More hands, less work

Dapper has been the first Ubuntu release to which I’ve really gotten to contribute significantly. As I’ve honed my packaging techniques (practicing with backports first), I’ve moved from simple updates of current packages in Dapper to Debianizing brand-new packages. I’ve started to work more closely with Riddell in #kubuntu-devel, and he’s been extremely helpful in pointing towards ways I can help, fixing problems in my packages, and reviewing candidates for Dapper.

As I stay around the dev channels more and more, it’s become rather apparent that we have too few hands for too much work. Although the core Ubuntu issues are of course getting lots of attention and polish (and are looking great), it’s especially hard to get KDE packages worked on. As a Kubuntu user, it’s hard to reconcile sabdfl’s proclamation that Kubuntu would become a distro on par with Ubuntu with the sad fact that when I need KDE packages reviewed, I have a rather sparse list of devs whom I can bug. Riddell does a fantastic job with the resources he has; he has the package output of a dozen lesser mortals :) However, I would really suggest that anyone interested in KDE and Kubuntu come poke us in #kubuntu-devel. There are jobs that anyone can do, even things as simple as bug triage.

I’m hoping to apply for MOTU soon, which will increase the number of devs that favor KDE by one ;) and hopefully raphink will be able to apply soon as well. But if Dapper is going to be all it can be, we need far more people committed to making Kubuntu as cool as it can be.

That said, some of the packages I’ve brought in for Dapper include:

  • kmobiletools, a sweet app for syncing your mobile with Kontact. It can also be used to control your phone (make calls, read / write text messages) from the computer.
  • kflickr, a nice KDE interface to upload photos to flickr.
  • md5deep, a set of tools to perform MD5, SHA1, and other hashes on files
  • Several KDE styles

I’m hoping to get in a few more packages before upstream version freeze, but we’ll just have to see :)

Dewdles by Sam