unity-design team mailing list archive

[John Lea <john.lea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 31/01/12 15:32, Pedro Bessa wrote:
> Firefox goes the add-on way while Ubuntu goes the built-in way.
>
> Firefox:
> - you show Mozilla an add-on
> - Mozilla can install it
> - users can uninstall it
> - if Mozilla decides the add-on is good, the add-ons appears in AMO
>
> Ubuntu:
> - you show Canonical a socially-demanding writing of a new feature
> - Canonical can't even compile it
> - the feature will be forced to all
> - if Canonical decides the new feature is good, you write code
> - you show Canonical a intelligently-demanding writing of new code
> - Canonical can slowly compile it
> - the feature will be forced to all
> - if Canonical decides the new code is good, Ubuntu has a new feature
>
> Please, go the add-on way.

We been following the add-on path since the beginning of Unity, and 
although we working to improve this area in the future, take a look at 
where we are at the moment:

Add-on Indicators
- Lots of custom indicators available that can be installed from the 
Software Center
- See 
http://askubuntu.com/questions/30334/what-application-indicators-are-available

Add-on lenses
- Lots of custom Lenses will be available in the 12.04 Software Center
- One click to install ;-)

Add-on scopes
- Again lots of custom Scopes will be available in the 12.04 Software 
Center.

Custom patches
- The most flexible (you can change anything), but most costly (you have 
to maintain your changes) method.
- Basically mini-forks of Unity elements are a great way to experiment 
with new ideas and features
- Anyone can make whatever adaptations they wish in this way.
- At Canonical we watch these custom patches, experiment and do user 
testing with them, and if they mature into a good solid additions they 
will be considered for inclusion.


We also have more projects in the pipline which will feature well 
defined add-on frameworks.  You have to remember that designing and 
building a extensible add-on frameworks for a feature takes 
significantly more effort than just building the feature.

cheers,
John