Rameez Nooruddin

Image editing tool GIMP is to be dropped from the default installation of Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx.

There are a number of reasons cited for this change:

• the general user doesn’t use it
• its user-interface is too complex
• it’s an application for professionals
• desktop users just want to edit photos and they can do that in F-Spot
• it’s a photoshop replacement and photoshop isn’t included by default in Windows…
• it takes up room on the disc

I am disappointed by Canonical's decision to drop GIMP from the default installation. I agree that users can install it using Ubuntu Software Center or apt-get if they want to. Canonical thought this is a better approach than shoving the huge software package down every user's throat. They are probably right.

But what about those users who are trying out Linux for the first time? For most newbies, Ubuntu is the first taste of Linux and some of them (like me) will stick to it. Several of my friends, whom I have recommended Ubuntu, are regular/semi-regular users of Photoshop and one of the first apps they've tried out in Ubuntu is GIMP. Not many liked it but in most of the cases, they agreed that it could get the job done.

Once GIMP is removed from the Live CD or the default installation, it becomes more difficult to pitch Ubuntu to such people.

Moreover, F-Spot, the app supposed to handle the basic image editing needs, and I don't get along too well.