Comment 106 for bug 390508

I ended up coming here because I want to enhance a python script that i have to operate a non-standard remote (Asus AI remote, not supported in Lirc). I want to use on screen notifications to display the status of the remote (I plan to program two different key maps depending on what mode I program the remote to)

The old idea of a dialog box that the user clicks is not acceptable for me, because my end goal is to have completely remote based control when using it for music or videos (making a micro remote for a HTPC, basically). Notify-osd appeared to be a perfect way to notify what mode the remote was operating on at the time, and while I can still use the command even with an unpatched notify-osd package (call the osd information every 4.9 seconds that the remote is in the alternate mode), and would work for what I want it for (it only needs to be in that mode for 5-10 seconds anyway, so it will have minimal impact on other programs access to those calls) It is very dirty programming, especially if i plan to re-release this script in the wild one day.

Yes, I could make a package level program with it's own system tray icon showing the status and all that fun stuff, but do I really want all that effort for what I know is a niche program when all the tools exist already in the default installation? Not to mention that replacing the notification system with another one brings up it's own problems. First off, anyone installing your app will have to remove notify-osd to put in your preferred flavor. And point B, I refer back to post 29, where it was stated: "And regardless of how the package is distributed, the Ubuntu Software Center will issue a warning if installing it involves uninstalling anything else (such as notify-osd)"

So, no, if anyone plans to redistribute a program using any notification daemon included with Ubuntu that is not notify-osd, we get in trouble. The only options that are left (as the developers want to say) is to use an incomplete/broken program, or to custom build our own notification systems, which have little to no compatability with the existing system already installed. It appears to me to be a lose/lose situation for everyone.