GNOME and the Enterprise User - JDS Ghee Teo & Brian Nitz Sun - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

GNOME and the Enterprise User - JDS Ghee Teo & Brian Nitz Sun Microsystems Inc.

Introduction

• Who are we?
• Intended Audience

CTOs, CIOs, Technical managers Software developers Anyone considering developing/deploying a GNOME-based desktop

Agenda

• Development of Java Desktop System –

behind the scene view

• Deployment of GNOME on Enterprise –

working in the real world

Development

• Java Desktop System
• It is Desktop System - not Java Destkop

What we did – in 1 page

• Got GNOME as the basic desktop
• Slapped in StarOffice productivities suites
• Enclosed with Evolution mail client
• Mixed in Mozilla browser
• Grabbed GAIM messaging client
• Mashed in many other Open Sourced Apps
• Just to provide a well-integrated alternate to

Windows

Why did we do it?

• New opportunity on the desktop created by

M$

• New markets afforded by Linux
• Mature for Enterprise Transactions users
• To replace vintage CDE (e.g accessibility)
• To provide more options to Sun's customers

Decisions Decisions?

• Choosing base Deskop
• Choosing base Operating System
• Choosing Browser
• Choosing Mail/Calendar client
• Choosing Office Suite
• Branding Choices
• Other Compromising Choices

• GNOME

Choosing the base Desktop

• KDE

“Easy peasy, Lemon squeecy”

Choosing base Linux OS

• Too expensive, competitor
• Second to RH, Strong in Europe, KDE
• Community based, long release cycle

Choosing the key apps

• Office Suite
• Browser (Epiphany/Mozilla)
• Mail/Calendar Client
• Instant messaging client

Other Open Source Apps

• Gnomemeeting
• GIMP
• Gtkam
• Planner (was Mr. Project)
• Dia
• totem

Sun's specific Add Ons

• Latest JRE, JDK, Developer Tools (JDS R2)
• Java Web Start
• Java Media Player (JMF based)
• Open Sourced Java Apps
• CUPS printing from XD2
• Print option in nautilus menu
• World clock
• Plugins – Flash, Real, Java
• Vino (JDS R2)
• APOC (JDS R2)

Branding

• Why the fuss about branding?
• Perception is reality (almost)
• Visual differences set us apart

The Branded Parts

• Java Desktop System (JDS) – part of
• verall Branding of Sun's products range
• 'Launch' not 'Start'
• Blueprint theme – Java Cup, oval text

boxes, gradient shaped button

• Java Cup throbbers for Mozilla, Nautilus
• YaST2 tools

Building the Distro

• Figure out all build tools required –

Common Build Envrionment

• Distributing Common Build Envrionment
• Automating the Build

Working out the Build Environment

• Open Source Open environment =>

Freedom => loose ends

• One of the messier tasks in creating a new

distro

• Many Open Source uses different version of

build tools

• Generally not well-defined CBE
• Somewhat limitted by the base OS

Steps In working out Common Build Environrment

• Install Base OS
• Install all known build tools from Base OS
• Download the version Desktop Distro tarballs
• Create spec files for each module
• Build desktop components bottom up (make use of

jhbuild)

• Install built components
• Get new build tools if needed
• Continue the process iteratively until all components

required built successfully

• We have a Common Build Environment for that Release!

Distributing the Common Build Environment

• Easy distribution of Common Build

Environment is crucial to global engineering environment

• Initiation for development and also ensure

correct integration

• N-1 rule apply
• Make Easy by YaST Development option

Automating the Build Process

• A constant automated build helps discovered

problems earlier

• Minimise knock on effect on upper stack
• A set of scripts were developed in house by Release

Engineering

• Similar to tinderbox
• Give build results on web page
• Notify mail alias when failure occurs
• Nightly build encourages usage and improves quality

Lessons Learnt

• Tarballs releases Versus HEAD
• Patches management
• Importance of Common Build

Enviroment

What's New in Release 2

Desktop Software

– Java System Update Services – Improved International Support (Japanese, Korean

Brazilian Portuguese) Management Tools

– Java Desktop System Configuration Mgr, 1 – Sun Control Station 2.1 – Remote Desktop Takeover

Developer Tools (BONUS!)

– Sun Java System Studio Std Tech Preview – NetBeans IDE 3.6 – J2SE SDK

Java Desktop System