[09:47] <pussy> hello
[09:48] <pussy> is there any body
[17:29] <jono> hi everyone
[17:29] <jono> Q+A with rickspencer3 kicks off in a min
[17:29] <rickspencer3> hi jono
[17:29] <jono> hi rickspencer3
[17:30] <jono> alright, lets give it a minute for the late stragglers to arrive :-)
[17:32] <ClassBot> Logs for this session will be available at http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/05/20/%23ubuntu-classroom.html following the conclusion of the session.
[17:33] <jono> OK, let's get this show on the road
[17:33] <rickspencer3> indeed!
[17:33] <jono> today we have an exciting Q+A session
[17:33] <jono> today Rick Spencer, the Ubuntu Engineering Director, the guy responsible for delivering engineering at Canonical for each Ubuntu release, is going to answer your questions
[17:33] <rickspencer3> hi all
[17:33] <jono> asking questions is really simple, this is how it works:
[17:33] <jono>  1. Join #ubuntu-classroom-chat
[17:34] <jono>  2. Ask you your question and pre-fix it with 'QUESTION'
[17:34] <jono> for example:
[17:34] <jono> QUESTION: what are the plans for the Ocelot cycle?
[17:34] <jono> that's it!
[17:34] <jono> so, without further ado, get your questions in, folks!
[17:35] <rickspencer3> hi all
[17:35] <rickspencer3> I'll do my best to answer any and all question
[17:35] <rickspencer3> please note, I'm usually great with tech support though :/
[17:35] <rickspencer3> I can point you to the right places
[17:35] <rickspencer3> let's see if there are any questions yet
[17:36] <ClassBot> Bourne23612 asked: will ubuntu be ever be able to play mp3 files?
[17:36] <rickspencer3> hmm
[17:36] <rickspencer3> interesting question
[17:36] <rickspencer3> I play mp3 files all the time on Ubuntu
[17:36] <rickspencer3> so, the thing about mp3s is that the codec is not totally free
[17:36] <rickspencer3> and Ubuntu is a Free os, so we don't install mp3 support by default
[17:37] <rickspencer3> however, of course the developers know that people want mp3s!
[17:37] <rickspencer3> so, they've made it easy to get mp3 support
[17:37] <rickspencer3> I think you can even turn on mp3 support from the installer starting in 10.10
[17:37] <rickspencer3> however, this is not checked by default because many of us, inculding the tech board, we not comforatable with enabling a non-free desktop be default
[17:38] <rickspencer3> you can also buy supported codecs in software cetner
[17:38] <rickspencer3> and there are are free codecs supported in universe, as well
[17:39] <rickspencer3> also, if you try to play an mp3, Ubuntu should try to install support for you, but to be honest, I don't think we've given that part of the experience much attention
[17:39] <ClassBot> bcurtiswx_ asked: how'd you get where you are now? did you start in bugs, or devel, or pacakging, or d) none of the above ?
[17:39] <rickspencer3> hi bcurtiswx_
[17:39] <rickspencer3> so, I think you're asking "how did I get to be director"
[17:39] <rickspencer3> I took a "none of the above" route
[17:40] <rickspencer3> brace yourself bcurtiswx_, this is a long story
[17:40] <rickspencer3> I'll try for a short version
[17:41] <rickspencer3> I started with computers when I was about 12
[17:41] <rickspencer3> at that time, all you could really do with a 'puter was program it and use the programs you wrote
[17:41] <rickspencer3> we distributed programs via listings
[17:41] <rickspencer3> that is, to distribute software, we printed the source code and sent it int he mail!
[17:42] <rickspencer3> years later, a learned all about program management and stuff during an amost 10 year stint at Microsoct
[17:42] <rickspencer3> Microsoft*
[17:42] <rickspencer3> which is what brought me to Seattle
[17:42] <rickspencer3> however, some years ago, I fell in love with open software, so, I'm sure you can imagine that this limited my options at Microsoft, so I quit to get into Free Software
[17:43] <rickspencer3> I got a job running a development team that used, but did not create (much) free software
[17:43] <rickspencer3> then about 3 years ago, I saw Canonical was hiring for a Desktop Engineering Manager
[17:43] <rickspencer3> I applied on teh website, and Keybuck hired me!
