I was wrong in thinking this was a job for the sound system in general. The sound spec already allows for "an app chang[ing] the primary output itself". <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Sound#primary-output> It's up to the alarm clock to set the primary output to the speaker, in the same way that a phone call sets the primary output to the earpiece. So this should be included in the spec for the alarm clock.
I was wrong in thinking this was a job for the sound system in general. The sound spec already allows for "an app chang[ing] the primary output itself". <https:/ /wiki.ubuntu. com/Sound# primary- output> It's up to the alarm clock to set the primary output to the speaker, in the same way that a phone call sets the primary output to the earpiece. So this should be included in the spec for the alarm clock.