What is Digg?77 Comments
- bensr20det, on 10/12/2007, -11/+71Automatix is a tool for installing different programs and codecs that do not come installed on Ubuntu. It just saves some time and is very simple for people to use who are not so familiar with the command line. The main site is http://www.getautomatix.com
Sorry this is the first thing I have ever submitted. - zip22, on 10/12/2007, -13/+49ah yes, the true spirit of linux shines through ;)
- NnyDarko, on 10/12/2007, -4/+37Unless you use ubuntu or you're just curious why does it matter if you know what it is? And if you're curious enough to make a comment being an ashole to the submitter why not take the time that you used to comment and just google or wiki search automatix.
/rude rant - kdepa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23April 19th.
- HomelessDepot, on 10/12/2007, -4/+26Yes, there's a vast ubuntu conspiracy.... give me a break.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25Warning: Automatix might break your system, if you use it, back everything up first.
I've lost data the first time I used Automatix and it was quite a headache, I don't want anyone else going through it without knowing the risk. - blackpete, on 10/12/2007, -4/+23Unfortunately I just ran automatix on a clean install of Edgy Eft a few minutes ago and had major errors. I hope the next version does a better job.
- MaHaGoN, on 10/12/2007, -5/+23Umm... Three Letters
V L and C?
I can't think of anything that Automatix installs that isn't easily accomplished through a package manager, or Feisty's new features such as auto codec install. Libdvdcss2 is not a difficult apt-get. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16I think I know what you are refering to, I feel the same almost every feed-refreshing time when post like this (from the apple crowd) show up: http://digg.com/apple/Amazing_new_Mac_app and it gets 2000+ diggs (at this moment).
Could be spam from some people yeah or could be popularity... - manitoba98xp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16@willistg
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FeistyReleaseSchedule
It's been there for ages. - arbulus, on 10/12/2007, -5/+20This is a duplicate.
Moreover, Automatix is bad bad bad. You want to break your system? Go right ahead. You will never learn how to use a linux system using Automatix. Futhermore, spend a little time in some linux forums and find out what automatix is all about: it may seem innocent at first, but wait till you upgrade to the next release of Ubuntu and it rips your system to shreds. That's what it does. And if you don't believe me, just go to linuxquestions.org or ubuntuforums.org and search for automatix and see what you find.
Please please please people do a little research on this thing before you jump into it. - willistg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16i learned a long time ago that coming up with a logical explanation for why some get dugg down and others dugg up on here is a waste of time.
- nofrak1, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15true and false. It's pretty easy these days to add DVD support, even without Automatix. While I love things that make Linux easier (and thus more adoptable), in my experience Automatix is fairly hacky and doesn't work cleanly enough for me to recommend to anybody.
- Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Disease -
Choice is good when the choser understands all of their options. Automatix has historically been an ugly hack, and with Feisty there's little need for it because of the ubuntu-restrected-extras package. (Click "Add/Remove..." at the bottom of the Applications menu, set "Show" to "All available applications", and type "restricted" into the search box).
That apparently doesn't include DVD support. For that - as with any question on Ubuntu - check out https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ ; The specific link you want for DVDs is https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu
I can't repeat this enough times on Digg. When you have a really basic question about getting something like multimedia support to work on Ubuntu, the official answer that actually works is at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ - don't screw around with Web Guides, packages like Automatix, or even the forums until you've checked that page. - bobothn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Automatix really is not needed any more. any one who has used 7.04 knows what i mean. you just install the restricted extras package and that gets you the vast majority of thing you would use automatix for. if you hit play on a mp3 with out the codec installed it pops up a windows and you click 3 times and it is installed. I think automatix has lived out its usefulness. it obviously let ubuntu know what was needed to be done but it isn't needed any more.
- willistg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11it depends on the card. I can tell you that at least for broadcom cards, edgy took a little coaxing(nidswrapper etc...) whereas feisty worked right out of the box. So, since we're so close to a release, may as well wait till April 19th.
my .02 - stalefries, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14It's a conspiracy, just like every other freaking article that gets promoted to the front page. X amount of people "conspired" to support that article. Is that so hard to understand?
- MaHaGoN, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Why was he being dugg down? So his testimonial was not positive towards Automatix, does that make it a bad testimonial? Automatix causes problems for some, and helps others. Why because he had issues he gets dugg down, I will never understand.
At least you got ++ from me. - cdmarcus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12http://www.cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20070407
- bullox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11It really depends on the wireless card. STAY AWAY FROM BROADCOM. You can get them to work, but it takes a little effort. The vast majority of wireless cards work right off the bat with no messing around, but Broadcom wireless cards are trouble, as they don't want to open the drivers up for open source. You need ndiswrapper (and a Windows driver) to get them going.
- Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12It's especially not hard to install everything from the repositories given that almost everything in Automatix can be installed by installing *one package* in Feisty - ubuntu-restricted-extras.
- Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11If it helps, scripts like EasyUbuntu and Automatix should be strictly unnecessary with Feisty. The Ubuntu devs put some effort into this exact issue, and have created a single package - ubuntu-restricted-extras - that contains almost everything that these scripts install. All you have to do is install that one package using the built in Add/Remove... utility (the bottom of your Applications menu) and you're all set.
