November 28, 2009 | Linux/Unix, News

The Ubuntu Linux distribution is dropping the GIMP graphics program from its installation CD. While it won’t be installed on fresh installations, the program will be able to be installed via Ubuntu Software Center. Users who have the GIMP installed will continue to have it installed after future Ubuntu upgrades.

This move had generated quite a bit of controversy in the discussion of the matter on Slashdot. There, some posters called the dropping of GIMP to be a sign of the dumbing-down of Ubuntu. Others lamented the loss of a flagship program which had always been showcased as an example of what free and open-source (FOSS) software can do. This is all the more so with GIMP, since it’s toolkit of graphical widgets (such as buttons, menus, and option lists) was the basis for GTK+ (GIMP ToolKit Plus), which is the basis for the GNOME Desktop used by Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. Finally one user said that while not all casual users may have a need for graphics editing to the extent provided by the GIMP, it’s exactly because the software used to be installed that casual users were able to be easily introduced to software they may not have imagined existed or thought they had a need for.

But an article by developer Ryan Paul in Ars Technica claims that letting the GIMP go is a sign of Ubuntu’s maturity and its going mainstream. Because more and more “normal” desktop users are using Ubuntu, the usage profile has changed, and such users don’t need the intricate graphics editing features of the GIMP. Paul also explained the open process for participation at the Ubuntu Developer Summit where the decision was made. Upstream developers are also invited to such meetings, and Sven Neumann, a GIMP developer and the author of the GIMP Pocket Reference, approved the move on the GIMP developer mailing list.

The void left by the GIMP may be filled by F-Spot, the photo management application, in the next version. The problem with F-Spot, though, is that it has a very heavy management mode in which it wants to “import” your photos before it’ll allow you to work with them. The seperate “viewer” mode, which is invoked by choosing “Edit with F-Spot” in the Nautilus File Manager, doesn’t have editing tools.

But they were added by a developer recently just for testing, and the result, along with a few more editing tools, may mean F-Spot will have enough image editing tools for casual photographers in future versions.

Another aspect to the matter was voiced on Ars Technica Forums: While echoing sentiments found on Slashdot, some also questioned why it was GIMP being removed. Particularly, why should F-Spot remain on the CD with its large Mono dependencies? Granted, Tomboy also uses Mono, but some want that removed as well.

F-Spot is not favoured by all, and alternatives to F-Spot include Solang, Shotwell or IntiPinku for GNOME and DigiKam and DigiKam and Gwenview for KDE.

Resources

Ars Technica Article on the GIMP

Ars Techinca Forum Discussion

Slashdot Discussion

Solang

Shotwell

IntiPunku

DigiKam

Gwenview

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