || [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=846274 Fedora Bug 846274] || Split games into subpackages || || style="background-color:#73d216;"| Fixed | ||
|} | |} | ||
Latest revision as of 20:44, 26 August 2013
Fedora includes an extremely large number of application launchers by default. Many of these are confusing, unnecessary and irrelevant to the majority of users. Problems caused by these issues:
- A high number of launchers makes launching applications inefficient and difficult - it takes a long time to find the launcher you are looking for, and is an unpleasant experience.
- Introduces redundancy and disinterest - many of the launchers aren't relevant to the majority of users. This makes the application view an uninteresting place.
- Undermines the mental model for an application - some of the launchers aren't actually for applications; this goes against the model for launchers and applications.
- Undermines the model for system-level changes - System Settings is the central, primary place for system level configuration; the inclusion of additional system configuration utilities goes against the principle that systems settings live in System Settings.
- Prevents personalisation. Installing apps is an important way in which people can change their system to make it suit them. If installed applications are lost within a sea of preinstalled launchers, the OS will never feel like it belongs to the user.
- Makes people feel like the OS isn't designed for them. 'If it contains lots of launchers which I don't understand or don't care about, it obviously isn't for me.'
This page tracks the progress of an initiative to tackle these problems by reducing the number of application launchers included in a new Fedora install. It requires making improvements to upstream software as well as fixing distribution-specific issues.
Status
Some applications need to be removed from the default install, others just need to have their launchers hidden.
| Name | Command (package, if different) | Bugs | Action | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication | system-config-authentication (authconfig-gtk) | Don't depend on it, then don't install by default | Required by firstboot, but then first boot should be going away for F19. | In progress | |
| Desktop Sharing Preferences | vino-preferences (vino) | GNOME Bug 692480 | Integrated into GNOME Control Center | Fixed | |
| Eekboard | eekboard | Fedora Bug 847500 | Don't install? | Fixed | |
| Firewall | system-config-firewall | Don't install? | TBD | ||
| IBus Hangul Preferences | ibus-setup-hangul | iBus Bug 1495 | Integrate into System Settings, then hide launcher | iBus integration is being tracked in GNOME Bug 662489 | In progress |
| Input Method Selector | ibus-setup | iBus Bug 1494 | Integrate into System Settings | iBus integration is being tracked in GNOME Bug 662489 | Fixed |
| Messaging and VoIP Accounts | empathy-accounts (empathy) | GNOME Bug 662489 | Remove the desktop file | Fixed | |
| Network Connections | nm-connection-editor | GNOME Bug 682456 | Hide launcher? | GNOME Control Center currently uses nm-connection-editor for settings dialogs | Incomplete |
| Power Statistics | gnome-power-statistics (gnome-power-manager) | Fedora Bug 846287 | Don't install | Part of gnome-power-manager - this can be dropped from the desktop spin (nothing else depends on it right now) | Fixed |
| Printing | system-config-printer | Fedora Bug 846290 | Don't install | Incomplete | |
| Release Notes | xdg-open file:///usr/share/doc/HTML/fedora-release-notes/index.html | Fedora Bug 846316 | Remove the launcher | Add to the Firefox bookmarks (Fedora Bug 847459) and default homepage (Fedora Bug 847461) instead | On Ice |
| Screenshot | gnome-screenshot | GNOME Bug 681844 | Integrate screenshots into GNOME 3, then don't include the app by default | Incomplete | |
| Search for Files... | gnome-search-tool | Fedora Bug 846278 | Don't install | Might need some improvements to searching in Nautilus | Fixed |
| SELinux Troubleshooter | sealert | Nothing for now | Provides access to logs, which means that we can't hide the launcher; in the long run this needs replacing by a generic desktop logging/error reporting app | On ice | |
| Software Settings | gpk-prefs (gnome-packagekit) | GNOME Bug 676445 | Remove launcher (can be accessed via Add/Remove Software (which needs a better name)) | Fixed | |
| Software Updates | gpk-update-viewer (gnome-packagekit) | GNOME Bug 676445 | Remove launcher (needs to be accessible via Add/Remove Software (which needs a better name)) | Fixed | |
| System-Config-Date | system-config-date | Fedora Bug 803833 | Don't depend on it, then don't install by default | Required by anaconda, firstboot and system-config-kickstart. | Incomplete |
| Users and Groups | system-config-users | Don't depend on it, then don't install by default | Required by firstboot, but then first boot should be going away for F18. | In progress | |
| Games | |||||
| Freecell Solitaire | sol --freecell (aisleriot) | GNOME Bug 681645 | Remove the desktop file | The package has been fixed upstream and Guile has now been updated (see Fedora Bug 678238). We just need a new package rolling. | Incomplete |
| Iagno | iagno (gnome-games) | Don't install | Could be a nice game, but it needs a lot of polish | Fixed | |
| Mines | gnomine (gnome-games) | Don't install | Feels very Windows 95; might be better not to include | Fixed | |
| It should be possible to individually add and remove games | Fedora Bug 846274 | Split games into subpackages | Fixed | ||
Additional Notes
Designs for a GNOME 'Usage' application would combine Disk Usage Analyzer, Power Statistics and System Monitor into a single launcher.