[17:44] <rickspencer3> meantime, I had been writing a lot of code for Ubuntu related projects
[17:44] <rickspencer3> I had started a project to make programming for Ubuntu as easier than programming with Visual Studio
[17:44] <rickspencer3> so I had this body of work and a vision for the product and all this management experience
[17:44] <rickspencer3> then the desktop team took really good care of me
[17:45] <rickspencer3> really tought me all about teamwork, how to build Ubuntu, etc...
[17:45] <rickspencer3> then the Ubuntu team at Canonical got really big, and Ubuntu Engineering needed a director, and I got that job
[17:45] <rickspencer3> (I left out lots of juicy bits, but I guess the heart of the answer is that I cast my lot with Ubuntu, quit my job, and started a project that interested me)
[17:46] <rickspencer3> phew
[17:46]  * rickspencer3 sips water from cup
[17:46] <ClassBot> badday asked: Are you planning to use Thunderbird instead of Evolution in the future?
[17:46] <rickspencer3> not my call!
[17:46] <rickspencer3> I'm not on the desktop team anymore :(
[17:46] <rickspencer3> *sniff*
[17:46] <rickspencer3> I would ask jasoncwarner, or email the ubuntu-desktop list if you want to discuss that
[17:47] <rickspencer3> I don't hve a strong opinion, personally, I like evo fine
[17:47] <ClassBot> pantaloons asked: it is hard to get started in android development on ubuntu because java setup is difficult. do you plan to work with google to make this a more smooth process without the terminal involved?
[17:47] <rickspencer3> not that I know of
[17:48] <rickspencer3> I'd like to see some investment in Ubuntu as a platform for developing for other platforms, but this hasn't risen to the top of Canonical's priorities yet
[17:48] <rickspencer3> if a community led effort starts around this, I'd love to know in case there are things we can do to help
[17:49] <ClassBot> nigelb asked: As Engineering Director, what does your day to day job entail?
[17:49] <rickspencer3> well, I spend a lot of time on the phone, tbh
[17:50] <rickspencer3> I see my job largley as a supporting role, to help Ubuntu Engineers (employed by Canonical or not) to meet their goals with Ubuntu
[17:50] <rickspencer3> but I also find myself doing a lot of talking with other managers at Canonical who would like Ubuntu to do certain things
[17:50] <rickspencer3> talking to Ubuntu engineers to make sure that everyone is rowing in the same direction
[17:50] <rickspencer3> etc...
[17:51] <rickspencer3> so, a lot of listening
[17:51] <rickspencer3> a lot of email
[17:51] <rickspencer3> pretty boring now that I am talking about it ;)
[17:52] <ClassBot> badday asked: Are there concrete plans to improve working together with debain so that both can profit from recent developements?
[17:52] <rickspencer3> I;m not 100% certain which recent developments you are referring to
[17:53] <rickspencer3> but most of the work that I see going on to make the Ubuntu <-> Debian relationship more and more mutual beneficial happens at the engineer to engineer level
[17:54] <rickspencer3> in general, I see a strong debian resulting in a strong Ubuntu, and visa versa
[17:54] <rickspencer3> so I am supportive off efforts to, for instance, work a package into Ubuntu via debian, or whatever
[17:54] <rickspencer3> then there is teh Dex project
[17:54] <rickspencer3> but that's not Ubuntu specific
[17:55] <ClassBot> primefalcon asked: I want to know is if the freezing issue with 11.04 on an ati graphics driver has been solved yet?