For legal reasons, that may not give you encrypted DVD support out of the box - if not (or if you have any other multimedia related issues), just check the simple instructions at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats - don't be afraid of the documentation, it's your friend. - Guipil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Unless he actually has the Broadcom 4318 card, like I do. Then it's quite easy to install..
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=197102
From the post:
"Feisty
Download http://ubuntu.cafuego.net/pool/feist...buntu2_all.deb and double click it to install. Reboot. Enjoy wireless." - Hubris, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9It depends on the wireless cards. Certainly there is a lot of energy expended trying to get them working. If you have a wireless setup that is pretty common, there should be procedures and how-to documents to get it working. It might not work with a fresh install, but most are made to work.
- pcmacman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Agreed.
I volunteer my time on the Ubuntu IRC channels and have seen many people come in with broken systems due to Automatix. I don't recommend using Automatix to anyone, there are safer ways to go about installing everything that it provides.
Ubuntu's CTO Matt Zimmerman can explain why with more authority:
"Automatix is developed entirely without input from or cooperation with the
development team, and the last time I looked at it, it made some very
questionable modifications to the system which are likely to cause problems
for official packages. I wrote up some of my findings in the
common-customizations specification.
I cannot recommend the use of this program, and systems where it has been
used cannot be supported with a clean and official upgrade path."
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2006-November/022185.html - dougbarrett, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8....but why?
The only reason I used Automatix2 for was to get the codecs, flash player, java, and the nvidia drivers...but now Ubuntu has ALL of that covered in an even more convenient package than Automatix2 provides. - sharkbaitbobby, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10OK, since this is Ubuntu-related, I thought I'd ask:
My dad's going to get a new laptop sometime soon, and I said he should look into using Ubuntu since all he uses is word processing, Firefox, and music. However, he will use a wireless card, so I need to know from some more advanced Ubuntu users:
How is Ubuntu with wireless cards? Does it work out of the box, or does it need a driver? And if so, then are there good enough drivers available? - Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10You really don't need it for Feisty though, so why risk it?
- DigitalJester, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Windows is for the mentally challenged. :)
- Disease, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Because with Automatix you can get everything you need installed in one step rather than having to go through the packages in synaptic. Again it's all about choice. Some people chose to have Automatix install the software they need. Other like to hand pick them.
- Chandon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5If he's going to get a new laptop, I suggest he picks up one from http://www.system76.com/ - they come with Ubuntu preinstalled. Ubuntu has damn good hardware support, but there are some fiddly bits like the aforementioned Broadcom wireless cards that can come out of nowhere and bite you if you don't check the hardware you're buying in detail. With System76, you *know* the hardware works with Ubuntu out of the box.
- nayr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5no, automatix still has some stuff ubuntu doesn't. libdvdcss, for instance, because of legal issues.
- SEMW, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8If it helps, EasyUbuntu is supposd to be less error-prone than Automatix; though I think it does slightly less.
- bobothn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Great thing about ubuntu is the live cd. just pop it in and see if it recognizes your card. it it does not just go to the support forums or the wiki and search the type of card you have and see what needs to be done to install it. no Since in worrying about if the card will work or not just try it first and see. their wireless support as improved a lot in 7.04.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I remember you from the Ubuntu forums.
Maybe the reason no one sends in complaints about their code is that when people have issues with it you say ***** like "Oh, so you know more about what my code does than I do?" Instead of helpful support, you give smart ass answers to people when they raise their concerns about your code and what it's done to people's ubuntu installs. People have said your code has broken parts of their system, and your response is typically "prove it".
To say that Automatix doesn't force anything and doesn't break systems is a bold statement. There's a reason why Ubuntu doesn't officially support it, and there's a reason why if asking about it in the ubuntu forums or the IRC channel people will instruct you to not use it. I really don't believe there's a vast unexplained conspiracy against Automatix in the ubuntu community. - arnieboy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I am a little disappointed with people who constantly bash automatix for wrong reasons...
1) I am an Automatix developer and I am going on record saying that nothing.. I repeat NOTHING that Automatix installs is "forced".
2) "Automatix breaks" seems to have become a very popular song among a handful of Ubuntu community members.. what's funny is that I haven't had a single report till date which proves beyond doubt that Automatix was responsible for an upgrade related breakage.. even those who spread this FUD about automatix have only heard the same from others.. "Automatix breaks".. I ask: where is the breakage? Why do I never get a single report about it and still have 2 million users downloading and using Automatix? If anyone is indeed sure that a breakage is Automatix related, why doesn't he/she come up and discuss his/her point on our forums? Something I am missing here? - savantelite, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8I am running fiesty 7.04 right now. It is awsome. However, the first thing I did after installing it was installing automatix. I'm not a noob, but it is just easier letting someone else put all the stuff I want on my computer.
- DrDabbles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I'll give a word of warning. MANY of the packages Automatix force-installs are already in repos. If you use the Automatix versions of things you very well may break Feisty. Badly. Just a word of warning from your resident Linux enthusiast.
