The Basic Ubuntu Multimedia Preparation Script
Ubuntu is committed to Free Software. The base distribution doesn't include anything that isn't Free. This gives it versatility- there are rather few environments in which you
can't use Free Software. Well, that's fine and dandy, but it brings with it problems for those who want to use Ubuntu as a desktop OS: it doesn't include codecs for non-free formats like WMV or MP3. Normally, getting Ubuntu ready to handle those proprietary formats is tedious, and can even be difficult for some. In order to help simplify the process of getting Ubuntu set up for multimedia, I present the Basic Ubuntu Multimedia Preparation Script.
People might be wondering why I bothered to write BUMPS when Automatix and EasyUbuntu are already on the scene. It's simple: Automatix wasn't available for Dapper (The release I was using as my OS at the time), I found myself reinstalling every week or so, and the prospect of getting multimedia setup was increasingly annoying me. I wasn't really impressed with EasyUbuntu, so I decided to write up my own script. And here we are, two months later.
For clarity, I'll outline what BUMPS does right here.
1. Back up /etc/apt/sources.list and replace it with a custom version
2. Install and configure a large set of multimedia-oriented packages
3. Offer to put the old sources.list back
The packages it installs are:
sun-java5-jre, sun-java5-plugin, acroread, faac, faad, ffmpeg, flac, flashplugin-nonfree, gstreamer0.10-esd, gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg, gstreamer0.10-gl, gstreamer0.10-esd, gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg, gstreamer0.10-gl, gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad, gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse, gstreamer0.10-plugins-base, gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg, gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3, gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mpegdemux, gstreamer0.10-plugins-good, gstreamer0.10-pitfdll, gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly, gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse, gstreamer0.10-sdl, lame, libdc1394-13-dev, libdvdcss2, libdvdnav4, libdvdread3, libxine-extracodecs, libxine-main1, libxvidcore4, lsdvd, mozilla-acroread, mplayer, mozilla-mplayer, msttcorefonts, sox, vobcopy, w32codecs
BUMPS installs a large variety of software that isn't strictly legal (or whose stance is legally ambigious) to have in multiple countries. To protect yourself from possible prosecution by your local authorities, I would highly recommend ensuring that the packages BUMPS installs are legal where you live. If you find that a package isn't legal to install, BUMPS has an option to customize the set of packages you install- you can uncheck it from the list there if you so desire.
While what I'm hearing is that it's pretty much stable and useful for a lot of people, I have no doubt that people will find bugs. If you find a bug, or find some aspect of BUMPS that you absolutely hate, or if you find some totally awesome feature missing that you would really like to see incorporated into the next release of BUMPS, send me an e-mail. My e-mail address is
Iandefor@gmail.com. I'm setting up a filter for it, so if you send something BUMPS-related, please drop the term "BUMPS" in the subject line somewhere. Thanks!
And, finally, there are the acknowledgements. I owe too many people for helping out with this project. I'll try to fit in the most notable ones here.
Endersshadow- He's helped me correct countless bugs, he's suggested packages for BUMPS, he's hosting the BUMPS repository, and he stepped up to bat for me when he felt it was important to do so. In addition, he's taking over the project. +1 awesome dude.
Mstlyevil-Mstlyevil was instrumental in getting BUMPS it's own subforum. He's also flattered me immensely by offering me a place on the Automatix Team. While I declined because I've been busy getting BUMPS working more fancily, I'm still thankful for all the consideration he's extended towards me.
Wheelspin- He showed me around a bug in getting Java set up that threatened to kill BUMPS because of its' persistence. Thanks, man!
Benplaut- Benplaut helped me around a bad apt problem which was present during early BUMPS development. Thanks!
Bored2K- He alerted me to the presence of the Penguin Liberation Front repositories. While that sort of crashed and burned, it was mightily helpful nonetheless. A big thankee!
M87- M87 has offered to help me move BUMPS to a more powerful scripting language. I might just take him up on it one of these days. While I've just been sitting on the offer for the last couple months, it was still really nice of him to offer to help. Thank you!
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