[17:55] <rickspencer3> urk
[17:55] <rickspencer3> well, ATI tends to give open source distros a bit of heartache due to the closed development of their drivers
[17:55] <rickspencer3> so, I don;t know if you are referring to the community developed driver, or the closed driver
[17:56] <rickspencer3> in any case, I'm sorry it's freezing for, but I don't know if that specific issue has been solved
[17:56] <rickspencer3> launchpad would be able to answer your question better than I could
[17:56] <ClassBot> bleiz asked: i have a little problem with my ubuntu 11.04.When I reduce a window, it leaves traces on the screen, how to solve it?
[17:56] <rickspencer3> sorry, dunno, I would check if a bug has been logged
[17:57] <rickspencer3> sounds annoying though, sorry about that
[17:57] <ClassBot> asif_ asked: I really want to get involved withd ubuntu. I have set up my username and everything but I cant find any code to assist me. Any idea where i can get a start
[17:57] <rickspencer3> hi asif_
[17:57] <rickspencer3> I hope you find it welcoming and fun to contribute to Ubuntu
[17:57] <rickspencer3> I'm sorry that you are finding it frustrating to get started
[17:58] <rickspencer3> in fact, we talked about this problem quite a bit at the last Ubuntu Developer Summit
[17:58] <rickspencer3> different kinds of people want to contribute in different ways, and it can be hard to see how to get started
[17:58] <rickspencer3> when you say you "can't find any code" this suggest to me that you are seeking to contribute via coding, as apposed to packaging, documentation, artwork, etc...
[18:00] <rickspencer3> I would suggest, perhaps, joining an irc channel for an application that you are interested in
[18:00] <rickspencer3> and asking how to help
[18:00] <rickspencer3> however, without knowing more specifics, it's hard for me to say
[18:00] <rickspencer3> feel free to PM later if you want to talk more, at least I should be able to connect you iwth someone to help yuo get started
[18:00] <ClassBot> primefalcon asked: Actually I do have one solid question since LTS releases are supposed to be the more stable releases why aren't these pushed towards the new users rather than the standard releases
[18:01] <rickspencer3> well ...
[18:01] <rickspencer3> there are different view points on this
[18:01] <rickspencer3> the LTS are more stable in the sense that they are supported longer
[18:01] <rickspencer3> for example, with security updates
[18:02] <rickspencer3> so, once the problems are shaken out of the release, the release is more durable in taht sense
[18:02] <rickspencer3> however, the Free Desktop moves fast!
[18:02] <rickspencer3> every 6 months a new kernel supports new hardware, for example
[18:02] <rickspencer3> apps are upgraded
[18:02] <rickspencer3> etc...
[18:03] <rickspencer3> so, there is some benefit to staying with the current release
[18:03] <rickspencer3> however, I understand what you are saying
[18:03] <rickspencer3> the implication is that Ubuntu quality is not always sufficient for a new user, adn this causes frustration for the user, and makes it hard to support them
[18:03] <rickspencer3> I want us to take the approach of fixing that problem
[18:04] <rickspencer3> strive to make every release suitable for a new user!
[18:04] <ClassBot> Bourne23612 asked: i hate to say this but video quality is not as crisp in ubuntu as in windows.will anything be done about it?
[18:04] <rickspencer3> well, if it's true, please don't "hate to say it"
[18:05] <rickspencer3> I mean, it's not trolling or anything if you're pointing out an area of improvement, especially if it's said in the spirit of teamwork and with a willingness to help
[18:05] <rickspencer3> so, hmmm
[18:05] <rickspencer3> I'm not sure specifically what you are referring to us "video quality"
[18:05] <rickspencer3> if it's that graphics chip support is not as great as it could be
[18:06] <rickspencer3> I totally agree with you
[18:06] <rickspencer3> fortunately, Ubuntu has a thriving xorg team
[18:06] <rickspencer3> and they are growing and this is getting better each time
[18:06] <rickspencer3> and they have some ineteresting proposals to get more stable graphics support in each release, while also finding a way to support new video hardware
[18:07] <rickspencer3> I suggest that you look into joining the xorg-edgers team to get involved
[18:08] <rickspencer3> but, they are looking at options such as staying one xorg version behind each release to get the quality of that release
[18:08] <rickspencer3> but then packaging the current xorg for folks who need that for their hardware
[18:09] <rickspencer3> also, bryceh, RAOF, sarvat, tselliot, and others have been engaging with chip vendors directly to discuss aligning development models with Free Desktop release schedules and such
[18:09] <ClassBot> RevSpecies116 asked: Is Ubuntu moving away from Mono use?
