Mono Back and Forth: Already Part of GNOME Standard Installation in Lenny
The Debian community has been arguing over the last few weeks about whether Mono should be part of the standard Debian installation. Now it appears that it has already been an integral part of the sofware ever since Lenny.
Debian spokesperson Alexander "Tolimar" Reichle-Schmehl's recent attempt to explain the GNOME project's position on including Mono in the standard Debian installation to FSF's Richard Stallman seems to have run aground. Reichle-Schmehl was mistaken on two counts, he admits in a recent blog.
It appears that the controversial C#-based Mono is already more than recommended in Lenny 5.0. The new Debian installer for Lenny is the gnome metapackage that installs it by default rather than the thinner gnome-desktop-environment used in previous versions that does not. The gnome metapackage pulls in the Mono-based Tomboy note-taking software such that the complete Mono components are installed. Only the CD installation without Internet connection is Mono-free, because Tomboy and its other Mono dependencies aren't included on the CD.
Tolimar would prefer to summarize the situation as, "Debian might install Mono with its GNOME install media, but that can still change." Up to now the dependency on Mono was based on a nonbinding recommendation, although Tolimar suggests your "Joe Average" will now have the dependency choice of Tomboy or the non-Mono Gnote during installation. The dispute over Mono in Debian ignited after Debian developers wanted to extend the simple Mono recommendation to a dependency, so it seems that the dispute might continue for some time to come.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Manjaro 26.0 Primary Desktop Environments Default to Wayland
If you want to stick with X.Org, you'll be limited to the desktop environments you can choose.
-
Mozilla Plans to AI-ify Firefox
With a new CEO in control, Mozilla is doubling down on a strategy of trust, all the while leaning into AI.
-
Gnome Says No to AI-Generated Extensions
If you're a developer wanting to create a new Gnome extension, you'd best set aside that AI code generator, because the extension team will have none of that.
-
Parrot OS Switches to KDE Plasma Desktop
Yet another distro is making the move to the KDE Plasma desktop.
-
TUXEDO Announces Gemini 17
TUXEDO Computers has released the fourth generation of its Gemini laptop with plenty of updates.
-
Two New Distros Adopt Enlightenment
MX Moksha and AV Linux 25 join ranks with Bodhi Linux and embrace the Enlightenment desktop.
-
Solus Linux 4.8 Removes Python 2
Solus Linux 4.8 has been released with the latest Linux kernel, updated desktops, and a key removal.
-
Zorin OS 18 Hits over a Million Downloads
If you doubt Linux isn't gaining popularity, you only have to look at Zorin OS's download numbers.
-
TUXEDO Computers Scraps Snapdragon X1E-Based Laptop
Due to issues with a Snapdragon CPU, TUXEDO Computers has cancelled its plans to release a laptop based on this elite hardware.
-
Debian Unleashes Debian Libre Live
Debian Libre Live keeps your machine free of proprietary software.