- DrDabbles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I'm going to have to beg your pardon here. I am not spreading FUD. Perhaps I misused the word forced. If you read what I wrote carefully, you will notice I used the word "may". I did not say 'will". I have not looked at the code behind Automatix, so perhaps is simply grabs the latest version of package X. Perhaps not.
I appreciate the Automatix package, and I certainly recommend it over the competition. Please, don't take things so personally. Otherwise, you'll end up like the Debian team. Criticism should be taken constructively, comments should be read carefully, and discussion should be open and friendly. We're on the same team. - Visceral, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Haha, so well played cdmarcus.
- trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3""Automatix breaks".. I ask: where is the breakage? Why do I never get a single report about it and still have 2 million users downloading and using Automatix? If anyone is indeed sure that a breakage is Automatix related, why doesn't he/she come up and discuss his/her point on our forums? Something I am missing here?"
Not that I am supporting the view that Automatix is unsafe, but it could be that the reason that you don't get detailed reports saying exactly what went wrong is that Automatix is targeted at people who are new to Linux and would therefore not knowledgeable enough to give know what went wrong ( although that also brings to mind why they thought that the Automatix was to blame ) but my point is not so much that there is evidence that Automatix is dangerous as that a lack of bug reports does not prove stability in this case either. Especially considering the fact that most allegations accuse Automatix of breaking upgrades. I would be surpried if a user who used automatix would make a connection between having upgrade problems and the fact that they installed Automatix months before, even if it were to blame.
In answering your question of why Automatix is seen as unsafe ( if indeed it does not deserve that reputation ) it may be that people are confusing the official Automatix with the German version which does use apt-get --force ( among some other nasty things ).
Finally, IMHO, a cleaner solution instead of an install script would be to just set up a repository and some meta-packages, but I have not thought about it much so I may be missing something there. - forteller, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Maybe this can be of help:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LaptopTestingTeam - bcmiller, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I have faithfully used Automatix for a long time and I never had a problem. I think that Automatix is party responsible for Ubuntu's popularity. I have setup several people with Ubuntu and instead of pointing them to a forum I have installed Automatix and told them to click "yes" a few times.
arnieboy,
brilliant addition to Ubuntu and Mepis!
I think the fact that Ubuntu has tried to incorporate your innovations into Fiesty is a testament to your hard work.
I installed Fiesty a few weeks ago and then went right back to Edgy when I realized Automatix wasn't working with it yet.
I will use Automatix2 and Bleeder after Fiesty is officially released. - nayr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3libdvdcss does not come with the apt-get version of VLC. Try it yourself; I had to install it from source.
- ozsynergy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2.. and as usual ... getautomatix.com and its repo's are down again ... perhaps i might buy getdown.com for them
- bloodyValentine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I am also an Automatix developer and I can back up arnieboy when he says that we 1. we do not force any installs and 2. do not break systems. We get bug request every day and watch them closely and never have I seen a report of any major system breakage. Also recent reports from users also show that upgrading to fiesty after using Automatix is not a problem. Automatix is a very active project and has grown very stable. Future releases of Automatix will only be even more stable because that what we care about most of all in our releases.
- generalloy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Good linux wireless cards:
Ralink cards and chips (often included in other products like the wusb54gc)
Intel cards only need a binary firmware blob, usu. work out of the box with Ubuntu
Some more info but be warned this page looks out of date and of course certain things are more likely to work now, eg., Broadcom 43xx cards were reverse engineered (usu. not Broadcom laptop wireless cards though): http://users.linpro.no/janl/hardware/wifi.html
If everything fails, ndiswrapper's always there. - theWrkncacnter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Automatix breaks systems as often as it is useful. Visit https://help.ubuntu.com/ for copy and paste instructions on how to install things the right way, with less headache. This is why:
From #ubuntu, the community support channel on irc.freenode.net
ubotu: Automatix2 is a script that tries to install some software, and often fails and breaks systems. We don't provide support for it, and we strongly discourage its use. Problems caused by Automatix are often hard to track and solve, and it might sometimes be easier to !install a fresh copy of Ubuntu. See also !WorksForMe - arnieboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3drdabbles: My post was not directed at you... It went out as a general comment.. (and no I am not taking anything personally here)..
We are always open to constructive criticism (if anyone bothers to check, we actually get a lot of that on the Automatix forums) . We have a whole Request forum open and user requests are often swiftly dealt with and incorporated in Automatix.
However comments like "Automatix breaks" coming repeatedly from a select few community members who never come up with any documented proof of Automatix actually breaking anything suggests something grossly wrong going on here (though I personally am at a loss pin-pointing what it really is).
We are not out here to compete against anyone.. We are a part of the Linux open source community as much as a lot of people out here are and we are trying to constantly improve a product which has stood the test of time.. so why all this hatred and animosity from a tiny fraction of this community? If there is any misunderstanding which is causing this, I am open to discussing that as well. I am openly inviting everyone to come and discuss all these issues instead of spreading information which is misleading and at times plain malicious.. - willistg, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4Thanks, perhaps the ubuntu dudes/dudettes would find it in their hearts to put that link on the beta announcement next time.
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