[18:10] <rickspencer3> It always interests me how the discussion around mono can get emotional and political, and rarely looks at it's technical merits
[18:10] <rickspencer3> in any case, I don't think anything has changed in Ubuntu's position wrt mono
[18:11] <rickspencer3> so long as useful programs are written in it, and the terms under which the technology is available is Free, Ubuntu will choose mono apps if that is in the best interests of the user
[18:11] <rickspencer3> for example, the desktop team moved to Banshee in 10.10, because they thought that was best for hte user, the switched to a mono app
[18:11] <rickspencer3> previously, they switched from f-spot to shotwell, so moved away from a mono app
[18:12] <ClassBot> cprofitt asked: what is the status of the project to make development as easy on Ubuntu as it is on Windows with Visual Studio?
[18:12] <rickspencer3> so, I will answer this as crisp as possible, because once I start talking about it, it's hard for me to stop
[18:12] <rickspencer3> :)
[18:12] <rickspencer3> when I joined Canonical, I worked with some community folks to start a project, which ended up being called "quickly"
[18:13] <rickspencer3> this is a set of commands and boiler plate code that get you developing in a short period of time, and also makes things like packaging and using PPAs really easy
[18:13] <rickspencer3> like:
[18:13] <rickspencer3> $quickly package
[18:13] <rickspencer3> is the command for making a deb file
[18:14] <rickspencer3> we've also started http://developer.ubuntu.com
[18:14] <rickspencer3> both of these projects are about half done
[18:14] <rickspencer3> this has been pretty much all community driven to date
[18:14] <rickspencer3> for example, I work on these on nights and weekends only
[18:15] <rickspencer3> other folks, like didrocks, and mterry do find some paid time to contribute
[18:15] <rickspencer3> and their are some stellar contributors who don't work for Canonical
[18:15] <rickspencer3> so, try out quickly, check out the web site ...
[18:15] <rickspencer3> and join the community if you think you can help make it all better
[18:15] <rickspencer3> :)
[18:16] <ClassBot> pantaloons asked: in the keynote at uds mark said that android and ios have got millions of new users and ubuntu hasn't, why do you personally think that is?
[18:16] <rickspencer3> well, there is no one reason
[18:16] <rickspencer3> but I think one thing is that ios doesn't sell on OS, they sell devices with an OS on them
[18:16] <rickspencer3> same with android
[18:17] <rickspencer3> currently, Canonical works with OEMs to sell desktops and laptops and netbooks with Ubuntu pre-isntalled
[18:17] <rickspencer3> btu that is a really hard market to break into, due to certain *cough* situations *cough*
[18:18] <rickspencer3> also, for android, phone companies pour millions into advertising
[18:18] <rickspencer3> because they want the phone customers
[18:18] <rickspencer3> so, Ubuntu lacks that kind of marketing muscle yet
[18:18] <rickspencer3> however, I think Ubuntu will get there
[18:19] <rickspencer3> if not Ubuntu, then another Free OS, will
[18:19] <ClassBot> texastwister asked: Why the change from Eucalyptus to OpenStack for cloud management? How will Ubuntu stand out from other distros (more established in the Enterprise space) who are also focusing on OpenStack?
[18:19] <rickspencer3> well, first, the change is just in the default
[18:19] <rickspencer3> so, to be crystal clear, the server team and Canonical still support Eucalyptus
[18:20] <rickspencer3> In terms of differentiation
[18:20] <rickspencer3> the Server team has a really good start
[18:20] <rickspencer3> first, Ubuntu is very popular as a cloud guest
[18:21] <rickspencer3> so, this creates a natural affinity for use as a cloud host
[18:21] <rickspencer3> secondly, ORCHESTRA!
