Yesterday I had a chat with Jono Bacon and Michael Hall from the Canonical Ubuntu Community Team. I first asked them why aren’t they doing at least one physical UDS per year, and they clearly seemed opposing my argument. Then I asked how about per post-LTS and such, and they still don’t see the need for it. Then I saw Pasi Lallinaho’s post about UDS and Canonical away from community, and I agreed.
The problem we have here is this:
Community finds it difficult to adopt
For example, we are now just near Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) Feature Freeze, and now suddenly Canonical’s Technical Lead Rick Spencer wants to step in and say “let’s cancel it for good”. It clearly destroys all the original plans for 13.04, especially for flavours. For example, Ubuntu Studio originally has some plans made for 13.04. Now it’s even unsure would these not be released to the public on April this year.
Update: Jonathan Riddell saved it for good, but fhe future of 13.10 and 14.10 is unknown.
UDS destroys comunity friendship
Canonical is happy that they don’t need to sponsor anyone now, but then this really breaks the Ubuntu community, especially teams of flavours, which now doesn’t have much chance to meet each other……..
People are leaving
From Planet Ubuntu + Google+ at least 4 community members have left the Ubuntu community because of Canonical’s decisions. Most of them even gave up Ubuntu membership. Is this what we want? Canonical being “Big Brother” in the Ubuntu community?
Summary
Canonical has been annoucing decisions that threatens the Ubuntu community. I really hope that the relations can be repaired.
Leave comments if you wish:-)