Ubuntu Linux Help

Earlier I posted Mono in Ubuntu, Yes or No? It was a post where I learned a bit about the issues surrounding Ubuntu’s default inclusion of Mono. During that post, I arrived at the position that it should not be included by default (and that I’d prefer to remove it from my system). A developer that uses Mono, provided a lengthy, well thought out comment post. It was a comment that I think all users, both pro and con should consider. I strongly believe the heightened emotions and zealotry (is there such a word?) needs to take a back seat, as it has no place – We really need to hear other people out. It seems this is a hot topic, so readers… tread carefully… here be dragons… Here is what he had to say:

“Hey UbuntuLinuxHelp,

I really liked your article, if nothing else it does help me see where some people, especially outsiders, are coming from on this issue. First I should mention that I am a core developer of GNOME Do and as such I obviously hold a positive view of Mono. I’d like to share my view on this whole thing, and I will take it piece by piece. Please keep in mind that as you read it, I intend it all with a very even, and calm tone. I hope it comes across well.

anti-Mono camp:
Most of them are fairly level headed and will have a decent talk with you actually. Some however have spammed our bug tracker and mailing list in the past and left defamatory comments about my personal work. It is upsetting that someone would do that to something I do in my free time. I do not push it on anyone after all. I’d really like to see a lot of the emotions put aside so we can have a real nice talk about the serious issues.

pro-Mono camp:
We have made mistakes and been a bit too strong sometimes. I have gotten too upset when my bugtracker gets spammed or someone tells me I am trying to kill Linux. We need to be clearer, and calmer.

Microsoft (patents ignored):
I don’t think Continue reading →

It seems there’s a fair bit of discussion (heated at times), about the current issues with Mono being installed by default in Ubuntu Linux. I’ve seen and read some of the flame wars currently in blog posts and forums. Seems that an ordinary person like myself can be easily mislead if not properly informed. The following post is simply my opinion, I’m not suggesting that it’s fact. I asked one of my blog readers (“ql”):

“What’s the scoop with mono (I don’t use it), I’ve seen a fair bit of flame wars over it. I appreciate that it can be removed. Why aren’t some people happy with that (the ability to remove it)? I guess I’m missing something there? I would think if nobody used it anymore (or the majority stopped using it) that it would go the way of the Dodo – No?”

And received this reply:

“Yes, it’s currently a political hot potato, but, in my view, there is an issue about its use which is significant and should really be an informed choice to use or not to use. The debate is over-heated, with ludicrous statements on both sides of the fence. The fact that mono is largely Novell-backed doesn’t sit comfortably with the community at the moment, and the way that it is being pushed into the default installation of Ubuntu and Debian (Fedora have decided against it) via gnome is a judgment call with which some find inflammatory. It is a working of a current and critical Microsoft technology, whose legal status is, until MS chooses to clarify it, debatable. That’s enough to make me uncomfortable, but, on top of that, for me, I prefer zim and gthumb to the two apps that ship as default which require mono – tomboy and f-spot. The fact that by replacing those two apps, nearly 50MB of disk space is saved is a bonus.”

Needless to say, the answer was astute in that it summarized some issues in a Continue reading →