[18:21] <rickspencer3> Ubuntu Server has inherited Ubuntu's maniacal focus on users
[18:21] <rickspencer3> even if the user is a dev-ops engineer, they still desever great user-centered design
[18:22] <rickspencer3> and orchestra and related tools like ensemble will deliver that ease of use and power
[18:22] <rickspencer3> (imnsho) :)
[18:22] <ClassBot> primefalcon asked: Why is the polling option that tracks user installs not installed by default, wouldn't it be a lot easier way to track ubuntu usage?
[18:22] <rickspencer3> so, there are a couple of ways that this could be done
[18:22] <ClassBot> There are 10 minutes remaining in the current session.
[18:22] <rickspencer3> one way was a totally anonymous counting system called "census"
[18:23] <rickspencer3> I like the idea of knowing more precicely how many users Ubuntu has
[18:23] <rickspencer3> however, a significant subset of the community was not comforatable going down this path
[18:24] <rickspencer3> as a community distro, I felt that the feedback was that such counting moving away from some hard to articulate core values of Ubuntu
[18:24] <rickspencer3> so, I while the information will be valuable, I don't think doing it by default is the right thing to do
[18:24] <rickspencer3> it's not too precise, more of a gut feel
[18:25] <ClassBot> rhodz asked: Is there any plans (if not existing) that Ubuntu will make it to a Mobile Version?
[18:25] <rickspencer3> well, Ubuntu *is* a mobile version, in that it is designed to work on desktops, laptops, and netbooks
[18:25] <rickspencer3> and, if I may be so bold, I believe it works quite well
[18:26] <rickspencer3> I think Unity could be extended to other mobile form factors too
[18:26] <rickspencer3> and in fact, some company has released Ubuntu on a tablet, I think
[18:27] <rickspencer3> if you're interested in a proper mobile derivative though, that would be an interesting community project, I think
[18:27] <ClassBot> RevSpecies116 asked: Will there be a working backported version of Unity with support for 10.04LTS
[18:27] <rickspencer3> I don't think Canonical has any plans for this, and I think it would be hard to do
[18:27] <ClassBot> There are 5 minutes remaining in the current session.
[18:27] <rickspencer3> that said, someone may do it
[18:28] <ClassBot> primefalcon asked: Banshee works great in 11.04 however when I try to install it on 10.10 it takes over opening of folders rather than nautilus (even in the places menu), is there an easy fix for this
[18:28] <rickspencer3> wow, that sounds like an annoying bug
[18:29] <rickspencer3> I'm not sure how to fix that, I bet it's in the GUI somewhere
[18:29] <rickspencer3> I bet someone in #ubuntu would help
[18:29] <rickspencer3> or you could log a bug
[18:29] <rickspencer3> or find one in lp
[18:29] <rickspencer3> sorry about that
[18:30] <ClassBot> Omega asked: What are the things you are looking forward to the most in Ocelot?
[18:30] <rickspencer3> well, last cycle was a lot of big changes in the UI
[18:31] <rickspencer3> this cycle I have 2 core gaols for the project
[18:31] <rickspencer3> 1. Invest in our community
[18:31] <rickspencer3>  - ensure that existing core contributors can contribute efficiently and have fun doing so
[18:31] <rickspencer3>  - make it easier for new folks to join
[18:31] <rickspencer3> 1. Quality
[18:32] <rickspencer3> Canonical is investing a lot to help us raise the quality for Ubuntu, and I am very excited to see that bear fruit
[18:32] <ClassBot> Logs for this session will be available at http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/05/20/%23ubuntu-classroom.html
[18:36] <nigelb> thanks for the session rickspencer3 :)
[18:37] <rickspencer3> thank you nigelb it was my pleasure