[needs-packaging] mononono

[Conrad Knauer]

It is generally well known that Mono is not... universally loved... by the software libre community, e.g. see: http://boycottnovell.com/2008/03/24/mono-danger-to-linux/

However, as per the Ubuntu Technical Board's Mono Position Statement: https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2009-June/000584.html Mono will not be leaving the repos any time soon and will remain part of the default installed software set (though there are alternatives, e.g. see: http://boycottnovell.com/wiki/index.php/Mono_Applications)

Thus I suggest a mechanism to allow Ubuntu users to conveniently uninstall Mono (and thus also dependent apps) if that is their wish. While this can be done easily enough through the command line (see: http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2009/10/29/how-to-remove-mono-from-ubuntu-9-10-karmic-koala/) a package called "mononono" has already been created for this purpose and once in the repos would be simple to use through regular GUI install methods (e.g. Synaptic).

URL: http://tim.thechases.com/mononono/
License: BSD
Description: Introduces an intentional conflict with Mono packages
By creating an intentional conflict with mono packages, this package can be installed to prevent Mono from being installed (or at least force you to address the conflict)
Notes: version 1.0 should work fine in Jaunty, but might not remove all traces of Mono in Karmic; for Lucid, please ensure that it does.

[Randall Ross (randall)]

As another suggestion for a useful add-on, how about a package that removes all mono and mono-related packages by removing a single package? Currently a user must select all the mono stuff for removal manually, or resort to a command line.

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

*** This is an automated message ***

This bug is tagged needs-packaging which identifies it as a request for a new package in Ubuntu. As a part of the managing needs-packaging bug reports specification, https://wiki.ubuntu.com/QATeam/Specs/NeedsPackagingBugs, all needs-packaging bug reports have Wishlist importance. Subsequently, I'm setting this bug's status to Wishlist.

[Stéphane Scot (stephane-chloste)]

I've got an updated version in my ppa: https://launchpad.net/~stephane-chloste/+archive/ppa

[Conrad Knauer (atheoi)]

Stéphane Scot: Awesome!

Do you think it would be a good idea to have suggested packages in mononono?

e.g. gnote, gthumb, etc.

[Stéphane Scot (stephane-chloste)]

Yeah, not a bad idea, you think suggests or recommends? Since I never run mono I can't even recall what all has mono depends in default install, is it just tomboy and f-spot?

[Conrad Knauer (atheoi)]

AFAIK, in a default install, yes, it's just tomboy and f-spot... Ubuntu by default offers to install recommended packages, but you can opt out, so yes, maybe recommend gnote and gthumb instead of suggest.

[Randall Ross (randall)]

by default:
F-Spot
Tomboy

also popular, but not default:
Gnome-Do
Banshee

[Conrad Knauer (atheoi)]

speaking of mono-dependent apps, gbrainy is being added for Lucid.

Also, for anyone finding this bug and testing Lucid, add Stéphane Scot's PPA:

ppa:stephane-chloste/ppa

and install the remove-mono package