Will Rekonq be Updated for the LTS?

[vw72]

I stand corrected


This fascination with plug-ins and extensions is curious. Even when I used Firefox and Chromium regularly, I never found myself searching for add-ons. What are some of the popular ones? I ask because I wonder whether there might be alternate ways to accomplish the same thing these add-ons do.

Adblock is probably the most popular, but it is already built in to rekonq. Any of the ones that allow you to save you-tube videos are quite popular also.

[sartic]

I think if someone wants fast and stable web browser which has kde integration (file dialogs etc), he has to use chromium/chrome.

1) Firefox - slow, choppy scrolling, no kde integration.
2) Rekonq - crashy, not supporting all sites, not enough man power (developers) to make full blown web browser and to maintain it
3) Opera - hmm it just suck for me under linux
4) Chrome - stable, fast, smooth (not choppy) scrolling, kde integration.

These are mine experiences. So for me Chrome is the best (only?) choice for "full experience" under KDE.
Btw I am using Chrome instead of Chromium because Chrome has more frequent updates, has built in (less buggy) flash and built in PDF reader.

Cheers

Firefox is great but lacks integration (i hope this will be solved soon)
Opera is sweat, 2nd choice for me.
I tried Google Chrome (from site). Do not like this browser, but I tried.... it even doesn't start right in Kubuntu LTS 64bit

[wrender]

The venting is at the situation that has no available solution to a problem which is is a primary usability issue to an end user.

Use Rekonq which may or may not be updated to be a solid program. If you want a solid version use a custom non safe repo.

Use Firefox which has an actual shortcut to install the browser built into the interface by default but has zero integration(what is the point then?).

Use Chromium which almost works but doesn't have an option to directly open downloads (Try explaining this to average joe why he can't)

Use Opera which does have integration but is a closed source program and takes some playing with to make cozy for the common person that uses Firefox on windows/mac at home/work. Also the odd random sites seem to display "differently"


All I am pointing out is that for a "recommended" LTS release this primary usability issue seems like there is no formal addressing. Instead it is random Kubuntu users realizing and scrambling to figure it out for themselves. Yes cooperation probably needs to happen within the developers of the browsers communities. But where does that communication best originate? Perhaps an official inquiry from people that make up the contributing Kubuntu community is better suited than a random user like myself post release?

At the end of the day it doesn't matter. But to the average end user neither will Kubuntu if they have to finagle to have a proper browser. If the goal is to create a friendly easy to use distribution then that is the "real issue." I would rather reflect this in the forum/community towards something positive. If there is a petition to sign I'd be more than happy. If there is a random browser forum thread where kubuntu users can +1 a vote/comment. Let me know. But till then If one can't openly discuss problems dealing kubuntu here what is the point?

[jlittle]

Can't live without:

• Adblock plus - (I've tried the hosts file approach, didn't work well)
• Color toggle - lets me impose my background colour on pages, though the invert desktop effect competes
• It's All Text! - invokes my editor, vim, on text fields (one can use cut and paste, I suppose)
• Tab Mix plus - lots of options for tabs
• Stylish - impose my themes on the web,

Firefox has become slow and clunky, but it lets me control it, with the help of a huge user community.

[SteveRiley]

Chrom(e)ium is equally indifferent to everyone!

I stand corrected

The one thing rekonq really needs are a few more plugins/extensions.

This fascination with plug-ins and extensions is curious. Even when I used Firefox and Chromium regularly, I never found myself searching for add-ons. What are some of the popular ones? I ask because I wonder whether there might be alternate ways to accomplish the same thing these add-ons do.

[vw72]

Hear, hear.

But:

Chrom(e)ium is equally indifferent to KDE. Where is the equivalent hue and cry?

Chrom(e)ium is equally indifferent to everyone!

Personally, I've been using Opera on Kubuntu 12.04 and it is working extremely well. In a different post you mentioned the rekonq-git and I installed that on one of my test machines and with the exception of one site, it has worked splendidly. I am seriously considering going back to it as may standard browser. The one thing rekonq really needs are a few more plugins/extensions.

[SteveRiley]

In the end, though, it seems that Mozilla should be the one people are venting at for not supporting KDE, not Kubuntu or any other KDE based distribution.

Hear, hear.

But:

Mozilla's indifference to KDE is probably one of the reasons more and more people are using alternatives like chromium.

Chrom(e)ium is equally indifferent to KDE. Where is the equivalent hue and cry?

[vw72]

My parents laptops running Kubuntu 11.04 and my old install of 11.10 still receive updates for Firefox with full KDE integration. It is a shame the LTS release breaks this tradition.

People who aren't linux enthusiasts want a browser that just works and is safe/stable with regular updates to improve/maintain the safety/stability/relevance to the web. Putting out a half baked browser into a LTS release that is suppose to be recommended to goverment, schools, and family with no real optional browsers that have integration is a move that is almost funny. At least a person running windows can install the latest Firefox and it works natively with their system and will continue working for the next decade. Try telling the end user they can't on their "recommended" linux install that is buntu "friendly."

