On Fri, 2025-05-02 at 10:23 +0100, Jon Seager wrote: > Hello there! > > As you already know, we've been working on a new and improved Ubuntu > Desktop installer [1], consisting of subiquity on the backend, and a > new Flutter based frontend. We rolled this out incrementally as we > tested the installer, but it is now considered stable. > > In addition to serving Canonical's own needs for Ubuntu Desktop, we > wanted to make sure that the installer was going to be adaptable to > different flavours, and as such the installer allows for custom > artwork and accent colours, and can include a different set of slides > according to its configuration. Much of that detail can be found in > the GitHub repository. > > During the release of Ubuntu 25.04, we experienced a number of issues > with Calamares, mostly relating to a new feature that has ultimately > not landed in the last release. While this is not systemic to the > choice of Calamares, it did give me pause for thought about the > installer experience across Ubuntu. > > After some discussion internally, and a discussion with sabdfl, I > intend to ask all of the flavours to transition to the new Ubuntu > Desktop installer by 26.04 LTS. Now that it's stable for Ubuntu > Desktop, and we have evidence from the flavours who've already > adopted it, I'm confident that this goal is achievable within the > timeframe. > > Many of the flavours have already migrated to the new installer, > including Ubuntu Mate [2] and Xubuntu [3]. In fact, the only flavours > yet to transition are Kubuntu, Lubuntu and Ubuntu Unity. > Coincidentally, I received some communication from Rick Timmis > (Kubuntu) this week, indicating that he'd like Kubuntu (and other > flavours) to make the move. > > The principal reason for this request is consistency: consistency in > experience for our collective userbase, but also consistency in image > preparation and release. Our community has an expectation that our > flavours, while uniquely tailored, are still very much Ubuntu at > their core. The "Ubuntu experience" includes a robust and consistent > installation process. We have a dedicated team at Canonical who are > actively working on features and fixes for subiquity and the desktop > installer, so we'll be much better placed to support them once > they've made the transition. > > There are a couple of features that I know are not yet available in > the new installer. My ask will be that the flavours make the > transition, and then we collaborate on adding those features to a > single codebase that all Ubuntu flavours can benefit from. > > I've spoken with the lead of subiquity (Dan), and the lead for the > Desktop Installer (Dennis), both of whom are content to be named > points of contact for the flavours to assist the transition. > > I'm raising this to the TB on recommendation from the Community Team, > and want to ensure that there is no strong objection to this before > carefully communicating with the flavours. > > Thanks, > > Jon > VP Engineering, Ubuntu > > [1] https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-desktop-provision > [2] > https://github.com/ubuntu-mate/ubuntu-mate-settings/tree/master/usr/share/desktop-provision > [3] > https://github.com/Xubuntu/xubuntu-default-settings/tree/master/debian/live/desktop-provision
Hello Jon et al, I was the person who migrated Ubuntu Studio, Edubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, and Ubuntu Cinnamon to the installer. So, based on repetition, I'm probably the best consult for this. Additionally, I am familiar with all of the installers we have used over the years as Ubuntu Studio has used them. When we first transitioned to KDE Plasma, we used Calamares for our installer. Then, for 23.10, we transitioned back to Ubiquity, then to the new installer for 24.04. While this change might be OK for Ubuntu Unity, there are a large number of concerns for Lubuntu and Kubuntu. Kubuntu, for one, has deep integration needs that are only addressed by Calamares for their hardware partner: Kubuntu Focus. For Lubuntu, or any flavor that wishes to have a Raspberry Pi version, Ubuntu Desktop Bootstrap doesn't handle the preinstalled nature of such a setup with regards to first user/out-of-box experience. As of 25.04, for Ubuntu Desktop, gnome-initial-setup handles this, but Edubuntu, due to the branding issues with gnome-initial-setup, is still using oem- config from the Ubiquity source to handle this part. Lubuntu was attempting, with my assistance, to make official Raspberry Pi builds, but that effort, which I worked on during November, came to a halt when I had surgery at the beginning of December. It was going to use the OEM mode for Calamares to do the initial user setup. If Lubuntu were to switch to a setup similar to Edubuntu, I don't know how they would be able to make a preinstalled image for Raspberry Pis. Reason being: - oem-config-qt is still on Qt5, meaning the Ubiquity source code would have to be ported. - oem-config-qt is still hardcoded to Kubuntu's branding. The only flavor that could do this with the lowest barrier is Ubuntu Unity since oem-config is fully brandable. The other thing to consider here is the changes to Capser that would have to be done. Nobody, save Thomas Ward as a core developer, has direct commit or upload access to the Ubiquity code. Furthermore, everyone is volunteer, meaning this amount of time is less surmountable than if there were full-time people working on it, and these flavors wouldn't be able to focus on anything other than this switch. Therefore, even though I mainly represent two flavors that already use Bootstrap, I have to dissent. Thanks, Erich -- Erich Eickmeyer Ubuntu MOTU Project Leader - Ubuntu Studio Technical Lead - Edubuntu
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