Rethinking Ubuntu Desktop: a more thoughtful default installation

tim-hm · July 7, 2023, 10:47am

Hi all many thanks for the feedback

Data points to share (sourced from opt-in data via Ubuntu Report):

A few notes from my perspective:

My feeling is that the default install should be slim. I’m avoiding “minimal” because there are packages in minimal today that we may want to remove (ie gamemode) and similarly there are packages that one could argue should be included as it completes the oob experience (ie gnome-clocks).
There are users who don’t interact with the installer at all (for example those who purchase pre-installed Ubuntu laptops).
There’s no plan to have users select apps during the installation process. In fact I’m recommending the opposite – lets reduce complexity with reasonable defaults and rely on better app discovery once the user is logged into their desktop.
If someone tries to open file.xyz and no installed app supports that type, then we should recommend ones that do. I don’t think this is something the installer should try to solve.
From this discussion and others I’ve had, I see a range of opinions on the matter. Ultimately, we want to enable personalised desktops and I don’t think a great solution can be found in the installer alone. I’d like to see a solid base and then make personalisation straightforward. In time, this also means tooling to allow for backup/recovery of your personalised setup … but now I’m speculating way ahead.

Since I have a captive audience I’d like to focus this discussion and propose a strawman user-facing applications list for this slim install:

WDYT?