I am all for KDE/Qt aps becoming successful but the reality is this KDE distribution needs Open/Libre Office and Firefox to fulfill the common users needs. When the KDE community has something that actually replaces it then by all means. Till then this is a broken release to the average user who expects an open button that works and brings up the correct program to use the file.

The real issue is whether or not it is KDE's or Kubuntu's responsibility to patch Mozilla's Firefox to work with KDE or is it Mozilla's responsibility. To date, Mozilla has never ensured that Firefox worked under KDE and various other developers have hacked it to make it work seamlessly. Yes, it is an important browser, but it takes a lot of effort to patch it to work with KDE and now that Firefox is on a quick release schedule, it is even more difficult to keep up.

Kubuntu could freeze Firefox at the last version that worked with the kde-integration package, but then everybody would be complaining that it was an old version. Instead, they are shipping Firefox the way that Mozilla has designed Firefox to work. Mozilla's indifference to KDE is probably one of the reasons more and more people are using alternatives like chromium.

The decision to go with rekonq is not trying to force a KDE/QT app down anybody's throat, instead it is the default KDE browser and Kubuntu ships it that way. I will say that since Steve pointed out the latest git version was available, I installed it and it is very, very stable, on my system. It doesn't have all the plugins I use, but it is definitely a big step in the right direction.

In the end, though, it seems that Mozilla should be the one people are venting at for not supporting KDE, not Kubuntu or any other KDE based distribution. The distributions can only work with what they are given and in the case of Firefox, they haven't been given much to work with (in terms of integration).

[SteveRiley]

Security decisions often drive updates even for LTS editions. Lucid currently ships with Firefox 12. I have no reason to doubt that Precise will enjoy similar updates.

[wrender]

I don't think that LTS means that they will keep updating to newer versions of software, but instead means that they will provide security patches and critical bug fixes to the packages shipped with the LTS version. I could be wrong, though.

My parents laptops running Kubuntu 11.04 and my old install of 11.10 still receive updates for Firefox with full KDE integration. It is a shame the LTS release breaks this tradition.

People who aren't linux enthusiasts want a browser that just works and is safe/stable with regular updates to improve/maintain the safety/stability/relevance to the web. Putting out a half baked browser into a LTS release that is suppose to be recommended to goverment, schools, and family with no real optional browsers that have integration is a move that is almost funny. At least a person running windows can install the latest Firefox and it works natively with their system and will continue working for the next decade. Try telling the end user they can't on their "recommended" linux install that is buntu "friendly."

I am all for KDE/Qt aps becoming successful but the reality is this KDE distribution needs Open/Libre Office and Firefox to fulfill the common users needs. When the KDE community has something that actually replaces it then by all means. Till then this is a broken release to the average user who expects an open button that works and brings up the correct program to use the file.

[SteveRiley]

The KDE Goodies PPA contains updated versions of several KDE/Kubuntu applications. For example, rekonq-git was just compiled today.

[vw72]

So basically Kubuntu LTS is gimped from having a proper browser that is integrated with kde for the whole life cycle... unless there is a way to get Firefox KDE integration back?

Unless anyone has recommendations?

I don't think that LTS means that they will keep updating to newer versions of software, but instead means that they will provide security patches and critical bug fixes to the packages shipped with the LTS version. I could be wrong, though.

[vw72]

So for me Chrome is the best (only?) choice for "full experience" under KDE.

My problems with Chrome/chromium are that the more tabs you open the significantly more resources are consumed. This is because each tab runs in its own process. The good side is that if one of them crashes the rest are okay. The bad side is that, well, on a modest machine, your browser is consuming more and more scarce resources. That may not be a problem on a fully equiped pc. The other issue with Chrome is that Google's new policy allows them to harvest data from you if you use their services, sites or applications. Google already has enough of my data, so I'd rather not give them anymore, but that is a personal opinion. On the otherhand, built in flash is very nice.

[schnelle]

I think if someone wants fast and stable web browser which has kde integration (file dialogs etc), he has to use chromium/chrome.

1) Firefox - slow, choppy scrolling, no kde integration.
2) Rekonq - crashy, not supporting all sites, not enough man power (developers) to make full blown web browser and to maintain it
3) Opera - hmm it just suck for me under linux
4) Chrome - stable, fast, smooth (not choppy) scrolling, kde integration.

These are mine experiences. So for me Chrome is the best (only?) choice for "full experience" under KDE.
Btw I am using Chrome instead of Chromium because Chrome has more frequent updates, has built in (less buggy) flash and built in PDF reader.

Cheers

[claydoh]

Again, the Kubuntu packagers have been pretty good about backporting releases (esp. to LTS releases) via the Kubuntu Backports PPA. This also includes future KDE SC releases as well. Will they do this for the full 5-years? I don't know, I would think it depends on manpower.

As an aside, I couldn't imagine using a release for 5 years, given how fast KDE, the Ubuntu base, and free software in general are evolving. The obvious exceptions to this would be deploying Kubuntu in a corporate or academic environment, or if my hardware limited me to an older version. I'm not saying "stay latest and greatest" here, but let me ask you this: Are you using a 5-year old Kubuntu release at present?

Will there be software in the backports or updates PPAs for Oneieric 5 years down the road? Not likely from previous history, especially as Qt and other core library requirements change.